Over this period, research converged on end-to-end optimization across production, distribution, and inventory, while strengthening the link between shop-floor flow and broader supply chain performance. Just-in-Time and Kanban emerged as core mechanisms to reduce inventories, elevate flow, and center operations on worker dignity and continuous improvement. This era also formalized hierarchical and multi-echelon planning as essential structures for scalable, responsive manufacturing. Historical Significance: The period seeded lean thinking and early supply chain management scholarship; it established a paradigm shift from isolated functional optimization to integrated systems design and process synchronization. The highlighted works demonstrated that end-to-end coordination and pull-based control could yield substantial efficiency gains, influencing later ERP systems, supply chain practices, and sophisticated inventory strategies.