Despite US government policymakers′ hopes for a return to US predominance in the marketplace, manufacturers face the fact that the Japanese manufacturing superiority is largely due to better quality, cost‐effective operations, and rapid response to customers. A few explanations for the US...

The contrast between Japanese purchasing practices and US traditional purchasing practices provides a good insight into the relative importance of JIT for US firms. Since the initial implementation of JIT purchasing in late 1980 by Kawasaki Motors (Lincoln plant), at least 50 companies in the US...