Just-in-time inventory management represents the continual pursuit of productivity
through the elimination of waste. Non-value-added activities are a major source
of waste. From Chapter 12, we know that non-value-added activities are either unnecessary
or necessary, but inefficient and improvable. Necessary activities are essential to
the business and/or are of value to customers. Eliminating non-value-added activities
is a major thrust of JIT, but it is also a basic objective of any company following the
path of continuous improvement—regardless of whether or not JIT is being used