3. Just-in-time manufacturing system
3.1. General descriptions
In this paper, the Pull-type and the Hybrid-type manu- facturing systems are analysed. Both of the
JIT manufactur- ing systems are modelled as a six-station flow line model. For the Pull-type
manufacturing system, it is scheduled that station k withdraws materials from the previous
station k - 1. After completing the process required on station k, the WIP from this station are
send forward to the down- stream station k + 1, at the same time the kanban card will be sending
backward to the upstream station k - 1, which actuates the production of the next container of
material. Moreover, station k - 1 will trigger the production process when it receives both the
kanban signal from station k and the required material from k - 2 station. Fig. 1 shows the
mechanism of material and message flow in the Pull-type manufacturing system. In other words, every
station will not start the production process unless both a kanban signal and
the relevant input material are present.