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Making Performance Plants from Branch Plants? In Situ Restructuring in the Automobile Industry in the United Kingdom

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  • A Pike

    (Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, England)

Abstract

In this paper a critical examination is made of the alleged change in the branch-plant economy. It is claimed that a new type of branch plant is emerging, with more progressive implications for local economic development. This argument is reviewed with reference to in situ restructuring in existing brownfield plants in the automobile industry. Empirical evidence is examined from ‘Motor Co.’ and ‘Car Co.’ (pseudonyms) in Riverside, across several dimensions of change: role and autonomy; labour process; labour-management relations; labour-market strategies; supplier linkages; and local economic development implications. It is argued that changes in branch plants and their implications for local economies can be understood by addressing the interrelations between structure, agency, and contingency. Evidence of change from Motor Co. and Car Co. in Riverside suggest some heightening of plant responsibility, the limited upgrading of functions, and the introduction of new techniques. The changes are partial, revealing the overlap of new and old practices, and the benefits for local economic development appear limited.

Suggested Citation

  • A Pike, 1998. "Making Performance Plants from Branch Plants? In Situ Restructuring in the Automobile Industry in the United Kingdom," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(5), pages 881-900, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:30:y:1998:i:5:p:881-900
    DOI: 10.1068/a300881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew Mair, 1994. "Global Local Corporation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Honda’s Global Local Corporation, chapter 11, pages 301-352, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Sandberg, Åke, 1995. "Enriching Production: Perspectives on Volvo's Uddevalla plant as an alternative to lean production," MPRA Paper 10785, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 2007.
    3. Andrew Mair, 1994. "Honda’s Global Local Corporation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-37485-0, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chris van Egeraat and Frank Barry, 2008. "The Irish Pharmaceutical Industry over the Boom Period and Beyond," The Institute for International Integration Studies Discussion Paper Series iiisdp271, IIIS.
    2. Petr Pavlínek & Jan Ženka, 2016. "Value creation and value capture in the automotive industry: Empirical evidence from Czechia," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 48(5), pages 937-959, May.

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