Question 1

a) Define JIT and Lean Manufacturing and contrast the similarities and differences between the two. Discuss why the ‘Traditional approach’ is more intuitive and what approaches are needed to move toward a JIT scenario?

b) Critically appraise five of the nine Just in Time (JIT) techniques e.g. reduction of set up time, TPM etc. highlighting what they are and how they would be implemented

c) Describe a tool or technique which can be used to analyse and improve the performance of manufacturing systems e.g. Rank-order clustering, Ishikawa diagrams, Value Stream Mapping Root cause analysis, Pareto Analysis etc. Explain the basic principle behind the technique, how it would be applied and the potential benefits/inhibitors to implementation.