Toyota adopted these three Japanese words as part of their product improvement program, due to their familiarity in common usage.
These systems supply the production process with the right part, at the right time, in the right amount, using first-in, first-out (FIFO) component flow.
For example: If parts or material defects are found in one process, the just-in-time approach requires that the problem be quickly identified and corrected.
Production leveling, also called heijunka, and frequent deliveries to customer are key to identifying and eliminating mura.
Another means of detecting and reducing mura is increasing the process' standardization—ensuring that all workers understand and can handle each type of request that they come across along a clear, step-by-step protocol.