JIT in Variable Marketplaces

JIT in Variable Marketplaces

In trying to implement a JIT system within my organisation. We are finding difficulties due to the random flows we are seeing. This random flow of products is making it hard to establish optimal stock levels.
With optimal stock levels established we hope to implement electronic kanbans to trigger ordering of replacement stock.
Can anyone suggest the best way to achieve such controls or examples of how this has been implemented elsewhere?
Your comments and assistance would be greatly appreciated.

		Charles Shillingburg Director, United States
	JIT in Variable Markets I would need to have more information about what the process(es) is/are to solve this. Can line balancing be employed? Can you set up a supermarket?

		Beddoe, United Kingdom
	JIT in Variable Markets We essentially are merchants of stock glass, essentially a "supermarket" for our customers. There is little manufacturing at our site that impacts on the stock control. I'm looking at patterns within the ordering of our customers and I'm finding little to work with however stock levels being maintained are way too high at present. Lead times are one/two days from order to delivery which makes this problem even worse as we are limited on where we can source the product. What we have is essentially a pull from the customer with random products and quantities. We are now limited on space and need to generate space for an essential change to our business. Since the last post I've been looking at demand smoothing and setting up a network between the two other sites within our region to act as satellite sites for slower moving items. I've also looked at creating a more formal "pull system" for the stock control with a kanban for each product. Thanks for your reply.

		Atulan Lahiri, India
	JIT in Variable Marketplaces Obviously if 2 days of order fulfilment lead time ...

		Beddoe, United Kingdom
	JIT in Variable Markets Thanks - the methods I was looking at for demand s...

		Atulan Lahiri, India
	JIT in Variable Markets I don't want to sound cliched, the point is JIT an...