Benefits Derived from JIT by European Manufacturing Companies

Abstract

In competitive world markets most manufacturing companies have learned that survival is based on a commitment towards continual process, and that product improvement competes with high quality of product and low price. In today′s rapidly changing marketplace a company must deliver low cost together with high quality and reliability of product to ensure retaining adequate market share. The necessary improvements can be achieved as have already been determined first by a large number of Japanese companies and later by US and European companies with implementation of suitable JIT systems. A number of articles have been written, which attempt to identify and discuss the critical variable essential for successful JIT implementation. To date little have reported on quantitative tangible and intangible benefits of JIT. Discusses tangible and intangible benefits which European companies have derived from JIT.