| A Japanese manufacturing approach known as Just-in-time (JIT) has attracted considerable attention from many US manufacturers as a means of improving the manufacturing process. However, implementation of JIT production has been limited to a certain manufacturing environment, particularly the repetitive manufacturing environment. If the Japanese manufacturing approach is such an improvement in the manufacturing process, then it should also be applied in the non-repetitive manufacturing environment.;In considering the application of JIT in job shop manufacturing, four critical questions may arise: (1) What is the current status of the Japanese manufacturing approach in US job shops? (2) What are the critical operational factors that a job shop should consider to facilitate JIT production? (3) What are the critical organizational requirements a job shop should consider to facilitate JIT production? and (4) What are the problems job shops encounter in carrying out their manufacturing improvement activities so that they can move toward ideal JIT production?;A cross sectional field survey was conducted to answer the above research questions. The analysis of the returned questionnaires revealed several important points. First, the Japanese manufacturing approach has been generalized and become a basic production philosophy among US job shop manufacturers. Second, implementation of the Japanese manufacturing approach differs based on the size of the firm, even in a same manufacturing environment. Third, this research also revealed that a job shop should implement those aspects of JIT which effectively improve productivity and flexibility. |
