Just-In-Time Inventory Practices Essay Example for Free

Just-In-Time Inventory Practices Essay The Just in Time inventory system is the one which aims at reducing the cost of inventory at nay organization by monitoring the holding cost of it. It aims at reducing all the costs that are associated with inventory management and to enhance the production of products. The philosophy aims at the production of goods â€Å"at the right place, at the right time and in the right quantity† (Muller, 2003). History of Just In Time Inventory System Just in Time inventory system is another name of lean production system. The creator of the philosophy of Just in Time Inventory was Taiichi Ohno, the father of Toyota Production System (TPS) in Japan. The TPS systematizes production and logistics for the vehicle manufacturer, together with communication with the suppliers and customers. The system was between the years 1948 and 1975. As it was previously called the Just In Time Production, the TPS was basically built on the writings of Edward Deming and the famous car manufacturer Henry Ford. When the founders of Toyota visited United States, they were not impressed by the assembly line of Ford which focused on the concept of mass production, however, when they visited the super market, they were very impressed by the system of resupply and replenishment of drinks only when one drink was consumed. They adopted this system and named it â€Å"The Toyota Way†. Characteristics of Just in Time Inventory System Just In Time system gained popularity. It focused on many aspects of production and helped many organizations reduce their costs on their inventory. The basic characteristics of Just in Time inventory system are that it reduces the inventory accumulation in any organization. The holding cost of inventory goes down and hence the production costs are reduced by large figures. As opposed to the mass production system, lean production or Just in Time production system focused on production of goods in batches. The production is done in smaller lots and sizes. It also focuses on the aspect of quality control and inspection. The smaller lot sizes give the advantage of better inspection of the production batches. The production or the assembly line is divided into work cells, the system step by step production system which saves the capacity and saves the time to move from one step to the other. The most important characteristic is waste minimization at all times. With lesser inventory accumulation, the costs reduce, the inventory does not go obsolete and costs of warehousing and safety does not incur. Currently, organizations that have maintaining their supply chain are effectively making the use of Just in Time inventory system (Hugos, 2006). Benefits of Just in Time inventory System There are lots of advantages in implementing JIT lean manufacturing. JIT makes manufacturing operations competent, cost efficient and customer responsive. It allows producers to acquire and collect materials just before theyre needed, thus lessening the cost and trouble of administrating redundant parts. With the constantly changing demand JIT is apt to the producers’ needs of purchasing new inventory all the time. By acquiring only a limited and certain amount of inventory, the costs are saved and if the demand of a product goes down, the manufacturers are saved from huge losses they might incur from extra inventory that has gone outdated. Not only the inventory problems, producing the right quantity of goods saves the companies from accumulating capital in unsold inventory. Hence, there is no waste during production and demand is accurately met (Muller, 2003). Demerits of Just in Time System Even though the Just in Time system has some advantages, it lacks at some points. Just in Time system if not kept well can disrupt the whole supply chain of an organization. The companies which produce goods that have fluctuating demand can find it difficult to implement Just in Time. The demand does not allow the manufacturers to rely on a certain quantity of material. If the demand is too low, their inventory can go in waste, and if the demand is too high, they might not be able to fulfill the demand completely in a single batch of production (Sharma Narayan, 2010) (from UIU Library). Just in Time has got some major risks associated with it. In countries like Pakistan and India where labor strikes and political instability makes it difficult to ascertain the demand and if the supplies don’t reach the factories and plants on time, supply chain can disrupt. However, these issues can be overcome by making sure that transportation and logistics are well looked upon and alliances are built with suppliers to ensure that supplies are received right on time. Moreover, the concept of safety stock also comes into existence as the risk out running out of stock increase (Muller, 2003). Practical Application  JIT is a philosophy and can not be implemented as a complete science. However, with minor changes, it can be effectively put into practice. Dell, a famous computer manufacturer has made a successful application of JIT system. The company produces customized PCs and laptops for its customers only when it receives the order. The manufacturer to customer model of selling has also made it very successful and it has also helped the organization to establish its unique selling proposition effectively (Piasecki, 2003). Wal-Mart is another organization with an excellent supply chain and is the world leader in whole sell. It has also made a successful implementation of JIT system. Another organization that is very famous for its initiative of JIT system is none other than Toyota. Toyota has made the use of JIT as well as other philosophies such as Kanban and Kaizen. Their concepts of continuous improvement and card system have made their assembly line produce the car at cheap rate. It might seem that with low cost cars, quality might not be as satisfactory as it supposed to be, but, Toyota has implemented some major quality control system. Six sigma is the foundation of their quality. They have come up with different terms that identify how well the work is going on in the organization. Hence, Toyota is an example that can not be eliminated from the success given by JIT system (Monden, 1998). Conclusion JIT system is highly successful of implemented with complete knowledge and care. The idea of the system is to eliminate waste and save costs that are stuck with several kinds of waste during a production process.

