Teaching Business Communication on the Production Line: A Case Study

Manufacturing Technologies and have attempted to change the social structure of work through management innovations such as quality circles and initiatives designed to improve working conditions and thus boost productivity. Some companies have gone further and attempted to copy the Japanese style of manufacturing which is built around a production system known as the &dquo;team concept&dquo; or &dquo;production cell&dquo; organization. Under this system, teams of workers are empowered to change how work is assigned and to deal directly with suppliers and management as problems arise. The best-known &dquo;team concept&dquo; system in America is found in New United Motors Manufacturing Inc., (NUMMI, the General Motors and Toyota joint venture which manufactures Geo Prizms and Toyota Corollas in