This article reviews some of the key debates in the area of just‐in‐time operation and implementation, and identifies 13 research issues. These issues include: information systems for JIT; organisational structures; performance measurement; the management of the...

Benchmarking is a topic which is currently attracting considerable interest among both academics and practitioners in the manufacturing community. Yet little has been written about the assumptions which lie behind benchmarking. As a process, benchmarking remains poorly understood. Describes a...

Reports the findings of a study into manufacturing performance and practice in 71 auto components plants in eight countries. Documents the performance differences between plants in different countries, and tests the extent to which lean production principles explain variations in performance. As...

Based on case studies collected at two UK factories, the issues which arise during JIT implementation are examined. These cases show that the changes involved in a move towards JIT have a political dimension. The implication is drawn that, in implementing a JIT system, production managers need...

Despite two decades of stagnation in Japan since 1990, there is remarkably little evidence of radical change in Japanese economic institutions, including employment relations. However, Japan has seen a steady increase in foreign mergers and acquisitions, which can challenge existing...

The issues and dilemmas facing companies, their unions and their workers as they attempt to emulate Japanese‐style production practices are discussed. Using the case of Ford UK as an example, the causes and effects of the 1988 strike and the withdrawal from the proposed electronics plant at...

This paper reports the findings of a study into 12 UK and nine Japanese automotive component plants. Compared to the UK plants, the Japanese plants showed a 60 per cent superiority on productivity and a 9:1 superiority in quality. Detailed examination of work structures on the shopfloor revealed...

One of the central tenets of total quality control is that responsibility for quality lies at the point of production. Salancik′s model of commitment is used to describe systems of work organisation which encourage employees to take on this responsibility. Commitment to quality can be fostered...

Noting moves towards just‐in‐time production methods in the UK passenger vehicle industry, this article considers the impact of such moves at the retail and distribution end of the supply chain. Based on interviews with a number of vehicle retailers selling cars manufactured both in the UK...

The findings of a pilot study into contemporary developments in the UK car retailing sector are reported. Two trends were particularly apparent: a mounting concern with the quality of customer service and a rise in the number of multi‐franchise retail groups. Such groups appear to be more...