Support of Successful Just‐in‐Time Implementation: The Changing Role of Purchasing

As more and more companies embark on the never‐ending journey of continuous improvement and world‐class manufacturing, their success will depend to a great extent on their ability to win the purchasing battle. It is common knowledge that it is purchasing′s charge to oversee the acquisition and delivery of inventoried materials in a company. In a Just‐in‐Time (JIT) environment this traditional role of purchasing is continually changing to support production and service. Purchasing now emphasizes on‐time delivery of the right amount of competitively priced,high quality products to the right place. Any variation in this doctrine is considered wasteful under JIT. Discusses the strategic roles of JIT purchasing by examining the responsibilities, functions, and methods currently used by purchasing in the areas of vendor sourcing, transport,and product development. Further identifies purchasing as one of the key elements to a company′s competitiveness.