Mes: noviembre 2011

Publicado: Integrating human resource management into lean production and their impact on organizational performance

Document Information:
Title: Integrating human resource management into lean production and their impact on organizational performance
Author(s): Tomas Bonavia, (TEMPO, Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain), Juan A. Marin-Garcia, (ROGLE, Department of Business Administration, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain)
Citation: Tomas Bonavia, Juan A. Marin-Garcia, (2011) «Integrating human resource management into lean production and their impact on organizational performance», International Journal of Manpower, Vol. 32 Iss: 8, pp.923 – 938
Keywords: Absenteeism, Contingent remuneration, Employee turnover, Human resource management, Internal promotion, Job security, Spain, Training
Article type: Research paper
DOI: 10.1108/01437721111181679 (Permanent URL)
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Acknowledgements: This work was carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Education of the Valencian Regional Government (GV00-013-7). The authors would like to thank the Foreign Language Co-ordination Office at the Polytechnic University of Valencia for their help in translating this paper.
Abstract: Purpose– The first goal of this research is to analyse the effects of lean production (LP) on the policy of human resource management (HRM). The second is to determine whether or not implementation of HRM practices associated with LP explains the differences in organizational performance between manufacturing plants.Design/methodology/approach – The paper developed a questionnaire for data collection. Findings are presented from 76 establishments (79.17 per cent of the total sample) that specialise in single-firing ceramic tiles in Spain.

Findings – Companies that make the most of LP practices are also those that take care to train workers in using these practices as well as improving their employment security. However, the same is not true for the pay for performance system. The combination of LP with HRM practices reduces inventory and boosts productivity but does not appear to affect the other performance variables analysed.

Research limitations/implications – For certain variables very little variation was found between the plants in the samples. The data are cross-sectional, so causality cannot be definitively determined.

Practical implications – This paper indicates the HRM practices associated with the LP and the results obtained. It can thus be used to help human resource and production departments in improving organizational performance.

Originality/value – The paper extends the work of other researchers by focusing on a sector and a country that have been very little studied to date. The sample consists of a set of plants that are fairly homogeneous, which facilitates the analysis of the relationships between the selected variables, while keeping other variables controlled.

Visitas: 10

Publicado Marin-Garcia, J. A.; Miralles Insa, C.; Garcia-Sabater, J. J.; Perello-Marin, M. R. (2011). Alternative tools to mass production and human performance indicators in sheltered work centers of Valencian community (Spain). Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, Vol. 4, nº. 3, pp. 467-480.

Juan A. Marin-Garcia, Cristobal Miralles, Julio J. Garcia-Sabater, M. Rosario Perello-Marin

Abstract

Purpose: The most popular alternative systems to mass production at an academic level (lean manufacturing, agile manufacturing, flexible customization, mass customization…) share many characteristics. Our article identifies an extensive set of alternative practices to mass production; analyzes the classification of practices in categories (Flow, TQM, TPM, Customer Relations, Supplier Relations and Human Resources Practices) and analyzes the impact on several human performance indicators such as satisfaction, absenteeism, voluntary turnover, permanent contracts, knowledge, personal & social adjustment activities and integration of workers into ordinary companies.

Design/methodology/approach: Survey in sheltered work centers. We use regression analysis in order to prove relations between explicative and criterion variables.

Findings: The results of our research allow us to identify that human resource management and customer relationship practices have significant effects on job satisfaction, knowledge, integration into ordinary companies and personal and social adjustment.

Research limitations/implications: Data came only from one industry; therefore the results would not be directly generalized to other contexts.

Practical implications: Managers in Sheltered work centers can estimate the impact of the deployment of alternative tools to mass production.

Originality/value: There are few papers relating lean manufacturing tools and human resources performance indicators. At the same time, there are very few research carried out in sheltered work centers context.

Visitas: 16

Publicado Miralles Insa, C.; Holt, R.; Marin-Garcia, J. A.; Canos-Daros, L. (2011). Universal design of workplaces through the use of Poka-Yokes: Case study and implications. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, Vol. 4, nº. 3, pp. 436-452

Universal design of workplaces through the use of Poka-Yokes: Case study and implications

Cristóbal Miralles, Raimond Holt, Juan A. Marin-Garcia, Lourdes Canos-Daros

Abstract

Purpose: Employment plays an important part in many people’s lives beyond merely providing income, since continued participation in work can have many therapeutic benefits for workers defined as disabled. However, disabled workers face a range of barriers to employment, despite legislation intended to improve workplace accessibility emphasizing adaptations to the workplace, which many employers often find difficult and expensive.

The Poka-Yoke approach was developed in the manufacturing industry as a way of improving productivity by reducing errors using often very simple adaptations. This paper argues that, as Poka-Yokes are designed to make life easier and improve the performance of workers without impairments, they are closer to the philosophy of Universal Design than to Accessible Design, and offer an easy and inclusive way of making work more accessible for all kind of workers.

Design/methodology/approach: This paper provides a case study demonstrating the use of the Poka-Yoke approach in a sheltered work centre for disabled; highlighting how they served to improve accessibility to work by fulfilling Universal Design principles.

Findings: Our research allows us to demonstrate the great potential of Poka-yokes for gaining accessibility to the workplace. The real application of this approach, both in sheltered work centres and ordinary companies, can contribute to improve the high unemployment rates of disabled people.

Research limitations/implications: The proposal is innovative and was applied in one specific company. Thus, a range of customized Poka-yokes would be desirable for different industrial sectors.

Practical implications: Managers of sheltered work centres, and also of ordinary companies, can realize about the great potential of Poka-Yokes as an easy means of gaining flexibility and accessibility.

Originality/value: There are very few papers relating lean manufacturing tools and disability. Our approach analyzes the benefits of this approach for the labour integration of disabled people.

Visitas: 17

Publicado Medina-López, C.; Alfalla-Luque, R.; Marin-Garcia, J. A. (2011). Research in operations management teaching: Trends and challenges. Intangible Capital, Vol. 7, nº. 2, pp. 507-548

Research in operations management teaching: Trends and challenges

Carmen Medina-López, Rafaela Alfalla-Luque, Juan A. Marin-Garcia

Abstract

Purpose: The objective is to analyse research in Operations Management (OM) teaching published in high impact journals in the area in order to examine trends and set future challenges.

Design/methodology/approach: A bibliometric study was carried out of 45 of the main JCR OM and Management journals for the 1995-2010 period. The 129 articles identified on research in OM teaching were analysed.

Findings: There is a dearth of articles on teaching in the main OM and Management journals. Sixty-two point two percent of the journals analysed have not published any and the remainder (17) have devoted only 0.4% of all their publications to this subject area. Descriptive and theoretical/conceptual studies that address teaching innovations dominate. One of the challenges identified that should be highlighted is the need to develop quality empirical studies that enable the real impact of teaching methodologies on improving student performance (in all its different aspects) to be known.

Research limitations: The analysis was restricted to 45 of the most important OM and Management journals on the basis of prior studies. This sample can be considered to be representative given the objectives of the study.

Practical implications: Researchers in teaching in OM are provided with an analysis of published studies which will enable them to steer future research according to the results and challenges set. Teachers of OM are provided with a selection of articles that can help them to develop their teaching strategy. Companies will be affected to the extent that they properly train future managers.

Originality/value: Innovation in teaching is the basis for the improved training and skilling up of students and future company managers. No previous research has been done that examines publications in teaching in OM and Management journals and valorises this major field of study.

Visitas: 11