Barriers to Implementing Just in Time (JIT) Inventory Management Among Coffee Shop MSMEs in Jember Regency

Key findings from this study

• The study found that while some coffee shop MSMEs have adopted JIT systems, most encounter significant barriers preventing comprehensive implementation.
• The researchers identify inconsistent raw material quality, price fluctuations, supplier unreliability, and high transportation costs as primary obstacles to JIT adoption.
• The authors report that effective supplier selection, rigorous stock planning, and systematic quality monitoring are essential mechanisms for overcoming JIT implementation barriers.

Overview

This study examines barriers to Just in Time (JIT) inventory management implementation among coffee shop micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) in Jember Regency, East Java. The research region functions as a major coffee production center where local coffee shops operate under competitive pressure from larger brands. The study categorizes both implementation success and obstacles that constrain comprehensive JIT adoption within this MSME sector.

Methods and approach

The researchers employed a descriptive qualitative methodology, conducting in-depth interviews and participant observation across 14 local coffee shops. Data collection focused on operational practices, inventory management approaches, and factors influencing adoption decisions. The sample represented the coffee shop MSME population in Jember Regency experiencing competitive market conditions.

Results

Some MSMEs within the sample had initiated JIT adoption, yet the majority encountered substantial implementation barriers. Primary obstacles included inconsistent coffee quality, raw material price volatility, supplier dependability issues, and elevated storage and transportation expenses. These constraints prevented full JIT system deployment and created operational efficiency challenges. The study identifies supplier selection quality, stock planning effectiveness, and quality monitoring rigor as critical mechanisms for overcoming identified barriers.

Implications

The research establishes that JIT implementation among coffee shop MSMEs requires strategic attention to supply chain reliability and cost structure management. Local enterprises cannot adopt JIT through process optimization alone; they must simultaneously address supplier consistency, material cost predictability, and transportation economics. These findings demonstrate that sector-specific constraints shape feasibility of inventory management innovations differently than in larger enterprises or different industries.

The study contributes to understanding how MSMEs in commodity-dependent sectors navigate modern inventory management systems. Coffee shop operators must reconcile JIT principles with agricultural input volatility and limited logistics infrastructure. Implementation success depends on deliberate supplier partnerships, sophisticated demand forecasting, and quality assurance protocols tailored to resource-constrained operations.

Findings hold significance for local economic development policy and MSME support programs. Interventions targeting inventory management improvement require attention to upstream supplier networks and input cost stabilization. Policymakers and business development organizations can leverage these insights when designing support mechanisms for coffee sector MSMEs facing intensified competition.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.