Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate how effective lean managers are at developing a highly skilled workforce that is trained in lean manufacturing skills. We draw upon upper echelon theory to explore the extent to which inter-firm executive relationships to different stakeholders have moderating effects on the relationship between lean managers and lean manufacturing skills. Our hypotheses are examined using data from a social media platform used by employees working at firms in Toyota’s supplier association, together with multivariate regression and endogeneity analysis. We identify that lean managers are associated with a significant increase in the number of workers with lean manufacturing skills. The moderation analysis reveals that inter-firm executive relationships to Toyota and its suppliers have negative and positive moderating effects on the ability of lean managers to develop skilled workers. However, executive relationships to organisations outside the supplier association have no significant moderating effect.

摘要

本文旨在调查精益管理人员如何有效地培养受过精益制造技能培训的高技能劳动力。我们利用上层梯队理论来探索公司间高管关系与不同利益相关者之间的关系对精益管理人员和精益制造技能之间关系的调节作用的程度。我们的假设使用来自丰田供应商协会公司员工使用的社交媒体平台的数据以及多元回归和内生性分析进行检验。我们发现精益经理与具有精益制造技能的工人数量的显着增加有关。调节分析表明，与丰田及其供应商的公司间高管关系对精益管理人员培养熟练工人的能力具有消极和积极的调节作用。但是，与供应商协会以外的组织的高管关系没有显着的调节作用。