The stakes of JIT
In automotive JIT operations, the OEM calls for parts and expects delivery within a 40-minute window. Miss it and the assembly line stops. A line stop at a major OEM costs $10,000-$50,000 per minute. The penalties flow downstream to the supplier. JIT is not a logistics strategy. It is a survival requirement.
What JIT systems must do
- Real-time call management — receive JIT calls, trigger picking and dispatch in seconds
- SLA countdown — live timers showing time remaining on every open call
- Pre-staged inventory — BOM-driven staging ensures parts are ready before the call arrives
- Dispatch tracking — GPS and checkpoint-based tracking from warehouse to OEM dock
- Reconciliation — automatic matching of delivery challans, invoices, and OEM receipts
Platform requirements
JIT operations need a platform that is fast, reliable, and integrated. The dispatch system must talk to inventory in real time. Invoicing must match deliveries automatically. Reconciliation with OEM systems must be auditable. When all of this runs on one database, the entire JIT loop operates as a single process, not a chain of disconnected steps.
In JIT logistics, the difference between a good day and a catastrophe is measured in minutes. Your systems must be faster than your SLA.