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Automation, digitalization, and changes in occupational structures in the automobile industry in Germany, Japan, and the United States: a brief history from the early 1990s until 2018
[Managing flexible automation]

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  • Martin Krzywdzinski

Abstract

A major concern in the current public discussion is rapidly accelerating automation and in particular the use of robots. Many experts and researchers see it as a driver of employment losses hitting in particular so called routine jobs. The present study challenges this perspective. It examines two central questions: First, what approaches to automation and digitalization have been pursued in the automotive industry in Germany, Japan, and the United States? Second, how have employment and its occupational composition in the automotive industry developed in the three countries? The first part of the study focuses on the evolution of automation and digitalization approaches in the automotive industry from the early 1990s until today. It combines a qualitative analysis of press articles and a quantitative evaluation of the development of the stock of industrial robots from 1993 to 2018 based on the statistics of the International Federation of Robotics. The second part of the study focuses on the change in employment structures using occupational statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (US), the Federal Employment Agency (Germany), and the Statistics Bureau of Japan. The results of the study question the perception of an automation-related threat to employment and especially to production employment. At the same time, they highlight differences between automation and digitalization approaches in Germany, Japan, and the United States as well as different paths of change in employment structures.

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  • Martin Krzywdzinski, 2021. "Automation, digitalization, and changes in occupational structures in the automobile industry in Germany, Japan, and the United States: a brief history from the early 1990s until 2018 [Managing fle," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 30(3), pages 499-535.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:indcch:v:30:y:2021:i:3:p:499-535.
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    Cited by:

    1. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Butollo, Florian, 2022. "Combining Experiential Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence. The Digital Transformation of a Traditional Machine-Building Company," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 33(2), pages 161-184.
    2. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Butollo, Florian, 2022. "Combining Experiential Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence. The Digital Transformation of a Traditional Machine-Building Company," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 33(2), pages 161-184.
    3. Angelo Moro & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2022. "Towards Factory 4.0? Convergence and divergence of lean models in Italian automotive plants," International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 22(2), pages 245-271.
    4. Ewa Cieślik, 2024. "From traditional to digital servicification: Chinese services in European manufacturing," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 927-965, December.
    5. Montobbio, F. & Staccioli, J. & Virgillito, M.E. & Vivarelli, Marco, 2022. "The empirics of technology, employment and occupations," MERIT Working Papers 2022-037, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    6. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Pfeiffer, Sabine & Evers, Maren & Gerber, Christine, 2022. "Measuring work and workers: Wearables and digital assistance systems in manufacturing and logistics," Discussion Papers, Research Group Globalization, Work, and Production SP III 2022-301, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    7. Fabio Montobbio & Jacopo Staccioli & Maria Enrica Virgillito & Marco Vivarelli, 2024. "The empirics of technology, employment and occupations: Lessons learned and challenges ahead," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 1622-1655, December.
    8. Butollo, Florian & Gereffi, Gary & Yang, Chun & Krzywdzinski, Martin, 2022. "Digital transformation and value chains: Introduction," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(4), pages 585-594.
    9. Hancke, Robert & Mathei, Laurenz, 2024. "Varieties of just transitions in the European car industry," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122000, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Armanda Cetrulo & Giovanni Dosi & Angelo Moro & Linnea Nelli & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2023. "Automation, digitalization and decarbonization in the European automotive industry: a roadmap towards a just transition," LEM Papers Series 2023/36, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    11. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Pfeiffer, Sabine & Kuhlmann, Martin & Ottaiano, Mario & Heinlein, Michael & Ritter, Tobias & Neumer, Judith & Huchler, Norbert, 2025. "An uncertain elite: Professional differences and similarities between engineers and tech workers in times of digital transformation," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 19(1), pages 84-104.
    12. Filippi, Emilia & Bannò, Mariasole & Trento, Sandro, 2023. "Automation technologies and their impact on employment: A review, synthesis and future research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    13. Valeria Pulignano & Marco Hauptmeier & Dorien Frans, 2023. "Determinants of union strategies towards the twin digital and green transitions in the German and Belgian automotive industry," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 121-138, February.
    14. Heluo, Yuxi & Fabel, Oliver, 2024. "Job computerization, occupational employment and wages: A comparative study of the United States, Germany, and Japan," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    15. Martin Krzywdzinski & Detlef Gerst & Florian Butollo, 2023. "Promoting human-centred AI in the workplace. Trade unions and their strategies for regulating the use of AI in Germany," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 29(1), pages 53-70, February.
    16. Krzywdzinski, Martin & Gerst, Detlef & Butollo, Florian, 2022. "Promoting human-centred AI in the workplace. Trade unions and their strategies for regulating the use of AI in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue OnlineFir, pages 1-1.
    17. Fana, Marta & Villani, Davide, 2022. "Decomposing the Automotive Supply Chain: Employment, Value Added and Occupational Structure," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 407-419.
    18. Lechowski, Grzegorz & Krzywdzinski, Martin, 2022. "Emerging positions of German firms in the industrial internet of things: A global technological ecosystem perspective," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 22(4), pages 666-683.

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