Teamwork in the Automobile Industry

Radical Change or Passing Fashion?

By Jean-Pierre Durand, et al.
January 1999
Macmillan UK
ISBN: 0333744829
272 pages
$99.50 hardcover


As one of the first sectors affected by the current phase of crisis in capital accumulation, the automobile industry has had much to learn and now has much to teach. A recognition of the great diversity of forms of adaptation introduced to face the uncertainties of the market, lead to the formation of GERPISA and its international programme of research on the emergence of new industrial models.

This book, a product of that research, is a valuable and timely insight into the innovations and adjustments of some of the major vehicular manufacturers and through them into the future of industry as a whole.

Contents:
Introduction; J-P.Durand
PART 1: JAPAN - TOUCHSTONE OF CHANGE ?
The Historic Reversal of the Division of Labour? The Second Stage of the Toyota Production System; H.Nohara
Nissan: Recent Evolution of Industrial Relations and Work Organisation; I.Saga & M.Hanada
PART 2: THE AMERICAN RESPONSE - DIFFERENT PATHS, DIFFERENT GOALS ?
'Saturn': Reengineering the New Industrial Relations; G.Cornette
A Factory which Remains Fordist: The Ford Dearborn Assembly Plant; S.Babson & J-P.Durand (with P.Stewart)
Teams at NUMMI; P.Adler
Team Work in General Motors Brazil (GMB): What is Changing in the Organisation of Work?; R.Marx & M.S.Salerno
PART 3: EUROPE, HESITATIONS AND DIVERSITY
The Effectiveness of Tradition: Peugeot's Sochaux Factory; J.-P.Durand & N.Hatzfeld
Transformation in the Team Work at Renault; M.Freyssenet
Teamwork and New Forms of Work Organization in Fiat 'Integrated Factory'; A.Camuffo & S.Micelli
The Negotiation of Change in the Evolution of the Workplace towards a New Production Model at Vauxhall (General Motors) UK; P.Stewart
The Introduction of Teamwork at Rover Group's Stamping Plant: A. Mair
Manufacturing the Organization of Work of the Future: a Factory Leader in Engine Production, FASA-Renault, Spain; J.J.Castillo
Volvo-Gent: A Third Way ?; R.Huys & G.Van Hootegem
PART 4: EUROPE IN SEARCH OF AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL?
The Swedish Model of Lean Production: the Volvo and Saab cases; G.Brulin & T.Nilsson
Team Work at Opel Antwerp; M.Albertijin, J.Vanbuylen & L.Baisier
Group Work in the German Automobile Industry: the Case of Mercedes-Benz; D.Gerst, T.Hardwig, M.Kulmann & M.Schumann
Group Working at Volkswagen: An Issue for Negotiation Between Trade Unions and Management; A.Labit
Conclusions; J-P.Durand, J.J.Castillo & P.Stewart

Author Biographies:
JEAN-PIERRE DURAND is Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Centre de Recerches Pierre Naville at the University of Paris - Evry. He is the co-author of After Fordism (1997), with Robert Boyer and is a member of the International Steering Committee of GERPISA.

PAUL STEWART is a Research Fellow in Sociology of Work and Employment at the University of Wales, Cardiff. He is co-author of The Nissan Enigma (1992), with Phil Garrahan. He is published widely in the areas of Sociology of Work and the Labour Process and is a member of the International Steering Committee of GERPISA.

JUAN JOSE CASTILLO is Professor of Sociology of Work at the University Complutense Madrid. He is co-director and editor of the Journal of Sciologia del Trabajo. He is President of the Research Committee 30 Sociology of Work, International Sociological Association. He has written widely in the areas of the Sociology of Work and Employment. He is a member of the International Steering Committee of GERPISA.


Return to Businesstitles.com main page