Anna Comacchio

Automation in Automotive Industries: Recent Developments Anna Comacchio Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1999 edition

Jacket Description/Back: The book focuses on understanding the most recent change patterns in automation, manufacturing systems, organization and management of human resources of the world automobile firms. In brief, even if the automation issue is one of the main focuses of this book, regarding specific technological solutions, we refer the readers to the in depth analysis of the proceedings of previous conferences. This book deals with adjustment processes underlying significant experiences. Specifically, the main aim of the book is to understand the new step of the evolutionary process which involves the manufacturing system of the automobile supply chain (automobile manufacturers and parts manufacturing firms). The drivers of this evolution are analyzed, specifically focusing on the continous interaction among changing competitive context, new technological patterns and emerging human resource management and organizational issues. Table of Contents: 1 Introduction.- 2 Industry clockspeed and competency chain design: an introductory essay.- 3 New perspectives on automation.- 4 Competitive strategies, industrial models and assembly automation templates.- 5 Automation and Inertia.- 6 Automation strategies at the first-tier suppliers in Japan. Process development and product trajectory. Hypothesis on the supplier-assembler relationship.- 7 Anticipating problems with manufacturing during the product development process.- 8 Diffusion patterns of lean practices: lessons from the European auto industry.- 9 The transfer of organizing principles in the world auto industry: Cross-cultural influences on replication at Opel Eisenach.- The Authors of the Book.