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As global competition tightens and sustainability goals become increasingly important, businesses all over the world are looking for ways to make better use of their resources and reduce waste. As a result, more and more organizations are turning to smart processes like Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory to boost productivity and meet their sustainability goals.

JIT has helped industry giants like Nissan reduce their supply cycle. They collaborated with Ryder Integrated Logistics in 1990 to pilot a consolidation scheme that shortened their cycle from 12 days to merely 2.5 days.

But what is JIT exactly? And how can you implement it in your business to benefit from similar results? In this thorough guide, we will dive deep into what is JIT and the steps you can take to implement it in your business.

What Is Just-In-Time Inventory Management (JIT)

Just-in-time inventory management is a strategic approach used to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and cut costs by aligning production with demand. JIT inventory systems are associated with procuring raw materials only when needed and for immediate use which in turn minimizes inventory levels. 

The strategy has been implemented by multinational businesses such as Toyota, Nissan, Zara, and Apple to speed up their production process and utilize their cash flow efficiently. 

For example, DELL launched a ‘build-to-order’ campaign that enables customers to purchase custom-built PCs. To offer this flexibility to their customers without overstacking on low-demand parts, DELL adopted the JIT inventory management system along with a vendor-managed inventory (VMI) system. 

This short-term storage solution allowed DELL to keep components for just 8-10 days before being used in production. Because components arrived just in time, DELL could quickly assemble and ship custom-built PCs without delays, minimizing overstocking and wasting resources.

What Are The Benefits Of JIT Inventory Management?

These are five major benefits of using JIT inventory management:   

1. Reduced Storage Costs

Raw materials are shipped to warehouses only when an order is confirmed. This model saves costs by avoiding inventory stuffing. Plus, if demand declines, the company won’t need to waste resources on additional storage.

2. Optimized Cash-flow

JIT minimizes waste by ensuring investments align with ROI-driven orders. With reduced production, businesses can allocate cash flow to other critical areas. The primary goal is to order only the necessary raw materials, establishing a controlled and efficient production cycle.

3. Minimizes Holding Costs

Since warehouses only store inventory required for confirmed orders when using JIT, businesses can cut down on expenses associated with maintaining excess stock.

4. Resource Optimisation

By employing JIT inventory businesses can make optimal use of their labor, capital, and machinery by ensuring production aligns with real-time demand. This lean approach enhances operational efficiency, prevents overproduction, and accelerates the delivery process, ultimately improving customer satisfaction.

5. Quick Adoption of Demand Fluctuations

Market demand can change unpredictably, but JIT inventory equips businesses with the agility to adapt quickly. With streamlined inventory management and a well-coordinated workforce, companies can efficiently scale production up or down without unnecessary delays or wasted resources.

The Disadvantages of Just-In-Time Inventory

As with all systems and processes, there are always pros and cons to consider. These are some of the drawbacks of implementing a JIT inventory:

1. High Dependency on Suppliers

JIT requires coordination between businesses and suppliers to be seamless. Any delays or bottlenecks from the supplier could halt operations on your production line. To make JIT work and mitigate this risk, businesses must partner with reliable, efficient, and responsive suppliers who consistently deliver materials on time.

2. Disruption of the Supply Chain

Unexpected disruptions in the flow of raw materials can break the supply chain, which could ultimately delay your business’ production. These may include raw material shortages, geopolitical issues, or natural disasters. 

A prime example of this is the 2021 global chip shortage, which severely impacted the automotive industry and JIT giants like Nissan and Ford, which led to delays in production.

3. Unavailability of Safety Stock

JIT eliminates excess inventory, which means businesses have no buffer stock to handle demand spikes. If an unexpected surge in inventory occurs suddenly, your company could struggle to fulfill orders.

4. High Logistics Costs

Since JIT requires frequent, smaller shipments instead of bulk orders that optimize cost, transport and logistic expenses can quickly add up. This, in turn, means that your cost-per-product would increase while your profit margin could decrease if your product value is not increased to match the additional costs of logistics.

Is JIT Inventory Right for You?

Here’s how to determine if it’s the right fit for your business:

Is Your Customer Demand Predictable, or Does It Fluctuate Frequently?

• If your business has stable and predictable demand, then yes, JIT inventory management can work for your business. If you have predictable and steady demand, JIT would work well for your business.
• If demand fluctuates frequently, then no, JIT may not be ideal.

Do You Have Inventory Management Software to Analyze the Supply Chain in Real-Time?

• If your business has an ERP system or inventory tracking tools, then yes, JIT could be a great choice. These tools help analyze demand trends, predict inventory needs, and streamline supplier coordination.
• If you don’t have access to inventory management tools, JIT may still be an excellent choice for your business. However,it might require exploring an ERP option like Xledger.

Find out how Xledger cloud-based ERP can help you manage your inventory by booking a free demo today.

Is Your Logistics Network Capable of Handling Frequent, Small Deliveries without Fail?

