What is "Just-in-time (JIT)" focused on?

Just-in-time (JIT) is a production and inventory management strategy that emphasizes delivering materials only when they are needed in the production process. This approach aims to minimize warehousing costs and reduce waste by ensuring that inventory levels are kept as low as possible while meeting production demands.

By synchronizing the arrival of materials with production schedules, JIT helps eliminate excess inventory and reduces the need for large storage spaces. This not only cuts costs associated with holding inventory but also enhances operational efficiency, as products can be created and delivered in a more streamlined manner. The core principle of JIT is to ensure that everything required for production is available just in time to be used, leading to smoother workflows and reduced lead times.

In contrast, the other options do not align with JIT principles: delivering materials ahead of time increases the risk of waste and excess inventory; focusing solely on reducing overall production costs may overlook the importance of timing and inventory levels; and increasing inventory, while it may offer faster service in the short term, contradicts the foundational goals of JIT, which strive for efficiency and minimization of stock levels.