Putting The Just In Time Philosophy Into Practice

This book describes both the essential features of Just-In-Time (JIT) how JIT can be successfully approaches to manufacturing and implemented. JIT marks a significant departure from previous western approaches to manufacturing management, and aims to improve quality levels and customer service while decreasing lead times and inventory levels. The use of simple though effective methods can, with proper management, lead to continual improvements in the manufacturing operation. A number of companies have now implemented JIT and some of these implementations have been very successful. However, what is becoming increasingly clear is that there is a significant number of JIT implementations that fail to achieve the potential benefits of JIT. It is not an easy task, and there are a number of pitfalls that await the unwary manager. My motivation for writing this book has been my experience of working with companies that have been successful in JIT and of seeing what needs to be done and how the implementing most common pitfalls can be avoided. The book is oriented towards batch manufacturing since this accounts for a large proportion of manufacturing in most western countries. Other types (including process, mass and jobbing) can also profitably use many of the JIT techniques to improve their operation.

First published in 1997, this volume joined the debate assessing the potential of the Just-In-Time management philosophy from the manufacturing industry for Singapore’s construction industry by examining the "off-site" prefabrication of precast concrete components in Singapore, in comparison with traditional management systems. In the wake of the 1991 Strategic Economic Plan of Singapore, which forecasted alarmingly low productivity in the local construction sector, the authors noted that construction in Japan was 35% more productive, whilst Finland was 75% better. Highlighting immense potential for the JIT approach, they explore the JIT philosophy, traditional systems, construction wastes and comparisons between construction and manufacturing.

Since 1972, scientists from all over the world working on fundamental questions of echinoderm biology and palaeontology have conferred every three years to exchange current views and results. The 11th International Echinoderm Conference held at the University of Munich, Germany, from 6-10 October 2003,continued this tradition. This volume comprises 95 submitted papers and 96 abstracts covering a wide spectrum from innovative student contributions to the lessons learnt from experienced specialists. The content of the contributions ranges from original research results to the latest synopses concerning a variety of topics, including visual sensing, larval cloning, mutable collagenous tissues, sea urchin aqua-culture, deuterostome phylogeny, palaeobiology and taphonomy.

This book describes both the essential features of Just-In-Time (JIT) how JIT can be successfully approaches to manufacturing and implemented. JIT marks a significant departure from previous western approaches to manufacturing management, and aims to improve quality levels and customer service while decreasing lead times and inventory levels. The use of simple though effective methods can, with proper management, lead to continual improvements in the manufacturing operation. A number of companies have now implemented JIT and some of these implementations have been very successful. However, what is becoming increasingly clear is that there is a significant number of JIT implementations that fail to achieve the potential benefits of JIT. It is not an easy task, and there are a number of pitfalls that await the unwary manager. My motivation for writing this book has been my experience of working with companies that have been successful in JIT and of seeing what needs to be done and how the implementing most common pitfalls can be avoided. The book is oriented towards batch manufacturing since this accounts for a large proportion of manufacturing in most western countries. Other types (including process, mass and jobbing) can also profitably use many of the JIT techniques to improve their operation.

This book explains how in moving towards Cleaner Production, the Lean Production Philosophy can be applied to reduce carbon emissions in prefabrication - one major source of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions which contribute to global climate change. This book examines theories and principles in the Lean Production Philosophy to develop situation-based carbon reduction strategies for precast concrete manufacturers and contractors in terms of Site layout, Supply Chain, Production, Stocks and Installation Management. It presents the empirical findings of surveys and case studies with managers and professionals working for precasters and contractors in Singapore, findings which provide good practical guidance for precast concrete manufacturers and contractors to achieve low carbon emissions and to perform better in many sustainability-based rating systems, such as the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Scheme.

Organizations of all types are consistently working on new initiatives, product lines, or implementation of new workflows as a way to remain competitive in the modern business environment. No matter the type of project at hand, employing the best methods for effective execution and timely completion of the task at hand is essential to project success. Project Management: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications presents the latest research and practical solutions for managing every stage of the project lifecycle. Emphasizing emerging concepts, real-world examples, and authoritative research on managing project workflows and measuring project success in both private and public sectors, this multi-volume reference work is a critical addition to academic, government, and corporate libraries. It is designed for use by project coordinators and managers, business executives, researchers, and graduate-level students interested in putting research-based solutions into practice for effective project management.

This book explains the implementation of just in time (JIT) production in an industrial context, while also highlighting the application of various, vital lean production tools. Shifting the trade-off between productivity and quality, the book discusses the preparation stages needed before implementing a JIT system. After an introduction to lean manufacturing and JIT, it introduces readers to the fundamentals and practice of Kaizen, paying special attention to lean manufacturing tools. The book demonstrates how to use the 5S approach (with the stages of Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke), Standardized Work, Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) and the Kanban system. In brief, the book provides an understanding of the processes associated with the application of these tools and highlights the benefits attained by companies that have implemented JIT systems. Throughout the book, a real-world case study is used to deepen readers’ understanding of how lean manufacturing tools can be implemented. The book is ideally suited for executive courses in industrial engineering and management, but can also be used for upper undergraduate and graduate courses at universities.

This book outlines the development currently underway in the technology of new media and looks further to examine the unforeseen effects of this phenomenon on our culture, our philosophies, and our spiritual outlook.