Just-In-Time and Jidoka are the two pillars of the system.
- Just-In-Time means that you have what you need when and where you need it. It means no shortages, no waste, no bottlenecks, and no waiting. This can be accomplished with continuous flow, pull systems, quick changeovers, and attention paid to takt time (the rate at which customers are demanding product).
- Jidoka means error-free production. This means getting it right the first time, every time. This means stopping production if a defect is found, performing root cause analysis to fix the true nature of problems, error-proofing processes, assigning appropriate work to people and machines, and using visual signals (andon) to signal progress or issues.