Just-In-Time (JIT) Key Terms

Key terms to produce products Just-In-Time

By Raechel L. Conover

Just-In-Time is a useful concept that has proved to save companies time, money and space while resulting in faster delivery of products and higher customer satisfaction. Especially used in manufacturing, JIT is a management style that focuses on every aspect of production from supply, demand and inventory, to employees and scheduling. To really get the gist of the JIT approach, learn the following key terms: Toyota Production System (TPS), kanban system, lean production, work cell, Just-In-Time inventory software and lean supply chain.

Toyota Production System (TPS)

The JIT approach originally began with Toyota automakers. They started using an approach to manufacture cars that combined a less is more attitude and theme, with various techniques to make cars with exactly the materials they needed and the staff that they needed. This approach saved them time, money and resulted in greater customer satisfaction. It became known as the Toyota Production System or TPS. Since then, much research has been done on this manufacturing system and it has evolved into the JIT approach to manufacturing, management and even lifestyle.
Try: Strategos International provides an overview of the Toyota Production System including the themes, disciplines and implementation of TPS.

Kanban system

With Japanese orgins, kanban means "signal" in the simplest of terms. Kanban systems are used in the manufacturing of products and essentially mean the signal that there is a need for a product, setting off a chain reaction to produce the product. By not making a surplus of a product and only making it when needed, Kanban systems go a long way in limiting inventory in JIT inventory techniques.
Try: The Hands-On Group explores the kanban system in great detail, including several kanban techniques, while Strategos International explains the kanban system in several different scenarios.

Lean production

A way to mold your company into a Just-In-Time system is to start a lean production method. Lean production means using less time, money, space, labor and inventory while eliminating overproduction, waste, wait time, and over-processing.
Try: To learn more about lean production and how it fits in with the Just-In-Time approach to manufacturing check out Ten3 Business e-Coach.

Work cell

To make the Just-In-Time approach work for your company you really need to focus your system on every work cell. Work cell describes the machinery, tools and employees that work together to produce a particular product. Your JIT approach can be carried out in every work cell throughout your company.
Try: For a complete definition of a work cell, look at BusinessDictionary.com.

Just-In-Time inventory software

For the JIT approach, it would benefit you to have Just-In-Time inventory software. Just-In-Time inventory software will enable you to have exactly what you need when you need it without using up warehouse space for storage. Just-In-Time inventory software will help you assign inventory to orders, ship inventory as soon as it is received and place orders on a real time basis.
Try: To find out all of the ways Just-In-Time inventory software can help your JIT approach look at SMC Data.

Lean supply chain

A lean supply chain is the process that organizations use to produce their products in a fast and efficient way without producing excess products. A lean supply chain uses product flow, customer demand, information flow and customer supply to keep production streamlined.
Try: Value Innovation Partners offers an in depth look at every aspect of a lean supply chain.