Just-in-time is a management philosophy that strives to eliminate sources of manufacturing waste by producing the right part in the right place at the right time. Waste results from any activity that adds cost without adding any value, such as moving and storing. JIT should improve profits by reducing inventory levels, improve product quality, reducing cycle time and reducing other costs, such as machine set up time and equipment breakdown.

JIT system applies primarily to repetitive manufacturing processes in which the same products are produced continuously. The goal of JIT is to establish flow processes by connecting work centers so that there is an even flow of materials throughout the entire production process. (Raymond Jacobs, PhD, 2000, Just-In-Time Production)

Jacobs (2000) listed some keys to successful implement JIT system:

It’ has been over eighteen months since Raytheon introduced just-in-time production process to the manufacturing. All the steps that the author mentioned above, we have applied and implemented. We reduced the cycle time from forty five days to twenty five days (from kit to ship). Twelve months consecutive on time delivery and we saved over one and half million dollars through the Six Sigma projects, but the most important thing was to get the people involved with the process.

• Use Kanban system to move parts between work cells in small quantities.

It will be a while for us to see the result of the new Kanban system that we just implemented as part of the just-in-time production. These processes (JIT and Kanban) change our way of thinking concerning the management of producing and streamline our products. These processes will yield substantial benefits by improving customer service, shortening cycle time and reducing waste in the production.

We encouraged them to voice their opinions during the daily meeting, take charge within their bucket cell and make suggestions to improve productions.

â€

Some topics in this essay:
Six Sigma, Company CEO, Production Jacobs, Production Just-in-time, JIT Kanban, kanban system, just-in-time production, Jacobs PhD, • reduce, six sigma, six sigma expert, waste production, jit system, five days, culture shock, production process, stage bucket,