Just-in-Time Production: Efficient but Fragile

课文

1. Many factories now build cars or phones only when orders arrive, not before.

   如今许多工厂只在接到订单后才生产汽车或手机，而非提前生产。

2. This method cuts storage costs and avoids leftover stock piling up in warehouses.

   这种方法降低了仓储成本，避免了仓库中积压库存。

3. But if a key part fails to ship on time—say, a chip from overseas—the whole line stops.

   但若某个关键部件（如海外芯片）未能按时到货，整条生产线就会停工。

4. The 2021 global chip shortage showed how one small delay can freeze production worldwide.

   2021年全球芯片短缺表明，一个微小的延误就可能让全球生产陷入停滞。

5. Firms using this system often keep no backup suppliers, trusting perfect timing instead.

   采用该模式的企业往往不设备用供应商，而是依赖精准无误的交付节奏。

6. When storms hit ports or borders close suddenly, deliveries stall within days.

   一旦风暴袭击港口或边境突然关闭，物流数日内便会中断。

7. Consumers notice empty shelves long before managers realize the chain has broken.

   消费者早在管理者意识到供应链断裂之前，就已发现货架空空如也。

8. Still, companies love it because it boosts short-term profits and reduces waste.

   尽管如此，企业仍青睐此模式，因其能提升短期利润并减少浪费。

9. Yet resilience now means holding *some* extra parts—not just chasing speed and savings.

   然而，如今的韧性意味着需储备部分备用零部件，而不仅追求速度与成本节约。

10. Thinking about supply chains helps us understand why small disruptions ripple so far.

    思考供应链有助于我们理解：为何微小扰动会引发远超源头的连锁反应。