EFFECTS OF OPERATIONAL EMPLOYEE SKILLS ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY PERFORMANCE.

The article attempts to build theory on the relationship between skill levels and advanced manufacturing technologies (AMT). AMT has been posited to require higher skills than previous technologies. The basis for this proposition is the complex nature of the technology. This research sheds doubt on the high skill assumption. Not only is there no evidence of a linear or simple curvilinear relationship between skills and performance, but some of the highest performing companies in the sample are using preparation times of less than 10 weeks. These companies are using both Computer Numerically Controlled equipment and flexible manufacturing systems with employees whose training would not prepare them for many tasks. Such tasks include working in semi-autonomous teams, performing their own maintenance, programming their own equipment and being able and willing to learn and respond to different customer requirements. Therefore the key conclusion of this research is that companies need not have highly skilled employees to have high levels of AMT performance.