A new approach in logistics management: just in time-logistics (JIT-L)

Companies which have to operate in a continuously changing and increasing competitive environment, have started to pay special attention to their supply chain management in order to have a sustainable competitiveness. Therefore, recently logistics management has become an important tool to increase competitiveness of companies. Logistics management can be defined as a part of the supply chain which plans, implements and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customer requirements. Just In Time (JIT) management which was first applied by Toyota Corporation, involves delivery of necessary goods to the production line just in time without any raw materials storage. As a current concept, Just In Time Logistics (JIT-L) can be also defined as the application of JIT management philosophy to four main components of the logistics including i) customer services, ii) order processing, iii) inventory management and iv) transportation management. The aim of this study is to present importance of Just In Time Logistics for the companies and discuss why JIT-L should be considered as a logistics strategy by companies. To achieve this aim, papers and reports on JIT-L have been examined, and hence a review paper on JIT-L has been prepared to enhance the current understanding on JIT-L. According to the study, waste elimination and improvement of service quality objectives of the JIT also relate with business logistics. Application of JIT philosophy to the logistics area results in several benefits such as determination of waste sources, increasing delivery speed of goods to customers, improvement of processes by organizing business requirements and man power plans for logistics, and increasing harmony among suppliers and customers. Accordingly, the information, presented in this study, is expected to be beneficial for logistics companies, logistics departments in large companies and academicians who work in the area of logistics. Consequently, this study plays an important role to present both conceptual and applied information on Just In Time Logistics which is a subject, has not been investigated and discussed deeply in Turkey, yet.