LABOR STABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY - CONDITIONS TO REACH JUST-IN-TIME

Describes labour stability and flexibility in Japanese versus Swedish manufacturing industries. Presents a theoretical framework where a num ber of fields which other researchers have regarded as influencing lab our stability and flexibility are analysed. Also presents some of the findings of an empirical study of 17 Japanese and four Swedish compani es measuring labour stability and describing similarities and differen ces in the companies' condition and working methods to reach a stable and flexible labour situation. The results indicate a considerably mor e stable and flexible labour situation in Japanese companies when comp ared with Swedish companies.