Just-in-Time
Producing only what's needed, when it's needed - no excess inventory.
Storage hides problems - late deliveries, quality defects, inefficient processes. Immediate use exposes them.
N/A - Business mechanism inspired by natural efficiency
Business Application of Just-in-Time
Producing only what's needed, when it's needed - no excess inventory. Developed by Taiichi Ohno at Toyota starting 1950. Reduced inventory from 30-day supply to 7-day supply, but required ecosystem co-evolution with suppliers delivering multiple times daily.
Just-in-Time Appears in 3 Chapters
JIT required ecosystem co-evolution - suppliers delivering multiple times daily, representing a shift in the entire supply chain's operating rhythm.
JIT as ecosystem co-evolution →JIT eliminates metabolic waste by delivering parts exactly when needed, achieving 12-15× inventory turnover versus competitors' 6-8×.
JIT as metabolic efficiency →JIT parallels organisms relying on continuous resource flow rather than storage - supremely efficient but vulnerable to supply interruption.
JIT and storage tradeoffs →