Its Time for States to Secede from the Union :: Politics Political Essays

It's Time for States to Secede from the Union There is clear evidence that Congress, the White House, as well as the Courts, have vastly exceeded powers delegated to them by our Constitution. To have an appreciation for the magnitude of the usurpation, one need only read Federalist Paper 45, where James Madison the acknowledged father of our Constitution explained, "The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the Federal Government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State Governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will for the most part be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects, which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties and properties of the people; and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State." Short of some kind of cataclysmic event liberties lost are seldom regained but there is an outside chance to regain them if enough liberty-minded Americans were to pursue Free State Project's proposal to set up New Hampshire as a free state. Free State Project (www.freestateproject.org) intends to get 20,000 or so Americans to become residents of New Hampshire. Through a peaceful political process they hope to assume leadership in the state's legislature and executive offices and reduce burdensome taxation and regulation, reform state and local law, end federal mandates that violate the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and restore constitutional federalism as envisioned by the nation's Founders. Since there is only a remote possibility of successful negotiation with Congress, the Courts and White House to obey the U.S. Constitution, it is my guess that liberty could only realized by a unilateral declaration of independence - namely, part company - in a word secede. While our Constitution is silent about secession, there is clear evidence that our Founders saw it as an option. On March 2, 1861, after seven states had seceded and two days before Abraham Lincoln's inauguration, Senator James R. Doolittle (WI) proposed a constitutional amendment that said, "No State or any part thereof, heretofore admitted or hereafter admitted into the Union, shall have the power to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the United States." Several months earlier Representatives Daniel E. Sickles (NY), Thomas B. Florence (PA) and Otis S.

Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions Essay

Question 1 Can ICTs be innovatively used in the absence of minimum literacy levels among the poor? Yes, I believe ICTs can be innovatively used in the absence of minimum literacy levels among the poor. ICTs enable societies to produce, access, adapt and apply information in greater amounts, more rapidly and at reduced costs and offer enormous opportunities for enhancing business and economic viability. ICTs can also contribute towards strengthening democracy, increasing social participation, competing in the global market place and removing barriers to modernization; making poor populations fuller agents in the sustainable developmental process. The minimum requirements of ICT facilities require a computer with connection (3G, Wi-Fi, etc.). Unfortunately above mentioned is expensive, the poorest of the poor would not be able to afford it. Connectivity of mobile phones is also limited. Thus in order for ICTs to be innovatively used in the absence of minimum literacy levels among the poor, the above mentioned obstacles must be overcome. While poor nations grapple with the problems of investing in these technologies, recent experiments show that convergence of new and traditional communication media is still relevant to poor communities who lack basic infrastructure such as roads, water, electricity and telephones. ICTs are not just about technologies, but more about information transfer and communication. My aunt, ninety-six years of age, and my uncle, ninety years of age, rely exclusively on verbal communications. They have learned at an early age, that to observe and to be able to accurately account what had happened was of outmost importance – therefore their reliance on verbal communication. The elderly in our community therefore rely on the radio, and if available the television, as the means of communication with the outside world. Here it must be stressed that the language of communication must be in their own native tongue. My little girl is more adapt than me handling my cell-phone or tablet, yet she is also able to communicate with the outside world at her level. The scenario above illustrate that there is a definite need to ensure that information reach the elderly as well as the young of heart. Using innovative ways of applying ICTs we will be able to address this dire need. To reach this goal, communities must pool together to establish the basic infrastructure needed to roll out the information highway. The combination of radio, television and internet must be utilize to improve the level of education. Our government has projects in place to assist communities to have access to internet, especially our youth. Schools offer computer classes to scholars from Grade 1, to name but a few. Question 2 How can the same ICTs be used for multiple purposes? What steps are needed to use, say the internet for meeting the educational and health needs of poor female farmers in an isolated rural community? The same ICTs can be used in a variety of communication fields, from education and healthcare, to agriculture and business. For example, a radio can broadcast important news, financial news, weather, even educational programs. Thus spanning one form of ICT into a variety of sectors. Poverty reduction ICTs are considered increasingly important in the effort to eradicate poverty. It is widely recognized that ICTs can provide access to information which can in turn create earning opportunities, improve access to basic services, increase the impact of education and health interventions, and give the poor a voice to demand government support and reforms. Despite these potential links between ICTs and poverty reduction, direct access by the poor to ICTs is extremely limited. Citizens of poor countries, especially women, have significantly less access to ICTs than those living in rich countries. Factors such as excessive domestic workload, illiteracy and lack of formal education prevent these groups from accessing information. Poverty reduction means focusing on particular groups within societies not on ‘poor countries’. Education It is generally believed that ICTs can empower teachers and learners, making significant contributions to learning and achievement. However, current research on the impacts of ICTs on student achievement yields few conclusive statements, pro or con, about the use of ICTs in education. ICTs do offer many beneficial opportunities for education, but they are no substitute for formal schooling. Teachers need to be empowered to use ICTs so that they can gain the confidence and skills to work in an ICT – driven environment. Health ICTs can play a critical role in improving health care for individuals and communities. By providing new and more efficient ways of accessing, communicating, and storing information, ICTs can help bridge the information divides that have emerged in the health sector in developing countries—between health professionals and the communities they serve and between the producers of health research and the practitioners who need it. Through the development of databases and other applications, ICTs also provide the capacity to improve health system efficiencies and prevent medical errors. Gender Women’s ability to take advantage of ICT is dependent on conductive policies, an enabling environment in their countries to extend communications infrastructure to where women live, and increased educational levels.

