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Why JIT?
In
Kaizen, JIT is a is a collection of concepts and
techniques for improving productivity.
JIT is a process aimed at
increasing value-added and eliminating waste by providing the environment to
perfect and simplify the processes.
What is JIT?
JIT is a vital component of
Lean Manufacturing
(see the
Toyota
Production System).
 Just-in-time manufacturing means producing the
necessary items in necessary quantities at the necessary time. It is a
philosophy of continuous improvement in which non-value-adding activities
(or wastes) are identified and removed.
Putting this concept into practice means a
reversal of the traditional thinking process. In conventional production
processes, units are transported to the next production stage as soon as
they are ready. In JIT, each stage is required to go back to the previous
stage to pick up the exact number of units needed.
Benefits
JIT Components
-
Production Leveling
-
Pull System
-
Kamban (label or signboard) system
-
Good Housekeeping
-
Small Lot Production
-
Setup Time Reduction
-
Total Preventive Maintenance (TPM)
-
Total Quality Control (TQC)
-
JIT Purchasing
-
Line Balancing
-
Flexible Manufacturing
-
Small-group Activities (SGA)
Kamban – a Communication Tool in JIT
Production System
Being a very important tool for just-in-time
production, kamban has become synonymous with the JIT production system.
Kamban, meaning label or signboard, is used as a
communication tool in JIT system. A kamban is attached to each box of parts
as they go to the assembly line. A worker from the following process goes to
collect parts from the previous process leaving a kamban signifying the
delivery of a given quantity of specific parts. Having all the parts funneled to the line and
used as required, the same kamban is returned back to serve as both a record of
work done and an order for new parts. Thus kamban coordinates the inflow of
parts and components to the assembly line, minimizing the processes.
Case in Point
Canon
The objectives of
Canon Production
System (CPS) are to manufacture better quality products at lower
cost and deliver them faster.
The three basic parts of CPS are Quality
Assurance (QA), Production Assurance (PA) and Personnel Training (PT).
Production Assurance (PA)
System is aimed to achieve
just-in-time manufacturing, fast delivery, low cost, and also adopt
the "visual control" philosophy. Canon has devised two subsystems to attain
these PA goals: Canon's HIT System (equivalent to just-in-time) and Signal
System. The HIT System means making parts and products only when needed and
only in the quantity needed. Canon uses either HIT cards or signals for this
purpose...
More
JIT-Style Learning and Training
The best kind of quality oriented learning (and
training) is just-in-time-style learning, that is, learning that happens on
the job and knowledge which is applied immediately as needed. The sooner you
can apply the material you learned, the better you will understand it and
the longer it will be retained. Instead of training masses of employees for
long periods, in JIT-style training, education is implemented as an ongoing
series of short sessions (just a few hours a week) during which employees
are taught only what they can apply soon, without suffering information
overload.
Innovative e-learning services create new
opportunities for such on the job JIT-style learning
and training. In particular, this first-ever
Ten3
online Business
e-Coach provides very effective JIT-style
e-learning opportunity which is available free anytime to anybody.
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