As mentioned previously JIT/Lean operation is not viewed as being applicable to every manufacturing context. In particular, the mix and volume characteristics of an organizations business can have a large impact upon the effectiveness of JIT/Lean application. The selected elements from the paper you are about to read (although you are advised to read the whole paper) outlines one authors view regarding where particular business conditions

limit the relevance and usefulness of JIT control and flow.

In essence, this particular author is arguing that lean production has developed, in addition to, rather than as a replacement for the other production systems such as batch and craft. He argues his case by showing that rather than adopting JIT flow a key element of the lean concept- how two Australian automotive companies use batch production (based upon a push system) instead. In addition, he outlines that it would be difficult in their environment to introduce JIT flow and levelled scheduling.

a) Outline and discuss the main arguments that Cooney puts forward to support the use of batch manufacture within the two companies.

b) Why is it suggested that leveled scheduling would not work in this environment?