Free Lean Production Essay Example

The adoption of lean production in the industrial sector from the mass production that existed previously led to a lot of challenges for the employees. Lean production had many benefits such as a better working environment that allowed for social networks among the employees and their involvement in decision-making. The employees were able to identify themselves with the company and team spirit was encouraged (MacDuffie 57) However, there are critics who preferred the mass production owing to the challenges that lean production presented. In lean production, the unions’ efforts to protect the employees against the management discretion were frustrated making job control hard. The other challenge was the need for the employees to identify with the company goals. Further, lean production recognized a unionism model. The lean production also brought about social inequalities among the workers (Lazes and Jane 183).
Adoption of lean production led to the loss of motivation in the employees who felt that the companies did not care about their well-being. The primary goal was to achieve production, but it did not promote autonomy. The employees were allowed to join unions, but they would be fired for small mistakes and especially if they expressed any interest in the unions. Employees with oppositional attitudes in the company would be fired as working against the company’s program was deemed dangerous. Through the concept of hegemony, Gramsci explained the way the ruling class controlled the institutions that shaped the society. Gramsci’s views on Taylorism in lean production are similar to that of MacDuffie, who suggested that production did not consider the employee’s welfare (MacDuffie 56). The hegemony as proposed by Gramsci led to war for positions of leadership in the unions. The leaders were not efficient in fighting for the employees’ grievances.

Works Cited

Lazes, Peter, and Jane Savage. New Unionism and the Workplace of the Future. N.p., n.d. Print.
MacDuffie, John P. "The Implications for Worker Representation." Worker's role in Lean Production. N.p., n.d. 54-66. Print.