To minimize costs many firms employ a production process in which a minimum of inventory is kept on the premises and parts, supplies, and other needs are delivered - - to go to the assembly line.

The production process you're referring to is known as Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory management. Here are the steps involved:

1. Forecasting Demand: The first step in JIT is to accurately forecast demand. This is crucial because JIT relies on precise timing, so companies need to know how much inventory to order and when to order it.

2. Building Relationships with Suppliers: JIT requires a strong relationship with suppliers. Since inventory is ordered as needed, suppliers must be reliable and able to deliver high-quality materials quickly.

3. Streamlining the Production Process: The production process must be efficient and flexible to respond to customer demand. This often involves using technology to automate processes and reduce waste.

4. Implementing a Pull System: In a pull system, work is only done when it is requested by the downstream process. This means that products are only made when there is a demand for them, reducing the amount of inventory that needs to be stored.

5. Continuous Improvement: JIT involves a commitment to continuous improvement. Companies must constantly look for ways to reduce waste and improve efficiency.

6. Quality Control: Since there is little to no inventory buffer, quality control becomes even more important in a JIT system. Companies need to ensure that their products are high-quality to avoid delays and rework.

7. Employee Involvement: Employees play a key role in JIT. They need to be trained and empowered to identify and solve problems, and to work towards improving processes.