(3) Bidirectional supply chains are inherently JIT
With manufacturing supply chains, a major issue is where inventories will exist in the supply chain and the extent of those inventories. Manufacturers may choose to keep large inventories of supplied inputs to be prepared forfuture production, or to reduce inventories to low levels by implementing a JIT system (Chase et al., 1998, p. 327). JIT systems are based on careful timing of the delivery of processinputs.