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Production systems, human resources and employment relations in Korea: The case of Kia Motors
Author(s) -
Lansbury Russell D.,
Woo Seoghun
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
asia pacific journal of human resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1744-7941
pISSN - 1038-4111
DOI - 10.1177/103841110103900204
Subject(s) - production (economics) , business , democratization , auto industry , government (linguistics) , human resources , lean manufacturing , industrial relations , labor relations , economics , labour economics , management , marketing , political science , law , engineering , automotive industry , politics , democracy , macroeconomics , aerospace engineering , linguistics , philosophy
The rapid development of the Korean auto industry in the I980s was based on mass production and government policies, which included the suppression of trade unions. Following the ‘democratisation’ of Korea in I987 and the reform of labour laws, employers in the auto industry were required to bargain collectively with trade unions and improve their employment practices. The failure of Kia Motors (now part of the Hyundai Motor Company) to successfully make the transition from mass to lean production during the I990s demonstrates the importance of integrating the production system with human resource development and employee relations.