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The Motor Components Company: Japanization in Large-Batch Production

In: Japanization at Work

Author

Listed:
  • John Bratton

Abstract

In this chapter we discuss the changes in a large company engaged in large-batch manufacturing and marketing of specialist components: air-brake systems, vacuum pumps, hydraulics, for vehicle and agricultural tractor industries. The change to a cellular system started in 1985, and the following year the company invested approximately £5.5 million in CNC machine tools and production control software. By the time of the research visits in 1986 the changes had been completed, although some further developments were still occurring. The first section of this chapter gives a brief background to the company. This is followed by a section which discusses the investment in new technology and how the manufacturing system was transformed by Japanese-style work structures. The investment and restructuring cannot be understood without examining some global development in the motor-vehicle manufacturing industry, and this is discussed in section three. The fourth section discusses the effects of the changes on employment and manual workers’ skills. In contrast to the other case-studies of similar size reported here, we find the union played an insignificant role in the process of change, and section five discusses the factors associated with the marginal role of the shop stewards in the plant.

Suggested Citation

  • John Bratton, 1992. "The Motor Components Company: Japanization in Large-Batch Production," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Japanization at Work, chapter 5, pages 103-130, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-12172-4_5
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-12172-4_5
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