Foster, G. and C. T. Horngren. 1987. Cost accounting and cost management in a JIT environment. Management Accounting (June): 19-25.

Summarized by Patrick Brisley
Master of Accountancy Program
University of South Florida, Fall 2000

JIT Main Page | Cost Management Main Page

The purpose of this paper is to describe the various components of a just-in-time system and how they are related to cost accounting.

Just in Time (JIT)—a philosophy that focuses on undertaking activities immediately as needed
                                or demanded. Four pivotal aspects to JIT:
    1. The elimination of all activities that do not add value to a product or service.
    2. A commitment to a higher level of quality.
    3. A commitment to continuous improvement in the efficiency of an activity.
    4. An emphasis on simplification and increased visibility to identify activities that do not add value.
                      JIT Purchasing—Calls for goods to be delivered immediately before demand 
                                                  or use.

 Purchasing activity costs are reduced by:

    1. Long-term agreements with suppliers that stipulate price and quality levels.
    2. Frequent communication about quality and delivery specifications
    3. Use of shop-ready containers.
    4. Minimize quality and quantity inspections by purchasers.

 Cost Accounting system is improved by:

    1. Increases the direct traceability of costs.
    2. Changes the cost pools used to accumulate costs.
    3. Changes the bases used to allocate indirect costs to production departments.
    4. Reduces emphasis on individual purchase price variance information.
    5. Reduces the frequency or detail of reporting of purchase deliveries.

    JIT Production—Each component on a production line is produced immediately as needed by the next step in the production line. Key aspects include:

      1. The production line is run on a demand-pull basis.
      2. Emphasis is on reducing the production lead time.
      3. The production line is stopped if WIP is found defective.
      4. Simplify activities on the production line to identify non-value added activities.

    Cost Accounting system is improved by:

      1. Increases the direct traceability of costs.
      2. Reduction in the cost pools.
      3. Reduced emphasis on individual labor and overhead variances.
      1. Cost planning—Started before production begins and in some cases before the production line is constructed.
      2. Cost Reduction—Occurs in both pre-production and production stages.
      3. Cost Controls—Occurs during production
        • No single blueprint for implementing JIT, however one common theme is the simplification of all activities.