The starting-up of a new plant organized in multi-skilled production groups

Abstract

The plant, located in France, manufactures a food product and is part of large American firm. It started operations at the end of 1972 and employs about 250 people in two-shift working. In this paper we will present:

• a rough blueprint of the plant organization at the drawing-board stage;

• the start-up process (selection, ‘welcoming’ process, training);

• organizational changes from 1973 to 1976;

• a socioeconomic evaluation;

• how the workers experience the plant;

• the point of view of the supervisors and the staff;

• the point of view of the union;

• the authors’ evaluation of the problems and choices facing management in early 1976;

• a postscript, November 1977.

This paper became available after the original selection of papers had been made by the correspondents group. Despite this, and certain differences in its nature, its complementarity to the other French papers led to its inclusion here.