In TOC, which term describes the procedure for determining the general flow of parts and products (logical product structure) using V, A, T, I structures?

• A. United Nations Compact Management Model
• B. VATI Analysis
• C. Zone
• D. Yokoten

Answer: (A)

In TOC, VATI analysis is the method used to sketch the general flow of parts and products by organizing the process into four structure types: Value, Activities, Transformations, and Information (or Inventory). This approach yields a high-level, logical product structure that shows how material moves from suppliers to customers, where value is added, and how information and buffers connect the steps. It helps reveal the overall flow and identify where bottlenecks or improvement opportunities will most impact throughput. The other terms don’t fit because they’re not methods for mapping the broad flow with V, A, T, I: United Nations Compact Management Model isn’t related to manufacturing flow; Zone refers to physical areas or buffers rather than a method for mapping product structure; Yokoten is about spreading learning horizontally across locations, not mapping the flow.