Answers:
The association for operations management, APICS defined Just-in-Time (JIT) as “a philosophy of manufacturing based on
planned elimination of all waste and on continuous improvement of productivity”.
Another definition of JIT explains the concept as “a structural approach in a manufacturing
organisation focused on improving timeliness, quality, productivity and
flexibility utilising various methods of work simplification and waste
elimination.”
Therefore, the central theme of JIT is simplifying
processes through elimination of waste. In organisational processes, waste
refers to the activities or elements that do not add any value to the final
products or services. In production processes, there are many activities that
are
considered as waste, as they add cost without adding
value
We can summarise the main objectives of
JIT as follows:
·
It reduces inventory levels to improve
profits and return on investment
·
It reduces variability
·
It improves product quality
·
It reduces production and delivery lead
times
·
It reduces costs associated with machine
setup and equipment breakdown.