If your supplier is quoting 3-week lead time, ask them one question:
“How do you decide when to start production?”
If the answer is: “Once we get time” or “As soon as we finish our backlog” — that’s not Just-in-Time (JIT).
That’s Just-in-Case.
And it’s the #1 reason behind:
Missed deadlines
Inflated part prices
And rejected orders caused by rushed finishes
🧠 What Is JIT, Really?
JIT is not just an inventory system.
It’s a philosophy of flow.
Only make what’s needed.
Make it when it’s needed.
And make it without stopping the next step.
Originally designed by Toyota in post-war Japan to cope with material shortages, JIT evolved into a world-class manufacturing principle that powers:
German CNC shops
Apple’s supplier network
And lean Indian workshops in Coimbatore, Rajkot, Pune
⚙️ Real-World Insight: Where Buyers Get It Wrong
Most buyers think:
“If I give my order early, my supplier will be ready early.”
In reality — without JIT — they start your job only when:
They clear another backlog
Their stock arrives
Or when their coating vendor is free
JIT is the only system that aligns your PO with production readiness — using signals, not guesswork.
📦 Case Study: ₹18 Lakh Saved by Switching to JIT Logic
A Coimbatore-based sheet metal vendor was approved by TheSupplier for supplying EV battery enclosures.
They had the machines. They had the quality.
But they were failing on timelines.
Problem:
₹18.4 lakh stuck in unused panels
Rev 2 and Rev 3 parts mixed in dispatch
High scrap due to overstocked coated sheets
Action Taken (within 60 days of onboarding):
Implemented visual Kanban for daily triggers
Switched from bulk weekly production to real-time demand
Synced lot dispatch with our confirmed RFQ deliveries
Results in 90 Days:
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Held | ₹18.4 lakh | ₹4.6 lakh |
| Delay Rate | 17% | 0% |
| Scrap | 5.2% | 1.1% |
| Cash Cycle | 52 days | 29 days |
They’re now in our preferred vendor pool — getting higher-frequency, lower-batch orders on tighter margins.
Why? Because their flow is reliable.
📝 “We didn’t realize how much we were losing just by working ahead of schedule.” — Factory Owner (2024)
🔍 Unexpected Insight for Buyers
Want lower prices? Ask for faster dispatch.
JIT works best when buyers commit to short, repeated releases.
✅ Example:
Instead of 10,000 pcs in 1 month —
Try: 2,500 pcs every 6 days × 4 cycles
This reduces WIP, stabilizes QC, and gives you price leverage
JIT is not just a supplier’s tool.
It’s a buyer’s weapon — to reduce cost without reducing quality.
✅ What TheSupplier Checks Before Approving JIT-Ready Suppliers
We verify:
Use of real pull system (not verbal planning)
Visual tools for scheduling (Kanban or software)
Sync between processes: machining → finishing → packing
Historical dispatch vs promise data
Because you don’t just need parts.
You need flow.
And JIT is how serious factories flow.
📣 Upload Your RFQ — Let Flow Save You Money
👉 Explore Capabilities
📎 Upload RFQ Now
🔗 Sources & References
Toyota Global: https://global.toyota/en/company/vision-and-philosophy/production-system/
“Lean Thinking” by Womack & Jones
Internal audits from TheSupplier approved vendors (2023–24)
HBR on Lean: https://hbr.org/2004/10/the-lean-service-machine
