Alternatives to Lean Production: Work Organization in the Swedish Auto Industry

by Christian Berggren

Overview

The Swedish auto industry has developed a distinct production design and work organization, exploring alternatives to the assembly line and to the traditional shop-floor hierarchy, with a model of teamwork that increases independent decision making and elicits strong union commitment. Berggren evaluates in detail the reorganization of work within the Swedish auto industry from 1970 to 1990. In his introduction to the new edition, he explores the significance of Volvo's decision to close its two most innovative plants.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780875463179
Publisher:	Cornell University Press
Publication date:	11/30/1993
Series:	Cornell International Industrial and Labor Relations Reports
Edition description:	second edition
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.81(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Christian Berggren is Professor of Industrial Management at Linköping University in Sweden.

Editorial Reviews

A fascinating and well-researched book which is also a pleasure to read.... Full of analytical and anecdotal gems, it has an authenticity, realism, and truly cross-national awareness which is so often lacking in analogous studies.

-- "Work, Employment & Society"

From the Publisher

Berggren provides a detailed evaluation of the reorganization of work within the Swedish auto industry during the period from 1970 to 1990, when the industry developed a distinctly different production design and work organization, exploring alternatives to the assembly line and to the traditional shop-floor hierarchy. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A fascinating and well-researched book which is also a pleasure to read.... Full of analytical and anecdotal gems, it has an authenticity, realism, and truly cross-national awareness which is so often lacking in analogous studies.

Employment & Society Work