Experiences of a human deployment strategy for the 1990s
by R.G. Bertodo
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 11, No. 6, 1990

Abstract: During the 1980s, despite significant restructuring, the European automotive industry failed to attain either product cost or engineering output parity with Japanese producers. Continuing effort described in earlier published studies had shown that the gaps could be closed by a change in organisational culture. This required the abandonment of traditional functional values and the adoption of a structure based on autonomous multi-functional teams. Practical experience with such a transition over a period of nearly three years led to significant and quantified efficiency improvements, reductions in product development cycle and quality gains. Significant traps, false myths and important truths were revealed by the case study: these are discussed in detail. The change in operating ethos was welcomed at working levels and resisted by some middle managers. Further, dramatic gains would appear feasible through the exploitation of developments in information technology. Such progress, however, requires a supplier and industry-wide acceptance of the need for change and a higher level of personal and group discipline in an environment of devolved management.

Online publication date: Mon, 26-May-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com