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Digitalization in Industry pp 61–80Cite as

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From Lean Production to Industrie 4.0: More Autonomy for Employees?

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Abstract

The article examines the relationship between lean production and Industrie 4.0 focusing on the question of autonomy in the work process. In contrast to the claim made by official Industrie 4.0 concepts that the autonomy of the employees would increase, the authors see in the current implementation projects a tendency toward greater standardization and control of work. This is in continuity with concepts of lean production, but neglects the participation-oriented elements of lean production such as teamwork and shop-floor-based improvement activities. Our argument is developed by analyzing practical examples from three relevant fields (digital assistance systems, data-based process management, modular assembly). The conclusions of this chapter also discuss the extent to which the concept of individual autonomy is suitable for the assessment of Industrie 4.0 concepts, given the high levels of interdependence already achieved in production processes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WZB Berlin Social Science Center/Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society, Berlin, Germany

    Florian Butollo, Ulrich Jürgens & Martin Krzywdzinski

Authors
  1. Florian Butollo
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  2. Ulrich Jürgens
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  3. Martin Krzywdzinski
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Correspondence to Florian Butollo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Technical University of Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany

    Uli Meyer

  2. Technical University of Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany

    Simon Schaupp

  3. Technical University of Munich, Munich, Bayern, Germany

    David Seibt

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Butollo, F., Jürgens, U., Krzywdzinski, M. (2019). From Lean Production to Industrie 4.0: More Autonomy for Employees?. In: Meyer, U., Schaupp, S., Seibt, D. (eds) Digitalization in Industry. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28258-5_3

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