“Power to the workers”

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to reveal how information and communication technology (ICT) can empower shop floor workers in collaborative manufacturing environments. Design/methodology/approach The authors gather data from a mobile maintenance department of a steel manufacturing company and apply the method of a scenario-based design. The authors use data from interviews, observations and company documents to create problem and activity scenarios. The authors also demonstrate the development of a worker-centric digital design in multiple demonstration and evaluation cycles. Findings The authors find that ICT can be used to ensure that empowerment is not only a concept, but can sustainably empower daily operations. Research limitations/implications The authors contribute to theory by showing how structural empowerment can be used as a guiding theoretical lens to design ICT for shop floor workers in collaborative manufacturing work environments. These implications are limited to findings from a single case study. Practical implications The results provide an overview of different empowerment dimensions, namely, the access to information, resources, support and opportunities, that can support employees in collaborative manufacturing environments. Originality/value This paper is first in suggesting a framework of how ICT designs can be used to empower shop floor workers in collaborative manufacturing environments.

Development and implementation processes of digitalization in engineer-to-order manufacturing: enablers and barriers

“…Digital applications have previously been found to strengthen the empowerment of the individual if the individual receives the proper information, guidance, and feedback from colleagues and supervisors (Leyer et al 2019). We contribute to this field by adding findings about the importance of well-functioning feedback-loops that also include the designers/developers.…”

“…Previous research has argued that a worker-centred approach and user involvement are important principles in the processes of developing digital tools (Leyer et al 2019;Signoretti et al 2019;Vilkki 2010). However, we find that the principle of involvement referred to in the previous literature is often too general.…”

“…However, there are also positive effects of digitalization and some research findings have revealed its important enablers and potential consequences. Digitalization can provide benefits like increased transparency and agility of manufacturing operations, proactive optimization by dynamically generating action recommendation, knowledge sharing and delivery of (near) real-time information to both workers and supervisors (e.g., Gröger et al 2016;Leyer et al 2019), reduction in heavy physical work, faster work processes and improved flexibility, increased professional competencies, methodological competencies, and more opportunities for growth (Leyer et al 2019). Digitalization can lead to better work preparation and a high level of awareness during the execution of work, a reduced coordination effort, avoidance of double routes, easy expert identification and contact, and different kinds of support (Leyer et al 2019).…”

“…In light of this, it is important to consider what the literature states as being enablers of such processes. Access to information (information and knowledge necessary to perform tasks), access to resources (assets in terms of money, material, and working time), access to support (by receiving guidance and feedback from colleagues and supervisors), and opportunities for advancement (learning opportunities to allow for knowledge and skills growth) are relevant enablers (Leyer et al 2019). Other enablers are considerable effort and commitment at both the corporate and shop-floor levels, a thorough understanding of the information and communication technology infrastructure and corporate policy restrictions, and acceptance of solutions from team leaders and operators (Alexopoulos et al 2018).…”

Mutuality, empowerment and fit in creative knowledge work performance

“…the moderating effect of team psychological empowerment on the relationship between abusive supervision and engagement (Kirrane, Kilroy, & O'Connor, 2019). What is very specific to knowledge workers category, the empowerment is a technical action realized via digital solutions (Schneckenberg, 2009;Leyer, Richter, & Steinhüser, 2019). Peluso, Innocenti and Pilati (2017) empirical study revealed that the work environment has a very strong motivating effect on knowledge workers as an element of total reward system.…”