Suchergebnisse

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface -- List of Abbreviations -- List of Tables and Figures -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: The Asia-Pacific Economy -- Chapter 2: Singapore -- Chapter 3: Korea -- Chapter 4: Taiwan -- Chapter 5: Hong Kong -- Chapter 6: Labour and Industry in East Asia -- References -- Index -- Backmatter

Theory and observations are used to argue that JIT/TQC regimes both create and demand systems of surveillance which improve on those of previous factory regimes by instilling discipline and thereby enhancing central control. For its theoretical inspiration this paper draws upon the work of Michel Foucault, especially his conception of Power/Knowledge as articulated in his book Discipline and Punish. This theoretical framework is extended to provide a means of analysis of the mechanisms of surveillance and control that operate in the contemporary work place. While there is a sense in which tactical responsibility is delegated in an organisation practising JIT/TQM, strategic control is simultaneously centralised - a form of devolutionism. Drawing on the work of Foucault we will argue that the JIT/TQM approach is both enabled and enhanced by the operation of two complementary disciplinary forces. The first of these is the discipline which derives from the scrutiny of one's peers in a manufacturing cell, quality circle, etc. - a horizontal process which is supported by the organisational structure associated with JIT/TQM. The second and key disciplinary force is that which derives from the use of increasingly powerful management information systems which provide extensive shop floor surveillance - a vertical process which provides an over-arching controlling mechanism. We demonstrate that the surveillance systems integral to JIT/TQM are deliberately designed such that discipline is established in a most efficient manner and the exercise of minute control is possible with a minimum of supervisors. The desired effect of harnessing these dual forces is to minimise negative divergences from expected behaviour and management defined norms whilst identifying positive divergencies and maximising their creative potential.

The issues and dilemmas facing companies, their
unions and their workers as they attempt to
emulate Japanese‐style production practices are
discussed. Using the case of Ford UK as an
example, the causes and effects of the 1988 strike
and the withdrawal from the proposed electronics
plant at Dundee are explored. Major obstacles to
the successful introduction of practices such as
just‐in‐time production are identified; however,
once implemented these practices carry significant
implications for unions and workers.

A partir d'une étude de cas portant sur l'introduction de machines-outils à commande numérique (MOCN) chez le premier constructeur britannique de machines-outils, l'auteur rend compte des enjeux que représente cette nouvelle technologie pour différents groupes d'ouvriers, en matière de qualifications, d'organisation du travail, de répartition des tâches et d'exercice du contrôle. Wilkinson montre en effet comment les machines MOCN contribuent à modifier les qualifications techniques et posent ainsi le problème de la formation des ouvriers aux techniques récentes de programmation.

Supply localization is an expressed desire among western MNCs with manufacturing subsidiaries in the People's Republic of China (PRC), but poor information coding and diffusion poses problems in identifying suitable local supply firm partners. This article investigates the mechanics of personal connections, and in particular guanxi, in local supplier search and appraisal within a large sample of UK-and US-invested manufacturers in China. The results emphasize the importance of business rather than family and community connections as sources of guanxi, supporting Guthrie's (1999) view that industrialization and modernization has reduced the importance of traditional forms of guanxi. The results also suggest that social networks derived from relational contracting and the expatriate community are important sources of information. On the basis of this analysis we make a number of recommendations for improvement of firms' supplier search capabilities.