In the automotive industry, Saturn and NUMMI are often touted as
exemplars of successful implementation of manufacturing employee
involvement. Building on data and extended on-site interviews, this paper
explores the differences between the approaches taken at each plant and the
relationship between worker involvement and plant performance. Based on this
comparison, we offer a model to assess the fit between employee involvement
activity emphasis (product development vs. operations improvement) and
timescale of the involvement process.
MIT's International
Motor Vehicle Program and Project Delta at the Sloan School of Management.