JIT manufacturing: The evolution to animplementation model founded in current practice

The authors identify the circumstances surrounding the early use of JIT manufacturing, its evolution, and the subsequent spread of its use across the industrialized world. Current production engineering practice is reviewed and the use of particular waste elimination techniques are examined. Definitions proposed in the literature are discussed and shortcomings identified. On the basis of this analysis a model of JIT manufacturing reflecting evolution and current practice is developed. It is based on the elimination of waste, constructed from specific ranges of support levers (managerial actions), waste elimination techniques, and performance measures, and set in a specific manufacturing context (the combination of people, machines, materials, processes, products, and managerial policies). Finally, the use of the model in JIT implementation is discussed as part of a structured engineering process to guide and formalize JIT implementation.