Traditional manufacturing systems use $$push$$ production, whereas JIT uses $$pull$$ production. Push systems anticipate future demand and produce in advance in order to have products in place when demand occurs. This system usually results in excess inventory. Pull systems work backwards. The last workstation in the production line $($or the customer$)$ requests the precise amounts of materials required.

JIT manufacturing is a coordinated production system that enables the right quantities of parts to arrive when they are needed precisely where they are needed. Key elements of JIT manufacturing are the pull system and kanban production, small lot sizes and quick setups, uniform plant loading, flexible resources, and streamlined layout.