Production Management and Employees – A Survey of Automotive Parts Companies

Authors

  • Lílian Carneiro Souza
  • Alessandra Rachid Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)

Keywords:

Production management. Workers´ involvement. Management methods. Auto parts. Survey.

Abstract

Purpose: This paper presents an overview of the adoption of methods of production management for auto parts  companies in Brazil and the involvement of shop floor workers in their use, taking into consideration the significance of involvement for organizational performance and obtaining the results expected from the adoption of these methods, in line with research on participatory management and the manuals in the area of operations. 

Originality/Gap/Relevance/Implications: Involvement is a significant construct in product management and has been widely researched, but little research has been dedicated to investigating the involvement of employees in the use of multiple methods. Most of the existing research concentrates analysis on the adoption of only one method in isolation and in the literature it has been observed that companies do not always follow the recommendation to involve workers in their use, thus motivating this study. 

Key methodological aspects: We conducted a survey in 95 auto parts companies to gain access to information about a wide range of companies, plotting an overview of the production management methods adopted and examining the extent of the involvement of employees.

Summary of key results: Most of methods investigated were widely adopted by the companies surveyed. Generally, the companies surveyed responded that there is employee involvement, although this varies from one method to another. The study identified cases in which methods have been adopted and after some time have ceased to be used by some companies. The abandonment of Six Sigma occurred mainly in companies in which there was no involvement of employees in the application of this method. The method most commonly abandoned, however, was the suggestion program, despite exhibiting greater employee involvement, indicating that some companies continue to experience difficulty applying this type of method over time. Limited time for training may also have hampered the use of some methods.

Key considerations/conclusions: The research presents a panorama of the main production management methods adopted in a large number of auto parts companies and investigates the involvement of employees in their use. The use of a survey, however, means that it has not been possible to obtain additional information about the use of these methods by workers, or to explore the reasons that led to the abandonment of some methods. It would be interesting to research these aspects in more in-depth case studies.

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Author Biographies

Lílian Carneiro Souza

Mestre em Engenharia de Produção pelo Departamento de Engenharia de Produção da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Docente e coordenadora da graduação na Faculdade Anhanguera de Anápolis. Pesquisas na área de Engenharia de Produção, principalmente nos temas organização do trabalho, gestão da qualidade, gestão da produção e gestão participativa.

Alessandra Rachid, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar)

Depto. de Engenharia de Produção. Pós-doutorado em Organização do trabalho no Departamento de Sociologia da Universidade da Califórnia, Davis. Docente do Departamento de Engenharia de Produção da Universidade Federal de São Carlos. Pesquisas na área de Engenharia de Produção, principalmente nos temas organização do trabalho, teoria das organizações, novos modelos de produção e de trabalho, flexibilidade do trabalho e gestão da produção. 

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Additional Files

Published

2016-04-20

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2016)

Section

Resources and Entrepreneurial Development

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