• If your logistics partners are reliable and can efficiently manage frequent small shipments, then yes, JIT can work for you. 
• If your logistics partners are inconsistent or if your delivery costs are higher than what your profit per product can afford, then no, JIT may not be cost-effective. 

Industries Best-Suited for JIT Systems.

Just like JIT is not the right fit for every business, some industries are better positioned to benefit from it than others. JIT is ideal for industries with predictable consumer demand and relatively stable market conditions.

These are some of the industries best suited to Just-in-Time inventory management:

• Retail: Demand predictability makes retail an excellent industry to implement JIT in. In this industry, JIT helps streamline inventory replenishment and shipment logistics, ensuring products move efficiently from suppliers to store shelves or customers without overstocking.
• Automotive: JIT was funded by an automotive company and continues to be a popular strategy employed within the automobile industry. This is following the success of car makers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Ford.
• Electronics: JIT is an effective method for ordering and assembling parts from vendor-managed inventories as was highlighted in the previous DELL example.
• Fashion & Apparel: Since styles change rapidly, JIT is an ideal fit for the fashion industry as it enables brands to produce only what’s in demand, reducing unsold stock.
• Fast Food: Since food products have a short shelf life, JIT makes an excellent strategy for the fast food industry. 

How to Successfully Implement JIT in Your Business

Now you know what JIT inventory is and whether it might be a good fit for your business. Perhaps you have decided it is the right fit for you and are ready to implement it—where should you start?

To implement JIT in your business, you’ll want to follow the JIT step-by-step process outlined below.

The Step-by-Step Process of JIT

The key steps in JIT implementation include:

1. Demand and Goal Justification

First and foremost, you should evaluate your current processes by conducting a thorough audit so that you may identify where bottlenecks or areas of potential waste are.

You’ll also want to analyze historical data, market trends, and customer orders to predict how much or how little demand your product has. Knowing how much inventory is needed to meet customer needs is crucial to avoiding overproduction.

In turn, you’ll want to set production goals, such as cutting inventory levels or shortening turnaround times.

2. Design a System

Acquiring the right software to manage your JIT processes is the foundation of designing an efficient JIT system. 

To learn more about how Xledger can support JIT in your business, schedule a demo here.

3. Onboard Reliable Suppliers

Next, you’ll want to start identifying the right suppliers that can meet your needs and the demands of JIT inventory management. Reach out to potential partners, and start building relationships and setting the groundwork for the launch of JIT on your business.

4. Implement a Pull System

Training your team on the new processes and ensuring the new changes are well-adapted is crucial, particularly when it comes to your ERP system and any other methodologies used.

A pull system is one where production is driven by real demand, not projections. In a pull system, nothing is produced until there is a need for it. 

For example, the demand to produce a product in your organization might come when a customer actually places an order.

This aligns with the JIT inventory methodology and helps minimize waste and reduce inventory.

5. Train Your Team

Training your team  on the new processes  and ensuring the new changes are well adapted is crucial, particularly when it comes to your ERP system and any other methodologies used.

At Xledger we provide training as part of our XIM implementation methodology. At this stage of implementation, we will provide active support to early users and adjust and optimize as needed. By doing this, you ensure your processes will continue smoothly after the final handover of the system.

6. Monitor and Adapt

Once your JIT inventory process is implemented and your teams are trained, it’s now time to maintain and monitor your JIT system. 

As part of this process, you’ll want to track KPIs such as inventory turnover or order fulfillment rates to determine if any areas of the production process need to be optimized and to ensure they meet your initial goals.

JIT and ERPs

ERP is a business software system used to manage, track, automate, and integrate core business processes. The software collects and manages data from several departments including accounting, supply chain, manufacturing, sales, marketing, and inventory.

In order to work optimally, Just-In-Time requires careful coordination and real-time data to ensure materials arrive on time. This is where ERP systems come in.

ERPs, like Xledger, play a key role in supporting JIT by automating inventory processes that ensure smooth materials delivery as well as integrating financial management, procurement, and inventory processes.

By doing so, ERPs help businesses meet several key functions of JIT such as tracking orders, managing invoices, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring materials are available when they are needed.

Xledger: Making JIT Easy

Xledger is a reliable partner for organizations employing just-in-time inventory management to keep finances and operations updated in real time. It offers a 360-degree view of financial data and the supply chain so that you can make the right decisions promptly. 

With Xledger, Just-In-Time inventory and process management is made easy with a wide array of tools and features such as real-time data visibility, automated inventory management, supply chain integration, automated workflows, and financial management.

For example, Xledger provides real-time insights into inventory levels, sales, and supply chain status through intuitive and customizable dashboards.

Its automated inventory tracking and management tools are essential in supporting JIT to maintain optimal stock levels and avoid overstocking or stockouts.

To learn more about how Xledger can support JIT in your business, schedule a demo today.

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