Just In Time Inventory (JIT)

The Olde Schoole way of keeping inventory was to buy 4,096 car tires, and build a warehouse to store them. Then, as the Model T's floated by on the assembly line, the tires would be worked down until there were a hundred or so remaining, at which time Henry would call the Firestone family and the process would begin again. "Just In Time" inventory is the opposite structure, in that a car maker might keep just 100 or so tires around (no warehouse needed)… but the Firestones would restock the tire supply every 48ish hours or so... i.e., supplying tire inventory "just in time."