Just in time
Published: Thu, 08/15/19
Some years ago, when my mother was in her mid eighties, she had a fall. Apparently she fell forwards onto the pavement having tripped on something like an uneven paving slab. Afterwards she showed me her injuries, which amounted to some very minor abrasions on her elbows. It was summer time and if the weather had been colder and she had been wearing a coat or jacket she would not have even have scratched her skin. She told me that when she realised that she was falling she knew that she didn’t want to break her wrists or hit her face on the ground. So, she made sure that she landed on her open hands and forearms and took the impact there. I would like to make it clear that my mother knows nothing about martial arts but between losing her balance and hitting the ground an eighty five year old woman invented, and perfectly executed, a forward break fall. My apologies if you have heard that story before, but it illustrates the ‘just
in time’ principle perfectly which is the theme of this post.
One of the big fears around Brexit seems to be the effect it will have on ‘just in time’ supply chains. If you are not familiar with the term it simply means an approach to supply that orders what you need ‘just in time’ for when you need it rather than maintaining massive stocks and inventories of raw materials and parts and hoping to use them up eventually. Computerised stock control makes this approach particularly appropriate since computers can monitor stock levels and alert a person when resupply is needed. In fact computers can order stuff automatically if that is appropriate. This way manufacturers and retailers do not accumulate, store and have to pay for, stuff that they may not actually need. The lack of border controls and customs checks makes this process is quite easy to manage within the EU and there is fear that this will become much more difficult for the UK outside of the EU. On the other hand, China was not in
the EU last time I checked and vast quantities of parts and goods are supplied all over the world on a just in time basis from China. So I suspect that problem will be solved easily enough when the time comes.
Of course there are some things which should be kept in strategic reserves in case supply chains are disrupted by factors such as weather, war or some other disruption. This might include fuel, drinking water, and basic food and medical supplies. However, apart from really basic essentials the modern just it time system seems to be pretty efficient and robust, if one route of supply were to fail then three others would probably take its place within days.
Yesterday I suggested that information is just a tool which is pretty useless unless we use it. Knowledge is a resource which can be accumulated in vast quantities, but like a huge stock of fresh food, it may well spoil long before anyone gets a chance to consume it. At a risk of straining metaphors, I would suggest that a strategic reserve of knowledge should cover basics such as how to read, how to find information in books and on line. I know the internet seems to make finding information very easy. However, we do not yet know how robust our digital networks and devices really are or to what extent on line knowledge can be controlled, censored, or even deleted, by those with evil intent. Access to printed books is always going to be important if we want long term security and integrity in our sources of knowledge. Other strategic knowledge should include basic survival skills, how to protect yourself and how to maintain your
health and well being. This should be knowledge which you practice and use on a regular basis. As for anything else? Don’t worry too much about it, when you really need to know something you will either figure it out for yourself or you will know exactly which question to ask someone who does know more than you.
Stav is a very good example of an education method based on the ‘just in time’ principle. Sixteen runes, each one has basic associations and a web of knowledge is formed which will lead you to the answers you need as you need them. There is no need to accumulate more than the minimum amount of knowledge and the simplicity of the sixteen rune Futhork should also remind us that we often accumulate knowledge, not because we need it, but because we think we are doing something useful and it makes us feel safe.
Are you using the accumulation of knowledge as an excuse for not really achieving anything? Or are you prepared to make a start with what you have and trust that the rest will come when you need it? Not drowning in information and being prepared to trust that knowledge will be found just in time are two major factors in succeeding or failing. There are three more factors to consider though, next one tomorrow.
regards Graham
PS There are certain skills everyone should have though and I was doing my best to share some of them at the Runes and Trees Retreat in June, report and some pictures here if you have not already seen it http://rr.stavcamp.org/
PPS In October Maddy Elruna and I are teaching a course together where we will endeavor to cover the basics of Stav from a Seid and Galdre point of view. A limit to what we can cover in one weekend but, as I hope I have indicated above, that does not matter, as the basics are really all you need https://www.maddyelruna.co.uk/stav-gathering?fbclid=IwAR1Jg_7cQuKUxrWeUPlQLSv40jbfZHc_L_RYfJ7Ff641Wx4l28I408_9m7E