Case Study: Hillerich and Bradsby Company, Inc. Implementation of Just in Time Manufacturing

Abstract

In this case study of Hillerich & Bradsby Company, Inc. (H&B), the ways in which H&B implemented principle components of Just In Time (JIT) Manufacturing in the production of wooden baseball bats are identified. Various JIT components such as small batch production, a cellular layout, multifunctional workers, reduced set-up times, empowered employees, the kanban system, and supplier partnerships are discussed and applied to H&B productions. An analysis of selected financial ratios indicated that JIT successfully contributed to the maintenance of H&B's production efficiency and market leadership. While the first section of the paper briefly outlines the history of the H&B company, the second section addresses the JIT manufacturing process. Seven principle components associated with the JIT manufacturing process are addressed and applied to H&B's operations. In conclusion the limitations associated with H&B's implementation of the JIT manufacturing process are identified.