Known as the in Japan, presents the genius of Hiroyuki Hirano, a top international consultant with vast experience throughout Asia and the West. Encyclopedic in scope, this six-volume practical reference provides unparalleled information on every aspect of JIT— the waste-eliminating, market-oriented production system. This historic, yet timeless classic is just as crucial in today’s fast-changing global marketplace as when it was first published in Japan 20 years ago. Covering all the techniques essential to setting up a flow production system in manufacturing, includes a basic introduction to the relationship between inventory and flow production and their roles in manufacturing. It also provides discussion of multi-process operations and precautions and procedures for developing them. Outlining the key topic of labor cost reduction and steps to achieving it, this definitive volume also covers the essentials of and visual control systems in a flow manufacturing environment.