AiVibeIndustry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations
Just-in-Time (JIT)
Just-in-time is a production strategy, one of the two pillars of the Toyota Production System, in which each process makes and receives only what is needed, when it is needed and in the quantity needed, minimising inventory and lead time.
JIT replaces production to forecast in large batches with flow and pull. Three elements are usually emphasised: takt time, which sets the pace of production to customer demand; continuous flow, in which items move between steps with little or no waiting; and pull systems such as kanban, in which upstream processes replenish only what downstream processes have used. Inventory is treated as a form of waste that also hides problems such as breakdowns, defects and unreliable suppliers.
JIT originated at Toyota and spread widely through automotive, electronics and other repetitive manufacturing. It reduces working capital, storage space and the risk of obsolete stock, and shortens the time between receiving an order and delivering it. Suppliers may deliver small quantities frequently, sometimes directly to the point of use.
JIT depends on stable processes, reliable equipment, short changeovers, consistent quality and dependable logistics; without them, low inventory leads to stoppages. Supply disruptions have led many manufacturers to hold strategic buffers of critical parts while keeping JIT principles elsewhere. Levelled production through heijunka helps keep demand on upstream processes and suppliers steady enough for pull to work.
Key points
- Make only what is needed, when it is needed, in the quantity needed.
- Built on takt time, continuous flow and pull systems such as kanban.
- One of the two pillars of the Toyota Production System, with jidoka.
- Requires stable processes, short changeovers and dependable suppliers.
Where AiVibe comes in
AiVibe designs and manufactures the AiAmbA AI Factory as the OEM: edge devices plus AI agents that let people talk to PLC, CNC and robot controllers in plain language. Existing lines are retrofitted with edge devices, and a trained operator confirms every change an agent proposes.
Explore AiVibe’s work in Industry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations →
Related terms
- KanbanIndustry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations
- Takt TimeIndustry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations
- Toyota Production System (TPS)Industry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations
- Lean ManufacturingIndustry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations
- Heijunka (Production Levelling)Industry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations
- Single-Minute Exchange of Die (SMED)Industry 4.0 & Manufacturing Operations