Planning for continual improvement in a just-in-time environment

This paper addresses the dynamic, continual-improvement nature of the JIT implementation process. Learning curves are incorporated to analyse the impact of continual reduction of processing time variation over time. The results provide valuable information on the relationship between the level of processing time variation, the output rate of the production system, and inventory between work processes. The methodology used in this study incorporates an additional dimension in analysing JIT. It also provides a general and effective tool for decision makers facing the complex task of implementing pull production processes.