Organisational Learning in the Automotive Sector


Book Description

This book considers the concepts of organisational learning and the learning organisation, and critically examines their take up within the context of four contemporary work organisations in the European automotive sector. Within this dynamic environment, the pursuit and implementation of approaches that encourage individuals to learn and challenge existing orthodoxy are now dominant on the management agenda. Changes to processes, structures, cultures and the employment relationship per se.




Organisational Learning in the Automotive Sector


Book Description

This book considers the concepts of organisational learning and the learning organisation, and critically examines their take up within the context of four contemporary work organisations in the European automotive sector. Within this dynamic environment, the pursuit and implementation of approaches that encourage individuals to learn and challenge existing orthodoxy are now dominant on the management agenda. Changes to processes, structures, cultures and the employment relationship per se.




Knowledge Transfer in the Automobile Industry


Book Description

The book provides a detailed theoretical framework and a case study on how FDI in the form of knowledge transfer from overseas MNEs contributes to the upgrading of regional manufacturing clusters. Although regional clusters have been the subject of many books, this book is one of the few that explicitly links regional clusters to global networks. It explains how being part of global networks can both facilitate and hinder the development of a regional cluster.







Automotive Production Systems and Standardisation


Book Description

In January 2000, Mercedes-Benz started to implement the Mercedes-Benz Prod- tion System (MPS) throughout its world-wide passenger car plants. This event is exemplary of a trend within the automotive industry: the creation and introduction of company-specific standardised production systems. It gradually emerged with the introduction of the Chrysler Operating System (COS) in the mid-1990s and represents a distinct step in the process towards implementing the universal pr- ciples of lean thinking as propagated by the MIT-study. For the academic field of industrial sociology and labour policy, the emergence of this trend seems to mark a new stage in the evolution of the debate about production systems in the auto- tive industry (Jürgens 2002:2), particularly as it seems to undermine the stand of the critics of the one-best way model (Boyer and Freyssenet 1995). The introduction of company-level standardised production systems marks the starting point of the present study. At the core of it is a case study about the M- cedes Benz Production System (MPS).




21st Century Technologies Promises and Perils of a Dynamic Future


Book Description

This book reviews the extraordinary promise of technological advances over the next twenty years or so, and assesses some of the key issues -- economic, social, environmental, ethical -- that decision-makers in government, business and society will face in the decades ahead.




Understanding Human Resource Development


Book Description

This edited volume contains original chapters by some of the leading researchers and writers in HRD. It provides a definitive work on the design and conduct of research in HRD and identifies and examines the possibilities and limitations of particular methods and techniques. Emerging debates on the purpose, nature and practice and theoretical base of HRD are examined. Each chapter is structured with: * Statement of aims * Description of theoretical and empirical context^ * Identification and examination of methodological issues * Description and evaluation of research design * Critical analysis and evaluation * Key learning points










Skills Development for Sustainable Manufacturing


Book Description

Globally, manufacturing facilities have taken a new turn with a mix of advanced robotics to fully unify production systems. Today's era of manufacturing has embraced smart manufacturing techniques by delving into intelligent manufacturing system of advances in robotics, controllers, sensors, and machine learning giving room for every aspect of the plant to be constantly accessible, monitored, controlled, redesigned, and adapted for required adjustments. Skill development within the manufacturing sector presents the advantage of high-quality products and can as well address long-term employment concerns through job creation. The development of skills for sustainable manufacturing is crucial to ensuring an efficient transition to a competitive economy by matching supply and demand for key skills. A number of factors ranging from green innovation, climate change, advances in technology, and global economic downturn are driving the need for a competitive and sustainable manufacturing value chain. The complexity of today's factories calls for new and existing workers to up-skill in order to influence design changes and production efficiency toward sustainable manufacturing.