Understanding Electrical, Thermal, and Sound Conductors

In science, a conductor is a material that permits a flow of energy. A material that allows the flow of charged particles is an electrical conductor. A material that enables the transfer of thermal energy is a thermal conductor or heat conductor. Although electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are most common, other types of energy may be transferred. For example, a material that allows the passage of sound is a sonic (acoustic) conductor  (sonic conductance relates to fluid flow in engineering). Conductor vs. Insulator While a conductor transmits energy, an insulator slows or stops its passage. Some materials can be both a conductor and an insulator at the same time for different forms of energy. For example, most diamonds conduct heat exceptionally well, yet they are electrical insulators. Metals conduct heat, electricity, and sound. Electrical Conductors Electrical conductors transmit electrical charge in one or more directions. Any charged particle may be transmitted, however, since electrons surround atoms, while protons are usually bound within the nucleus, its much more common for electrons to move than protons. Either positive or negative charged ions also can transfer charge, as in seawater. Charged subatomic particles may also move through certain materials. How well a given material allows charge flow depends not only on its composition but also on its dimensions. A thick copper wire is a better conductor than a thin one; a short wire conducts better than a long one. Opposition to the flow of charge is called electrical resistance. Most metals are electrical conductors. Some examples of excellent electrical conductors are: SilverGoldCopperSeawaterSteelGraphite Examples of electrical insulators include: GlassMost PlasticsPure Water Thermal Conductors Most metals are also excellent thermal conductors. Thermal conductivity is heat transfer. This occurs when subatomic particles, atoms, or molecules gain kinetic energy and collide with each other. Thermal conduction always moves in the direction of highest to lowest heat (hot to cold) and depends not only on the nature of the material but also on the temperature difference between them. Although thermal conductivity occurs in all states of matter, its greatest in solids because particles are packed more closely together than in liquids or gases.   Examples of good thermal conductors include: SteelMercuryConcreteGranite Examples of thermal insulators include: WoolSilkMost PlasticsInsulationFeathersAirWater Sound Conductors Transmission of sound through a material depends on the density of the matter because sound waves require a medium to travel. So, higher density substances are better sound conductors than low-density materials. A vacuum cannot transfer sound at all. Examples of good sound conductors include: LeadSteelConcrete Examples of poor sound conductors would be: FeathersAirCardboard