Periodic pull: a modified approach to Just-In-Time production

Abstract

The Just-In-Time (JIT) production method has captured wide attention as the inherent goal of drastically reducing work-in-process inventory addresses, a serious problem that has perpetually plagued batch production systems. The implementation of the conventional JIT method can only be successful if equipment, procedures and manpower are well honed and work in good co-ordination and co-operation. The margin for error is very fine and any weakness in the system leads to heavy disruption of the system as a whole. This paper examines an alternative approach where jobs are periodically pulled at prescribed intervals. Results showed that with a good scheduling rule such as SPT/LATE the system performance only falls slightly when the production period is increased to six times the mean job process time.