Strategies for the Implementation of JIT Purchasing

In the early 1980s, when the concept of Japanese “just‐in‐time” (JIT) purchasing was introduced in the US, many companies wondered whether or not this new manufacturing philosophy could be successfully implemented here. Top management had a tendency to believe that, although JIT purchasing makes good sense for Japanese companies, it might not be appropriate for US companies, because of sharp contrasts in management style, culture features, social, manufacturing philosophy, and, in some cases, size.