Lean Management (Just in Time) Business Studies

Lesson Objectives To be able to discuss Just in Time (JIT) management of stock To be able to identify how short product development lead-times can give a business competitive advantage To be able to discuss how minimising waste of resources can give a business competitive advantage To be able to answer a past paper question based on the topic

Just-in-time A customer order pulls the parts through the system to the finished product – built to order In a car manufacturer customers can select seats, trim, options and colour. Parts are ordered as the car moves through production. Seats arrive just as they are needed.

Advantages of JIT As parts are ordered as they are needed there is no wastage which fits the TQM theory of zero wastage Parts are not warehoused which is a massive cost saving in terms of premises and staff Less capital tied up in stock, therefore reduced average costs of production of each item

JIT and suppliers To make JIT work the large manufacturer needs to haver excellent working relationships with their smaller parts suppliers. JIT does not work when there are delivery or quality issues No buffer stocks are held in a JIT system so if delivery does not arrive the product cannot be made

JIT and employees Employees of the business may need training to help them work with a JIT / Kanban system They may for part of a quality circle or of a Kaizen team and are encouraged to sort problems on the equipment that they work with.

Short product development lead times The quicker a business can get an idea to a fully working product the sooner they will gain: Competitive advantage First mover advantage Short lead-times that is from design to final product mean that a business can respond quickly to new trends

Minimising waste of resources (or) TIM WOOD – T ransport, I nventory Control, M otion, W aiting time, O ver Procesing, O ver production, D efects.

Sample question 1 [4]

Answer question 1 Correct answer is D JIT stock management is a stock control method which relies on no buffer stock and/or has regular deliveries from suppliers when required (1 mark). Nissan’s capital expenditure of stock will therefore be less than traditional stock control methods as stock is not stored (1 mark) Less capital will be required to store/warehouse the stock (1 mark). Employee training may not necessarily change/decrease as there could be a need for more employee training to cope with the JIT system (1 mark). There will be a decreased not an increase in product defects by using JIT as quality improves using JIT/lean management techniques (1 mark) Average Costs are more likely to decrease rather than increase due to having less stock holding costs (1 mark) Any acceptable answer which shows selective knowledge/understanding/application and/or development NB up to 2 marks out of 3 may be gained for part (b) if part (a) is incorrect Maximum 2 marks for explaining why distracters are incorrect

Sample question 2 [4]

Answer question 2 Correct answer is C JIT involves the use of minimal stock levels, i.e. no buffer stocks. (1 mark) This will mean more frequent deliveries rather than a decrease in deliveries order to maintain fully stocked shelves in the supermarket. (1 mark) JIT will lead to a fall in average costs rather than an increase as capital is not tied up in stock. (1 mark) There will be a closer relationship with suppliers as deliveries are made more frequently so Aldi will need to have more contact with suppliers. (1 mark) This will lead to a reduction in stock levels not an increase in stock levels as stock is only ordered as it is required (1 mark) Any acceptable answer which shows selective knowledge/understanding/application and/or development NB up to 2 marks out of 3 may be gained for part (b) if part (a) is incorrect Maximum 2 marks for explaining why distracters are incorrect

Sample question 3

Answer question 3 Knowledge 1, Application 1, Analysis 2 Knowledge: up to 1 mark are available for explaining what is meant by JIT (1 mark). E.g. no buffer stocks are kept Application: up to 1 mark is available for explaining how JIT can help TVS to reduce costs due to less storage (1 mark) and therefore increasing profit margins (1 mark) or lead to a competitive advantage in price for TVS (1 mark) or similar use of context. Analysis: up to 2 marks are available for developing the above and showing how JIT may reduce lead times (1 mark) and/or sales pulling orders (1 mark). More able candidates may see the benefits in terms of opportunity costs (1 mark).

Sample question 4 [4]

Answer question 4 Correct answer is D less wastage Lean management is an approach by business to increase efficiency (1 mark) in which may include just in time production/ short product development leads times / minimising waste (1 mark). Lean management aims to remove waste whilst maintaining quality (1 mark). Stock levels using JIT will be minimised rather than increased by using Lean management (1 mark). Labour Intensity will either remain the same or will have no impact on the use of lean management (1 mark). Excess capacity should be reduced with lean management as the business is more efficient (1 mark). Any acceptable answer which shows selective knowledge/understanding/application and/or development NB up to 2 marks out of 3 may be gained for part (b) if part (a) is incorrect Maximum 2 marks for explaining why distracters are incorrect