Just-in-time (JIT) is a production strategy in which a company only produces an item after a buyer has made an order, therefore keeping inventories low. Lower inventories make a company look more efficient and also boost the return on total assets (ROTA), a key measure of how well a company uses funds to boost profits. JIT allows companies to spend less on parts and labor, as well as limit the risk of items losing value from sitting around too long.