How does the Just in Time construction process optimize project efficiency?

Table of contents

• What is Just-in-Time construction?
• Just-in-Time Building Principles
• Just-in-Time Benefits for Construction
• Challenges of Implementing JIT in construction
• Technology for JIT efficiency
• JIT Construction Example 
• When to Leverage Just in Time Project Management

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Lean construction techniques are growing in popularity as companies do more with less by making smart changes and moving away from tactics the industry has used for decades. One of the more popular concepts is Just in Time, and its goal is to prevent waste while also streamlining processes. That’s a tall order.

JIT fits neatly inside lean thinking. When teams use just in time construction, they aim to bring the right material to the right place at the right moment—no earlier, no later. 

Many companies are choosing these principles to improve their bottom line, simplify their operations, and eliminate unnecessary waste in terms of spending and materials. Here’s what you need to know about Just-in-Time so you can decide if it’s worth testing on your next project.

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Just-in-Time was originally a manufacturing material policy originating in Japan. Through this policy, companies save money by ordering the exact quantity of materials needed for a specific task and having it delivered exactly when it is needed. The Toyota Production System is one of the most prominent success stories of JIT ordering.

Some companies within the construction industry apply similar philosophies for their ordering systems. They build solid relationships with suppliers and manage them closely in order to receive the materials needed for each phase of the project without carrying excess inventory or moving it multiple times—core benefits of just-in-time methods.

In practice, just in time in construction means your delivery slots mirror your look-ahead plan. Crews install what shows up that day, which reduces double-handling, storage, and damage.

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There are three core principles guiding the Just-in-Time philosophy. They include minimizing waste, continuously improving, and strong communication.

Minimizing Waste: The goal of Just in Time, whether in manufacturing or construction, is to reduce all types of waste. This includes materials, time, money, and labor.

Continuous Improvement: JIT is heavily influenced by the Kaizen philosophy, a Japanese term that means “change for the better.” The idea is to focus on making small improvements every day.

Collaboration and Communication: Using JIT inventory requires clear, effective communication among everyone involved in the project. Effective communication leads to better coordination, helping teams order the right items for the right time and install them with fewer mistakes or reorders.

Teams that practice just in time lean construction often tie their weekly work plan to supplier commitments so deliveries land inside a tight window.

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Using just-in-time delivery methods may feel unfamiliar, but the benefits can be worth the effort.

Waste reduction

The biggest benefit is reduced waste. JIT avoids bulk ordering and keeps extra materials off the site. Materials are less likely to be damaged or under-utilized. Fewer stockpiles also mean safer paths and cleaner staging areas—practical wins for just in time building.
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Savings

Just-in-Time ordering can save companies money. Since exact orders are placed, companies avoid paying for extra materials. Also, since extra materials don’t need to be stored or moved from site to storage, there aren’t excess handling costs.
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Reduced storage needs

Since there aren’t stockpiles of materials to deal with, construction companies using JIT inventory enjoy reduced storage needs. Rather than needing an entire yard or warehouse, teams can order exactly what they need and have it delivered to the job site when they need it.
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That’s the core of just in time delivery construction—materials arrive as crews are ready to install.
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Streamlined efficiency

Utilizing JIT in materials ordering keeps crews focused on the task at hand. The materials they need are on site right when they need them. They don’t have lengthy waits, and they don’t have to travel back and forth from a warehouse to the project. This allows the team to work faster and avoid delays.

Also, the process of ordering materials is more streamlined through the relationships the company maintains with its trusted material suppliers. Over time, this becomes a faster, more efficient relationship.
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When your look-ahead schedule drives just in time construction deliveries, procurement knows what to place, and logistics knows when to stage.
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Improve quality control

With fewer materials arriving at once, construction staff can focus more attention on quality control. Any damaged materials can be returned and reordered faster than with bulk methods, preventing customer-supplier disputes. There is also less tendency to store materials in poor conditions, as they’ll likely head straight to installation.

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There’s no denying that JIT is a philosophy rather than a single business practice, so there are real-world challenges with implementation:

Supplier Reliability: For JIT to work, it requires dependable and steady supply chains. The entire process relies on trusting suppliers to get the materials on time. However, when pandemics, natural disasters or geopolitical conflicts disrupt the dependability, revamp your process with buffers before abandoning JIT altogether. 

Project Requirements:  Each project has unique circumstances, which can make a one-size-fits-all system hard. It’s a better fit for some scopes and phases than others.

Long Lead Times: Long lead items can throw off JIT. Some materials may be too hard to get or too risky to slot into a narrow window.

On-Site Storage: Even though JIT aims to deliver only what’s needed, many sites still require short-term staging. That needs space planning and clear site logistics.

Schedule Changes: Changes in the project timeline can make implementing and using JIT difficult if deliveries are locked into tight windows.

It’s important to build buffers in the master schedule, plan deliveries backward from install dates, and meet often to confirm access and traffic routing. This is standard just-in-time construction practice on busy sites.

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Attempting to manage JIT with email threads and spreadsheets is a recipe for delays. 

Platforms like Veyor, Krane,Field Materials and Buildots are leading the way in JIT for construction. Veyor focuses on real-time delivery coordination, Krane acts as a supply chain “control tower,” and Field Materials automates procurement to cut delays. Buildots brings AI-driven progress tracking, giving teams the visibility they need to sync material arrivals with actual site conditions. Together, they help projects avoid material bottlenecks and keep deliveries aligned with the schedule.

And, construction scheduling and planning software like Outbuild can help companies make JIT a practical reality. Outbuild connects the plan to the schedule and the lookahead so users can coordinate inventory and project progress.

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Outbuild supports just in time project management by syncing schedule tasks with material needs, tracking constraints, and showing who owns each delivery on the weekly work plan.

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Project:
A GC building a 180,000-sf cold-storage facility

Challenge:
Dock equipment, insulated wall panels, and switchgear were long-lead. The jobsite had tight urban access and zero spare laydown.

Approach:
The team used Outbuild to drive jit construction:

• Linked the six-week look-ahead to procurement “need-by” dates.
  
  
• Logged constraints for submittals, inspections, and hoist time, each with an owner and due date.
  
  
• Scheduled just in time construction deliveries in daily slots
  
  
• Set “plan B” items (local rental panels and temporary gear) in case weather or traffic spiked.
  
  

What happened:
A tropical storm delayed the switchgear shipment by four days. When the superintendent pushed out the installation task, Outbuild automatically flagged the change and created a Schedule Impact Request (SIR). The Project Manager reviewed the impact on downstream activities, swapped in a temporary gear plan, and adjusted the schedule accordingly—keeping the commissioning window intact.

Results:

• 12 calendar days saved vs. the original contingency.
  
  
• 42% reduction in on-site inventory during the panel phase.
  
  
• PPC rose from 72% to 86% over six weeks as crews installed what arrived that day.
  
  
• No re-handles, no damage claims, and zero wasted truck rolls. The superintendent’s summary: “We finally stopped playing ‘warehouse.’ Materials showed up, got installed, and we moved on.”
  
  

Why it worked:
The team treated Outbuild as the single source for just in time in construction logic—look-aheads matched procurement, subs booked slots early, and the plan adjusted fast when shipping slipped.

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Use JIT project management when space is tight, scopes are repeatable (e.g., units, bays, racking), and suppliers are proven. Pair it with frequent huddles and a strict delivery calendar. 

If lead times are volatile, add small buffers and a fallback vendor. This keeps just in time construction practical without risking the critical path.

Are you ready for less mess and less stress? Book a demo or start your 14-day free trial today!

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