JIT is one of the three pillars of Toyota Manufacturing System.

It is, in fact, an inventory strategy aimed at reducing the inventory of work-in process (WIP) therefore increasing the profit.

The process uses Kanban signals that "tell" the process when to make the next part or lot of parts.

Just-In-Time also promotes production leveling by using the Heijunka box to do so.

SMED is another element of JIT created with the purpose of minimizing the waiting time due to setup delay.

As you can find information about the other elements on their respective pages, let's focus our attention on the Material Logistics component of JIT.

1. Plan and Implement Logistics
2. Schedule Component Production
3. Manage External Logistics
4. Manage Internal Logistics

a. Plan and Implement Logistics

The planning process begins at the workstation and works through the supply chain to the supplier

It looks at:

1. Packaging- Light weights and no more than 2 hours of parts in a pack
2. Workstation design
   • Minimize walk time,
   • Presents the part for easy access
   • Stores all parts needed at the workstation
3. In-plant replenishment
   • Market areas optimally located to reduce the time required to replenish the line side
   • Plans that pull material to the line side in a timely manner while minimizing waste
   • Established material handling routes that will be marked
   • Optimize material replenishment in the plant
4. Supply chain
   • Optimize material movement from supplier to the plant

b. Schedule Component Production

• Production is properly coordinated to support customer requirements- Inventory is maintained at minimum levels
• Material ordered to support production
• Plan Production – 6 months in advance Impact of calendar, PM’s, shift patterns, resource constraints
• Schedule Production - 1 month in advance Automatically generates workstation schedules to support customer demand
• Execute Production – Day to Day Pull process that schedules upstream process based on demand of downstream processes

c. Manage External Logistics

Develop an optimal logistics network that will result in the shipment of materials more frequently in smaller quantities and deliver materials at specified times

Key elements:

• Lead Logistics Provider to manage all inbound transportation of materials
• Real-time information system to electronically communicate the fixed, leveled schedule and forecast
• Material picked up and delivered at scheduled windows
• Shipments are validated at the supplier’s dock
• Live unloading/loading
• Returnable containers require the same shipping documents as production parts

d. Manage Internal Logistics

A disciplined in-plant material handling process used to pull material to the point of use

Use of Visual Management techniques (every part has a place and that place is labeled)

Return from "JIT" to Home Page