Just In Time

Question 1

Just in time (JIT)

Define JIT

Answer 1

Just in time is a manufacturing system where the materials or components needed are delivered just in time/immediately before they are required on the manufacture floor. JIT ensures that the correct materials, components and products arrive at the correct time, in the correct place and the exact amount.

Question 2

Just in time (JIT)

Describe the history of JIT manufacture

Answer 2

JIT is a Japanese management philosophy (a set of beliefs as used by an individual in a management position to guide the decision making process) which had been applied in practise since the early 1970s in many Japanese manufacturing organisations. JIT was first developed and perfected within the Toyota manufacturing plants by Taiichi Ohno as a means of meeting consumer demands with minimum delays.

Question 3

Just in time (JIT)

List the advantages of JIT

Answer 3

• eliminates waste such as: waste from overproduction, waste from waiting time, transportation waste, processing waste, inventory waste, waste of motion and waste from product defects.
• saves money from warehouse space and storage costs, so these funds can be used elsewhere.
• production mistakes can be spotted more quickly and corrected. This means that less products are defected, which also results in less waste and greater customer satisfaction.

Question 4

Just in time (JIT)

Lost the disadvantages of JIT

Answer 4

• relies on suppliers delivering the exact amount of goods on time. If they are not in time and not the correct quantity, the impact on the production process will be huge.
• the manufacturer has to rely on accurate analysis and forecasts using the right information at the right time. If the manufacturer is inaccurate with the predictions, they could end up with too many goods or not enough goods.
• with no stocks to fall back on, any disruptions with the supplies could force the production to cease at very short notice.

Question 5

Just in time (JIT)

Example of successful JIT systems

Answer 5

Toyota - the Toyota production strategy is that raw materials are not brought to the production floor until an order is received and this product is ready to be built. No parts are allowed at a junction unless they are required for the next junction, or they are part of an assembly for the next junction. This philosophy has allowed Toyota to keep a minimum amount of inventory which means lower costs. This also means that Toyota can adopt quickly to changes in demand without having to worry about disposing of expensive inventory.