JIT and Kanban: How Just-in-Time Relies on Kanban
Just-in-Time means making only what is needed, when it is needed, in the amount needed. Kanban is the signal that makes it work. See how JIT and Kanban fit together, what a JIT Kanban system needs and three boards you can copy.
Quick answer: Just-in-Time (JIT) is a production philosophy that produces only what the customer needs, when it is needed. Kanban is the tool that makes JIT work: a card or signal sent upstream when parts are used, authorising the replacement of exactly that amount. JIT is the goal; Kanban is the pull signal.
1. Key Takeaways
- JIT is the goal: the right part, the right amount, at the right time.
- Kanban is the signal that pulls parts and production in a JIT system.
- A JIT Kanban system needs levelled demand, takt time, short changeovers and reliable suppliers.
- Toyota’s six rules – such as “no card, no move” – keep the system honest.
- Fewer Kanban cards means less inventory – and exposes problems to fix.
2. What Is JIT?
Just-in-Time (JIT) is a production approach from the Toyota Production System that makes only what the customer needs, when it is needed, in the amount needed.
Instead of building to a forecast and storing the result, a JIT plant lets real demand trigger production. The result is less inventory, less waste and problems that surface quickly.
3. How JIT and Kanban Work Together
In JIT, Kanban is the pull signal: when a downstream process uses parts, a card goes upstream and authorises replacing exactly that amount.
4. JIT vs Kanban
JIT is the philosophy and Kanban is the scheduling tool that delivers it.
5. What a JIT Kanban System Needs
A JIT Kanban system works only on a stable base: levelled demand, takt time, short changeovers, built-in quality, reliable suppliers and disciplined card rules.
Set the base, then run the cards
Colour-coded lists, cards with images, checklists and due dates – on Android, iPhone, tablet and desktop.
Free to use
6. Toyota’s 6 Rules of Kanban in JIT
Taiichi Ohno’s six rules make Kanban in JIT work – the most famous is “no card, no production, no movement”.
7. JIT Kanban Board Examples
Here are three JIT Kanban boards built in PlanBoards.
JIT Kanban loop – Line 2
Takt & Demand, Kanban Signal, Producing (WIP 3), Supermarket and Delivered to Line.
JIT supplier deliveries
Signals Sent, In Transit, Received and At Line – with the milk-run schedule and the supplier loop.
JIT café kitchen
JIT is not only for factories: Orders In, Preparing (WIP 4), Stock Signals and Served.
8. How to Start a JIT Kanban System
Stabilise the process, set takt time, size the Kanban loops, start pulling and then remove cards step by step.
- Stabilise the process. Standard work, 5S and reliable machines.
- Level demand. Use heijunka to smooth volume and mix.
- Set takt time. Available time ÷ customer demand.
- Size the Kanban loops. Cards = demand × lead time × (1 + safety) ÷ container size.
- Start pulling. No card, no production or move.
- Remove cards. Lower inventory step by step and fix what appears.
9. FAQ
These are the questions people ask about JIT and Kanban.
What is the relationship between JIT and Kanban?
JIT is the goal of producing only what is needed, when it is needed. Kanban is the signalling tool that makes JIT possible.
Is Kanban the same as JIT?
No. JIT is a philosophy; Kanban is a tool that implements it.
Can you have JIT without Kanban?
Yes, using other pull signals such as electronic signals or sequenced deliveries, but Kanban is the classic method.
Who invented JIT and Kanban?
Both were developed at Toyota, led by Taiichi Ohno, from the late 1940s onwards.
What are the risks of JIT?
Low buffers make the system sensitive to supplier problems and demand spikes, so supply reliability is essential.
What is a JIT Kanban system?
A production system in which Kanban cards pull materials and production to match actual demand, keeping inventory minimal.
Can I manage JIT signals in PlanBoards?
Yes. Use columns for each stage of the loop and cards for each signal – free to use.
10. Sources and Further Reading
These are the sources behind this guide.
- Wikipedia: Just-in-time manufacturing
- Wikipedia: Kanban
- Wikipedia: Toyota Production System
- Lean Enterprise Institute. Kanban (lexicon).
- Taiichi Ohno (1988). Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production. Productivity Press.
Related pages: Features · SME & Projects · Sharing Cards
Make what’s needed. When it’s needed.
Android, iPhone, tablet and desktop.
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