The impact of just in time (JIT) in inventory management – perspectives from two case studies in a South African environment

Abstract: With the increasing pressure and competition from global forces on trade industries, supply chains, transportation and shipment, many countries have adopted the use of Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory systems. Over the years, many organizations have tried to use JIT to manage their inventory management systems and reduce costs related to inventory. This makes the technique the mostly tried system in inventory management. This research paper is based on assessing organizations within South Africa and the application of Just in Time Technique as a tool to manage inventory. By using this tool, cost can be reduced, and this is one of the advantages of using JIT. JIT is a Japanese philosophy, so it was established and developed in Japanese culture. Organizations that are not Japanese are therefore inclined to modify certain aspects of JIT to fully and seamlessly integrate it into their manufacturing process. This study will assess how South Africa have adopted the Philosophy and modified it to fit in cultures in both manufacturing and service industries. The research design that will be used is explanatory research. A correlational study will be done. The setting in which this study will be done is the normal setting of production, using analysis tools the impact of JIT will be assesses based on results and make recommendations