Work organization in FMS: Two case descriptions

The work content for individuals in an FMS is dependent both on the design of the system itself and the choice of work organization. This article describes two Swedish FMS cases. The first case is an FMS within an old plant, with traditional work organization, characterized by many hierarchical levels, job specialization, and narrowly denned tasks. The second case is a “green field” plant, a new plant with only three hierarchical levels and a low degree of division of labor. Whether the FMS will bring about a work organization with a broader work content and thereby a more stimulating work content is primarily dependent on the attitude of management and those involved in designing the system, and whether it is an incremental implementation of the FMS or a completely new plant.