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Manufacturing industries face a new wave of modernization. Computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) can no longer be seen as only a ‘high tech’ experiment. Installing flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) becomes more and more an important strategy for improving productivity in batch production. The paper suggests that attention has to be paid not only to technological problems but also to an adequate manpower policy. Problems of work reorganization and labour savings have to be considered. For illustration the process of introducing a new developed FMS in a big West German metal manufacturing company is described and analysed. Because of the key role manpower still has to play in those highly complex systems, the focus is on the manpower approach regarding job design and work force structures. Experiences are quoted which suggest that – in order to ensure high flexibility, productivity, quality, and utilization times – a homogeneous job structure on a high level of skills might best fit computerized equipment.

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