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Two Routes to Team Production: Saturn and Chrysler Compared
Author(s) -
Shaiken Harley,
Lopez Steven,
Mankita Isaac
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
industrial relations: a journal of economy and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.61
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1468-232X
pISSN - 0019-8676
DOI - 10.1111/0019-8676.21997002
Subject(s) - general motors , corporation , saturn , production (economics) , work (physics) , business , portrait , lean manufacturing , management , operations management , engineering , industrial organization , economics , art history , art , finance , mechanical engineering , microeconomics , physics , astrophysics , planet
This article explores two examples of new approaches to work organization with experienced workers in a unionized setting: General Motors' (GM's) Saturn Corporation and Chrysler's Jefferson North plant. Both represent variations of "team" production which differ markedly from stereotypical portraits of lean production. The article argues that the presence or absence of teams is less important than the manner in which they are integrated into the production process.