Is there an Australian 'Production Model'?

This paper starts from the premise advanced by Jurgens (2003) that there are discernible national models of production rather than a convergence of production systems. This paper examines the nature and impact of Japanese idea of continuous improvement on 14 automobile components companies in Australia. This is undertaken by assessing the extent to which continuous improvement practices inform management systems and work organization and are reflected in Enterprise Agreements. The results indicate two patterns of production management in the companies termed the elaborated commitment and the basic commitment patterns respectively. The authors conclude that there is not one Australian production model. They also observe that company effects, as described by McDuffie (1989) seem to predominate. Industrial Agreements were seen as an important vehicle for the advancement of management strategies on continuous improvement, though management preferences in relation to work demarcations and training were not significantly advanced within the agreements