Continuous Improvement Processes and Learning Climate as Antecedents for Learning and Motivation in Production Teams
Paper i proceeding, 2022

The manufacturing industry is facing a transformation, driven by an increasing technological development. This leads to major challenges at various levels in companies and organisations, not least increased demands on production staff, to handle digitalisation and new technology. Work content is changing, as are roles, and it is becoming increasingly important for organisations to take advantage of and develop the skills of their employees. With growing rate of change, human factors such as motivation and learning become increasingly important. For sustainable production and a sustainable working life, the work environment needs to ensure development and learning, from the perspective of both individuals and companies. With this background, the aim of this paper is to better understand how learning climate and continuous improvement processes affect learning and motivation in production teams. Four Swedish industrial companies were included in the study. Observations and interviews were used for data collection. The results from the study show that continuous improvement processes have the potential to increase learning and motivation but are not always utilised in this way. We could see a focus on short term gains in productivity, rather than on long term reflection, development, and learning. Training and dedicated time needed were not prioritised enough to actually reach the potential of such processes. We find that there is a substantial potential for development of these factors, which can aid industry in meeting the challenges that companies face in the rapid technological development. Examples of areas to improve are structure and processes for continuous improvement, as well as enhancing the learning climate within teams and organisations.

Motivation

Continuous improvement

Production teams

Self-Determination Theory

Learning in organisations

Författare

Susanne Kullberg

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management

Elin Edén

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management

Carl Wänström

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Supply and Operations Management

Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering

Vol. 21 221-232
9781614994398 (ISBN)

10th Swedish Production Symposium, SPS 2022
Skövde, Sweden,

Ämneskategorier

Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi

Lärande

Tvärvetenskapliga studier

Styrkeområden

Produktion

DOI

10.3233/ATDE220141

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2024-01-03