Human Resource Practices For Implementing Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Based on a study of 16 sites that have recently implemented advanced manufacturing technology, concludes that while the technology itself will become widespread, the human resources practices used for its implementation will not be easily transferred. Manufacturers will need to spend more time and effort to develop the needed organisational and industrial relations capabilities.

Over the past decade, many companies have adopted new strategies for manufacturing, which have taken their competitiveness on to new planes. A whole array of initiatives, such as FMS, JIT, TQM, CIM, and MRP II, have been introduced. This book deals with the far-reaching significance of these new approaches - collectively labelled "new wave manufacturing". Considerable research evidence as well as practitioners′ own experiences make one crucial point time and time again. The organizational as well as the human resource management aspects of these new strategies are critical to their success or failure. The underlying theme which is tackled in this book, therefore, is to what extent do these new operational strategies require a matching set of organizational and HR strategies? By looking at the issues through the joint eyes of production and behavioural analysts, this book provides an unique introduction to the new developments in manufacturing as well as providing an up-to-date assessment of the organizational and H R dimensions to these methods. New Wave Manufacturing Strategies has a vision which goes beyond the "new technology"/advanced manufacturing technology discussions. The chapters have been written in a clear, accessible manner by leading experts from Europe, the USA and Australia as well as from the UK.

This study examines the relationship between organizational performance, advanced manufacturing technologies and workforce development activities. In response to domestic and international competitive pressures, manufacturers are making increasing expenditures in both labor and technology. Both corporate and government surveys report that billions of dollars a year are spent for worker training and new technology by U.S. manufacturers. Despite these expenditures, little empirical evidence exists about the relationship between worker development activities and advanced technologies or the organizational outcomes from their combined use. In this study, multiple workforce development activities and advanced technology were defined and compared to several types of organizational performance at a variety of manufacturing plants in the Midwest. Human resource managers completed surveys that assessed areas of worker development, technology, environment and technology-driven workplace needs. Results indicate modest support for the relationship between technology, workforce development and organizational performance. Strong support, however, was found for the relationship between relational and skill needs due to changes in technology and the plant emphasis on process and individual worker development. This suggest that managerial perceptions regarding workplace changes from technology may be amore important factor than the technology itself in determining the type of workforce development activities provided. In addition, findings supported the use of multiple workforce development activities.

Human resource departments have been a crucial part of business practices for decades and particularly in modern times as professionals deal with multigenerational workers, diversity initiatives, and global health and economic crises. There is a necessity for human resource departments to change as well to adapt to new societal perspectives, technology, and business practices. It is important for human resource managers to keep up to date with all emerging human resource practices in order to support successful and productive organizations. The Research Anthology on Human Resource Practices for the Modern Workforce presents a dynamic and diverse collection of global practices for human resource departments. This anthology discusses the emerging practices as well as modern technologies and initiatives that affect the way human resources must be conducted. Covering topics such as machine learning, organizational culture, and social entrepreneurship, this book is an excellent resource for human resource employees, managers, CEOs, employees, business students and professors, researchers, and academicians.