Continuous improvement in the company under conditions of unstable employment - the perspective of production directors

• Autorzy: Trenkner Małgorzata

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.29119/1641-3466.2024.200.43

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Department of Economics and Organization of Enterprise, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business; [e-mail], ORCID: 0000-0001-6589-0540 Purpose: The paper aims to identify the effects of unstable employment in the context of applying continuous improvement (CI) idea in manufacturing companies and the actions that are taken in such a situation. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the purpose of this paper, qualitative research was conducted, using the case study method. Production directors of three manufacturing companies were interviewed. The subject of the research was the realization of continuous improvement in conditions of unstable employment. Findings: As a result of the research, it was established that: • In the surveyed companies, employee departures and rotation are affecting the continuity of improvement activities. • Companies apply various measures to secure the continuity of improvement activities, often also reacting ad hoc. • The biggest and most frequently reported dilemma was whether to invest - or not - in employee development in CI area, knowing the risk of their departure. • Employment instability accelerated the implementation of automation, robotization, and digitization. This creates a need to perform CI in new ways. Research limitations/implications: Limiting the research to three case studies restricts the ability to generalize conclusions. The research conducted was of a pilot nature and the presented conclusions and observations apply to the studied group of manufacturing companies. It would be justified and cognitively interesting to conduct research in a broader sample of manufacturing companies, as well as exploring other sectors such as services or trade. Practical implications: The paper examines the manifestations and effects of the impact of unstable employment on the application of CI and how companies deal with it. Attempt was made to determine whether this situation may imply any changes in the realization of continuous improvement in the near future. The obtained research results can help managers implement continuous improvement in such conditions. Originality/value: The article explores how employment instability affects the CI process and the continuity of CI activities. A review of existing literature reveals a research gap in this area that warrants further investigation.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

continuous improvement; kaizen; employment instability

PL

ciągłe doskonalenie; kaizen; niestabilność zatrudnienia

• Wydawca: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej
• Czasopismo: Zeszyty Naukowe. Organizacja i Zarządzanie / Politechnika Śląska
• Rocznik: 2024
• Tom: z. 200
• Strony: 579--589
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 9 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Trenkner Małgorzata

• Department of Economics and Organization of Enterprise, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business

• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6589-0540

Bibliografia

• 1. Arnaiz, F.D., Alvarez, V., Montequin, V.R., Cousillas, S.M. (2022). Identifying critical success factors in continuous improvement projects in a steel company. Procedia Computer Science, Vol. 196, pp 832-839, doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2021.12.082
• 2. Bak-Grabowska, D., Grzesik, K. (2019). Zmiany w procesie uelastycznienia pracy w zależności od stopy bezrobocia - niestabilne formy zatrudnienia. In: J. Lichtarski, G. Osbert-Pociecha (Eds.), Procesy i projekty - ciągłość i zmiana. Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu.
• 3. Bieńkowska, J. (2014). Problemy kształtowania sytuacji pracy w warunkach niepewności. In: D. Walczak-Duraj, Ł. Kutyło (Eds.), Humanizacja Pracy, Vol. 47, No. 1, pp. 83-94.
• 4. Brajer-Marczak, R. (2021). Zaangażowanie pracowników w doskonalenie procesów biznesowych. Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wrocławiu.
• 5. Formento, H.R., Chiodi, F.J., Cusolito, F.J., Altube, L.A., Gatti S.P. (2013). Key factors for a continuous improvement process. Independent Journal of Management & Production, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp 391-415, doi: 10.14807/ijmp.v4i2.76
• 6. Gonzalez Aleu, F., Van Aken, E.M. (2016). Systematic literature review of critical success factors for continuous improvement projects. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 214-232, doi: 10.1108/IJLSS-06-2015-0025
• 7. Jørgensen, F., Laugen, B.T., Boer H. (2007). Human Resource Management for Continuous Improvement. Creativity and Innovation Management, Vol. 16, No. 4, doi: 10.1111/j.14678691.2007.00452.x
• 8. Marciniak, J. (2016). Optymalizacja zatrudnienia. Zwolnienia, outsourcing, outplacement. Warszawa: Wolters Kluwer.
• 9. Walentynowicz, P. (2013). Uwarunkowania skuteczności wdrażania Lean management w przedsiębiorstwach produkcyjnych w Polsce. Gdańsk: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego.