Heijunka

<p><strong>Heijunka</strong> (Japanese for production leveling or production smoothing) is a key technique in achieving <strong>Just-In-Time (JIT) production</strong>. Its purpose is to <strong>smooth production across all departments and suppliers</strong> ensuring a steady and predictable workflow while minimizing inventory.</p><p>Heijunka works by <strong>leveling both production volume and product mix</strong>. Instead of producing strictly according to fluctuating customer orders it distributes the total demand over a period maintaining a consistent daily output. This <strong>steady pace supports upstream and downstream operations</strong> reduces waste and helps teams consistently meet the defined <strong>takt time</strong>.</p><p>By implementing Heijunka organizations can <strong>stabilize operations improve flow and maximize value</strong> throughout the production system.</p>