Final answer:
JIT, or Just-in-Time, is a component of lean production, focusing specifically on inventory control by minimizing stock levels, while lean production is a broader efficiency and waste reduction philosophy. Although similar, JIT is not identical to lean production, with JIT being part of the larger lean production framework.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a broad sense, Just-in-Time (JIT) is similar but not identical to lean production. While both JIT and lean production focus on reducing waste and increasing efficiency, JIT is a strategy that specifically addresses inventory management by receiving goods only as they are needed in the production process, therefore reducing inventory costs. This contrasts with lean production, which is a broader philosophy that encompasses JIT along with various other practices aimed at improving overall efficiency, such as streamlining operations, eliminating non-value-adding steps, and promoting continuous improvement. In the 1980s, American car manufacturers adopted JIT, leading to a change in the supply chain system, where parts suppliers had to be located within one day's drive to the main assembly plants. This had significant effects on warehousing jobs, wage levels, and union leverage.