Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers · 1988 · 292 citations · 23 references
Social SciencesGeographyHuman GeographyEconomic GeographyIndustrial OrganizationIndustrial RelationsAgglomeration EconomiesEconomic RestructuringIndustrial PolicyIndustrializationTechnological ChangeWorkplace GeographiesFactory GeographiesFlexibility In Production SystemsFlexible Production SystemsIndustrial RestructuringIndustrial Workplace GeographiesManufacturing GeographySpatial Divisions Of LaborTechnological Change In Industry
Recently some economic geographers have drawn our attention to what are alleged to be fundamental changes in production, based on the adoption of more flexible machines and labour within firms, and more flexible relations between firms. Certain spatial implications such as reagglomeration of production are said to have resulted from these changes, or are believed to be underway. This paper critically examines these contentions by setting out the fundamental elements of these changes, considering the degree of their pervasiveness throughout western economies, and the extent to which such changes really do represent a distinct break with the past history and geography of production. In doing so, this paper seeks to uncover the true motivations underlying technological change in the workplace, exposing some common misconceptions about the new flexible production methods and their impacts.
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William Diebold, Michael J. Piore, Charles F. Sabel · Foreign Affairs · 1985 · 3.3K citations
Ramchandran Jaikumar · Harvard business review · 1986 · 714 citations