Shingo, whose work at Toyota led to Just in Time Manufacturing, teaches how to implement non-stock production in JIT operations. The culmination of his extensive writings on production and improvement, this book provides a companion to his other landmark books on key elements of JIT, including SMED and poka-yoke. He covers basic concepts for improving production, and in examining various production systems, exposes fundamental flaws in European and American production philosophies. He also delves into the scientific thinking mechanism -- a new approach to improvement, and discusses production functions in both authorized stock production and  non-stock production environments.