Quality in just-in-time is centered on building quality into the

Table of contents

Table of contents

In manufacturing, speed to market and costs of production can make or break a company. Just in time (JIT) manufacturing is a workflow methodology aimed at reducing flow times within production systems, as well as response times from suppliers and to customers.

Toyota had a great deal of success eliminating these seven types of waste from its operations, which is why the company is often credited with bringing the JIT strategy to manufacturing. However, Henry Ford had already introduced similar concepts in his 1923 book, My Life and Work:

We have found in buying materials that it is not worthwhile to buy for other than immediate needs. We buy only enough to fit into the plan of production, taking into consideration the state of transportation at the time. If transportation were perfect and an even flow of materials could be assured, it would not be necessary to carry any stock whatsoever. The carloads of raw materials would arrive on schedule and in the planned order and amounts, and go from the railway cars into production. That would save a great deal of money, for it would give a very rapid turnover and thus decrease the amount of money tied up in materials.

Despite Ford's proclamations, however, it was not the Ford Motor Company that provided Toyota representatives with a JIT model in action. When the representatives toured plants in the United States in 1956, Ford had not yet fully implemented the JIT model. Instead, it was at Piggly Wiggly, the first self-service grocery chain in the U.S., where they discovered the model on which to base their own JIT system.

Quality in just-in-time is centered on building quality into the
Just-in-time methodology entails that manufacturers having strong relationships with suppliers and supply chain visibility make sure that materials are delivered reliably without interruption.

Implementing the JIT methodology

The JIT methodology requires that manufacturers establish strong relationships with suppliers and supply chain visibility to ensure that materials are delivered reliably and without interruption. Manufacturers must also implement standardized internal processes, with an emphasis on efficiency and effective communications. In addition, they must continuously look for ways to improve business processes and operations, no matter how well they currently work.

Through the careful implementation of JIT methodologies, manufacturers can reduce inventory levels, lower ongoing costs, increase product quality and achieve greater overall efficiency. However, even if a company does everything right, JIT manufacturing is not without risks. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, JIT processes are highly susceptible to disruptions in the supply chain. If a manufacturer cannot get the material it needs to carry out production, its entire operation can be brought to a standstill.

Because of these risks, some companies have adopted -- or have stuck with -- just-in-case manufacturing (JIC manufacturing). With this system, they maintain large inventories to insure against supply chain disruptions or unexpected increases in demand for the product. However, this approach comes with significant costs for purchasing and maintaining that inventory. Going forward, manufacturers will likely need to find a balance between JIT and JIC manufacturing to effectively control overhead, while minimizing supply chain risks.

See also: supply chain planning, demand signal repository, demand shaping and Lean production.

This was last updated in October 2022

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What is just

`Just-in-time' is a management philosophy and not a technique. It originally referred to the production of goods to meet customer demand exactly, in time, quality and quantity, whether the `customer' is the final purchaser of the product or another process further along the production line.

How does just

Just-in-time (JIT) is an inventory management strategy that reduces waste and increases efficiency by receiving inventory only as they are needed for production, not ahead of time. This significantly reduces the 8 wastes in lean manufacturing.

How does just

Greater Productivity: JIT enhances productivity by reducing the time and resources involved in manufacturing processes. Faster Product Turnaround: Manufacturers can more quickly produce products. Shorter Production Runs: With JIT, manufacturers can deliver new products more quickly and easily.

Which of the following are part of just

In addition to strictly limiting inventory, the following methods are included in a true JIT system: Housekeeping – physical organization and discipline. Elimination of defects. Setup reduction and flexible changeover approaches.