Just-In-Time (Cellular Manufacturing) is normally that buzz word that summarizes the concept of “lean manufacturing”. The heart of “lean” is to provide the customer what they want, when they want it at a price they’re willing to pay. And for organizations to be able to do this while minimizing their costs they have to figure out how to make what the customer wants, when they want it and control their cost.

Many organizations have experienced enormous benefits from using the concepts of Just-In-Time and have increased their competitiveness by eliminating wasted motion, space and inventory from the production process. The Cellular Manufacturing approach is to arrange people and equipment into efficient, process-based cells, and create a continuous flow of the product through those processes according to the “Takt Time” of the product. This ultimately shortens the lead-time for delivery of the product to the customer.

One very important aspect of Cellular Manufacturing is these work cells have to be created by a cross-functional team of the people that make the product. This team should include engineers, quality, material handlers and the operators that run the equipment. By gathering input from all parties, the team can arrange the “cell” in the most efficient way possible with what they know today. After the “cell” is in place, the team must apply to various tools of continuous improvement to make it even better over time

The benefits and organization can expect from Just-In-Time manufacturing are as follows: