Abstract
This paper makes a comparison between the basicelements of lean production and sociotechnical systemsdesign (STSD) and compares them both with thecharacteristics of the traditional Fordist system of mass production. It argues that lean productioncan hardly be considered as an alternative to massproduction, as its proponents suggest, but is on thecontrary extending the life of mass production methods. However, lean production does appear to containsome building blocks for the innovative productionsystems that are expected to prevail in the 21stcentury. STSD, which has always presented itself as an alternative and possible successor to Fordistmethods, will need to link its traditional concerns forquality of work and flexibility of work organizationswith the new issues of continuous improvement, learning,and innovation.
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Dankbaar, B. Lean Production: Denial, Confirmation or Extension of Sociotechnical Systems Design?. Human Relations 50, 567–584 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016991803180
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016991803180