Just-in-time production is considered to be on the leading edge of technological advancement. With improvements in virtually every industry, maintaining an effective production line while minimizing cost at a minimum.
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:.
• Create a uniform load on all work center thought constant daily production.
• Produce the same mix of products each day.
• Reduce or eliminate set up times.
• Reduce lot sizes.
• Reduce lead times.
• Maintain equipment and prevent breakdowns.
• Cross training work force.
• Use Kanban system to move parts between work cells in small quantities.
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.