Monthly Review June 2005 Fernando E. Gapasin and Michael D. Yates:
Sigh, I don't recommend reading this article, as it appears to be from a socialist/communist publication of sorts.
“A list of the actions taken by labor's class enemies makes for depressing reading: slashed wages and benefits, lean production (with its attendant increase in injuries and health problems, seldom addressed these days by public agencies), closed plants and ruined communities, “
I've heard arguments before that “lean” is bad for workers — anything from it causing more stress, more unhappiness, more injuries, etc. Personally, I don't believe it — when lean manufacturing is done properly and in the true spirit of Toyota. Every lean implementation I have been a part of has placed worker ergonomics and safety as the #1 priority.
I would put out the hypothesis that “fake lean“, if anything, causes injuries and employee (“worker” or otherwise) unhappiness. What do you think? Is it silly to think that “lean” actually causes more injuries? Click on comments to let the others know what you think.
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