Just-in-time
Just-in-time is a production philosophy that schedules manufacturing or purchasing only at the moment goods are needed, targeting near-zero inventory. It cuts holding costs and exposes inefficiency hidden by buffer stock.
FrameworkLean operations
See it move
Traditional manufacturing holds buffer stock at each stage to absorb delays and defects, so problems stay hidden behind the cushion. Just-in-time instead moves goods only when a customer order pulls production and purchasing, driving inventory toward zero — which means any supplier delay or defect halts the line immediately.
Check yourself
A manufacturer switches from a conventional push-production system to just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. Which of the following outcomes do JIT proponents emphasise as a key benefit of the change?