Selective Cost Effective JIT Optimization Measures for Low Volume Car Assemblers

Low volume automotive plants, challenged in their search for leanness in producing quality throughput are pressured for more efficiency in reducing waste and more effective in achieving higher asset turnover. In essence these categories of plants need to deal with JIT philosophy by being insightful during implementation. From a practitioner perspective, this paper offers some cost effective measures to improve five key areas when optimizing JIT implementation. These are; not to overdo standard operating procedure, knowing what, where and when to trigger kanban, systematically replace unsuitable parts, empowering line control and make the lot traveler pull the system.