Cellular manufacturing: Some human resource implications

Abstract

Abstract This article considers some of the human resource management implications of the Japanese manufacturing system. The paper draws on case studies undertaken in England between 1985 and 1988. The paper presents a framework for analyzing the effects of Japanese methods. It is found that the Japanese system resulted in an enhancement of manual engineering skills. Further, it is argued that Japanese practices can coexist alongside traditional industrial relations systems, but because of uncertainty and high dependency on constituents, new organizational control configurations need to be developed.