JIT Implementation in Manufacturing: The Case of Giacomini SPA

Purpose: The paper aims at exploring a JIT implementation framework integrating the hard and the soft pillars of Lean Production in a manufacturing company. Design/methodology/approach: A JIT cell creation project is analyzed in Giacomini using a Learn, Use, Teach and Inspect, LUTI JIT framework. Findings: Any continuous improvement project should embrace its actors in a lean culture for it to succeed, that is grasping the “who” and the “why” aspect. Practical implications: The main contribution of the article is showing empirically, the importance of the “who” and the “why” aspect in successfully transforming a batch-and-queue production system into a Just-In-Time system. Limitations: The framework is applied in one company and one sector which may hinder generalizability issues.