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Automatización flexible y economías de escala en países en desarrollo

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  • Ludovico Alcorta

Abstract

Este artículo presenta los resultados preliminares de un proyecto de investigación internacional llevado a cabo en Brasil, India, México, Tailandia, Turquía y Venezuela, acerca del grado de difusión de la automatización flexible (AF) en los países en desarrollo y de su impacto en la escala y alcance de producción a nivel de producto, planta y firma. Muestra que, si bien la difusión ha sido rápida en los países en estudio, especialmente en el caso de las máquinas herramientas de control numérico computarizado (CNC), ésta fue mucho menor que en los países desarrollados. El artículo analiza datos a nivel de firma sobre escala de producto y concluye que la automatización flexible no lleva necesariamente a reducciones en la escala de producto ni a aumentos en la variedad o alcance de la producción. Si bien ha habido un aumento de la 'variedad' de bienes producidos, éste ha sido muchas veces el resultado de un mayor rango de tamaños y de la integración vertical hacia la producción de componentes, y no tanto de manufactura de productos diferentes. El artículo concluye que, en comparación con tecnologías anteriores, la producción o capacidad de la mayoría de las plantas y firmas aumentó, lo cual vino acompañado de menores costos unitarios en el caso de algunas empresas, sugiriendo por tanto aumentos en la escala óptima. Las principales razones que explican estos aumentos en la escala óptima son la reducción en los tiempos de espera, una mejor organización de la planta y del trabajo, mayor eficiencia de la maquinaria y mayores costos 'fijos' de capital y mercadeo. Tales hallazgos implican que la escala va a seguir constituyendo una barrera de mirada a la producción industrial.

Suggested Citation

  • Ludovico Alcorta, 1996. "Automatización flexible y economías de escala en países en desarrollo," Apuntes. Revista de ciencias sociales, Fondo Editorial, Universidad del Pacífico, vol. 23(39), pages 13-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:pai:apunup:es-39-02
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    References listed on IDEAS

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