NUMMI AND ITS PROTOTYPE PLANT IN JAPAN - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF HUMAN-RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AT THE WORKSHOP LEVEL

This study compares skill formation at workshops in NUMMI, a joint ven ture of GM and Toyota in California, and its prototype plant in Japan. Since two key indicators of skill formation, the breadth of work expe rience and the capability of problem handling, take the form of shop f loor practices, the method of in-depth case study based on intensive i nterviews is employed. NUMMI workers were even broader for those of sh ort service than Toyota counterparts, while those of long service were broader in Takaoka. Yet, NUMMI workers were less capable of problem h andling, which results in a productivity gap. An integration of both p ractices may produce a better system. (C) 1998 Academic Press.