In the early 1980s, the Japanese created the concept of just-in-time manufacturing, which is defined as a coordinated collection of operations meant to produce high volume production with low stockpiles of components that arrive at workstations immediately when they are required.
The just-in-time (JIT) inventory system reduces inventory while increasing efficiency. JIT manufacturing techniques reduce inventory costs since producers acquire materials and parts as needed for production and do not incur storage fees. Manufacturers are also not left with unsold inventory if an order is canceled or not fulfilled.
One example of a JIT inventory system is a car company that runs with minimal inventory levels but significantly relies on its supply chain to provide the parts needed to assemble automobiles on an as-needed basis. As a result, the manufacturer orders the parts needed to construct the automobiles only once an order is received.