Have you ever received 300 parts when you only asked for 50 — and still your job got delayed?
That’s not speed. That’s waste.
It’s the hidden trap that Just-in-Time helps factories escape.
Toyota calls it:
“Producing only what is needed, in the amount needed, and at the time needed.”
We call it:
Flow like water — not flood like a dam.
What Is Just-in-Time (JIT)?
Just-in-Time doesn’t mean doing everything at the last minute.
It means matching production speed with buyer need — nothing more, nothing less.
In simple terms:
Don’t machine 500 if your customer only needs 100 per week
Don’t pack the full order if QC isn’t done
Don’t plate or anodize everything if 3 lots are still under review
When done right, JIT gives:
Early detection of mistakes
Faster dispatch — without rush
Fewer parts sitting in racks, waiting
Real Signs a Shop Is NOT Using JIT
❌ WIP trays are full, but dispatch shelves are empty
❌ QC is always behind — because everything arrives at once
❌ Coating is done before buyer confirms color
❌ Operator waiting for drawings that were never synced
A shop that prepares packaging only after machining ends is always late.
A shop that aligns all departments before pressing start is always on time.
🏭 Real Example #1: Pune CNC Shop Reduced WIP by 78%
This job shop ran 100 parts per RFQ — even if the customer only asked for 25 per week.
They believed batching saved time. But every week, they missed dispatch.
Problems:
QC backlogs
Rejection feedback delayed
Buyer approvals came after all parts were ready — too late to fix
Fix:
Machined 25/week
QC cleared each batch within a day
Buyer feedback came early — so did trust
| 📊 Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. WIP Inventory | 560+ parts | 120 parts |
| Rejection Response Time | 5–8 days | < 2 days |
| Dispatch Misses | 3/month | 0 in 2 months |
🏭 Real Example #2: Visual Audit Moment — Lost in Early Speed
During a TheSupplier audit, a shop in Coimbatore proudly said:
“Laser work done ahead of schedule!”
But the next step — bending — was delayed.
So 120 parts sat in a dusty corner for 5 days.
When dispatch day came, edges were curled, IDs faded, and buyer rejected 8%.
Fast work, wasted anyway. That’s the cost of poor flow.
Fix:
Laser, bending, and coating scheduled in 48-hour window
No one starts unless the next step is ready
Inventory “sits in flow” — not in racks
Why Buyers Should Care
If your supplier ignores JIT:
❌ You get faster production, but slower dispatch
❌ You see more WIP, but less readiness
❌ You lose time fixing mistakes that should’ve never happened
But when JIT is followed:
✅ Parts move in rhythm
✅ QC feedback is early, not after delay
✅ You pay for value — not storage or waiting
One TheSupplier-verified vendor reduced dispatch time by 31% — without changing speed.
They just changed flow.
What TheSupplier Checks
When we visit a factory, we look for:
Are they batching to look busy — or flowing jobs based on buyer needs?
Do they prep dispatch from day one — or panic on the last day?
Do they treat WIP like gold — or just let it pile?
We don’t accept fast shops.
We accept flow shops.
📣 Want a Supply Chain That Moves With Precision — Not Panic?
👉 Explore Our Capabilities
📎 Upload RFQ
💬 Question for You
Have you ever received a shipment that looked early — but arrived with the wrong parts or missing processes?
👇 Tell us how poor flow or overproduction affected your delivery — and what you did about it.
📚 References
Toyota Production System: https://global.toyota/en/company/vision-and-philosophy/production-system/
The Toyota Way – Jeffrey K. Liker
TheSupplier audit data (2023–2024)
