The wartime risk in just-in-time logistics

Why does just-in-time delivery create problems for navies and war fighting?

The enemy does not wait for the supply chain, so a navy cannot assume it will choose the moment when war begins.

Just-in-time delivery assumes supplies can arrive when the customer needs them. In war, the enemy can act before a delivery arrives and can deny the freedom to choose when operations begin. The exchange criticizes the planning assumption that all future wars will be wars of choice. If that assumption fails, a force can be committed before its supply system is ready.