A motorcycle manufacturer is currently using a conventional processing system. Recently work-in-process inventory has been piling up at two stations along the assembly line. These machines have limited capacity and are bottlenecks. Inventory is backing up all the way back to the stockroom so that you are out of warehouse space and have a hard time unloading trucks from your suppliers. To eliminate this problem, management discussed the possibility of implementing just-in-time manufacturing.

1. Is that the best solution to this issue? Discuss the advantages and concerns with implementing JIT. 2. What is the role of suppliers in implementing JIT and how might you provide incentives for them to work with you?