The automotive industry led the world to a new production paradigm twice in the course of the twentieth century. It switched from crafts to mass production in the 1920s and to lean production in the 1980s and 1990s. Although a large number of key elements in the lean production system have been identified (teamwork, zero buffer principle, total quality control, simultaneous engineering, integrated supply chain, etc.), still lacking is general agreement on the implications for employee relations policies and practices. Consequently, questions about the lean production system require further investigation and different answers. Obviously, the automotive industry’s reorganisation should be viewed in the context of the globalisation process. In recent years, international competition and technological innovations have induced radical changes in the organisation of automotive production and closer attention to human resource issues. Taking account of these changes, the aim of this book is to answer various questions: What types of changes are produced by the globalization process? What is the main direction of production reorganisation? How are relations among companies changing? What is now the main role of trade unions? Are regime competition and reorganisation undermining acquired labour standards? Are there concrete differences among the various stages of the industry’s value chain, and between OEMs and suppliers?
The Automotive Industry in Italy. Fiat's Place in the Auto Industry
CAPUTO, Paolo;DELLA CORTE E.
2008-01-01
Abstract
The automotive industry led the world to a new production paradigm twice in the course of the twentieth century. It switched from crafts to mass production in the 1920s and to lean production in the 1980s and 1990s. Although a large number of key elements in the lean production system have been identified (teamwork, zero buffer principle, total quality control, simultaneous engineering, integrated supply chain, etc.), still lacking is general agreement on the implications for employee relations policies and practices. Consequently, questions about the lean production system require further investigation and different answers. Obviously, the automotive industry’s reorganisation should be viewed in the context of the globalisation process. In recent years, international competition and technological innovations have induced radical changes in the organisation of automotive production and closer attention to human resource issues. Taking account of these changes, the aim of this book is to answer various questions: What types of changes are produced by the globalization process? What is the main direction of production reorganisation? How are relations among companies changing? What is now the main role of trade unions? Are regime competition and reorganisation undermining acquired labour standards? Are there concrete differences among the various stages of the industry’s value chain, and between OEMs and suppliers?I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
