Operations Management

Chapter 18 : Just-In-Time Manufacturing

The Concept of the JIT
People Involvement
Teamwork
Discipline
Supplier Involvement
Total Quality Control
Concept of immediate customer
Advantages of JIT systems
Characteristics of JIT systems
uniform workstation loads
small lot sizes
closer supplier ties
maintaining high quality
Quick and economic setups
Flexible facilities and Multi-skilled Workforce
preventive maintenance
Continuous improvement

Chapter Summary

The concept of JIT systems is based on the ideas of continuous improvement of a firm's production systems and the elimination of waste from all areas of the firm. In a JIT system, the components of a product undergoing a manufacturing operation arrive just at the time when they have to be fed into the production process by a worker at the work center.

The JIT system emphasizes two important and mutually supporting components: people's involvement, and total quality control. The characteristics of a JIT system include consistent production rate, small lot sizes, closer supplier ties, high product quality, quick and economic setups, flexible facilities, multi-skilled workforce, effective maintenance and continuous improvement in work methods.

JIT systems can be applied effectively to both manufacturing and service firms. By reducing lot sizes and setup times, the system can ensure better inspection, and produce products and services of higher quality.

Human costs, cooperation and trust between employees and management, and proper reward systems are some of the organizational requirements for implementing the JIT system. The Just-In-Time II system practiced by Bose Corporation is an advanced system where an employee of the supplier works with the purchasing firm.

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