Lean production and quality commitment: A comparative study of two Korean auto firms

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine antecedents of employee quality commitment at two Korean auto firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 644 employees at two auto plants; 331 at the high lean plant and 313 at the low lean plant. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed.

Findings

This research showed that intrinsic rewards factors were significant determinants of quality commitment in the high lean plant sample, whereas those relating to extrinsic rewards were major antecedents in the low lean plant sample. The study finds that the tested antecedents to quality commitment differ in relative importance at different stages of lean production implementation.

Research limitations/implications

Since data were collected from 644 employees at two Korean firms, the results may need to be modified before being generalized for other national contexts.

Practical implications

The results suggest that the relative importance of the antecedent variables of employee quality commitment changes as lean implementation progresses, shifting in the general direction of rewards intrinsic to the job itself. Managers sensitive to the dynamic nature of the antecedents to employee quality commitment will be the most effective in fostering it.

Originality/value

This paper examines antecedents of employee quality commitment at two Korean auto plants, and offers practical implications for managers starting for the effective fostering of employee quality commitment in terms of different stages of lean production implementation.

Citation

Lee, J. and Peccei, R. (2008), "Lean production and quality commitment: A comparative study of two Korean auto firms", Personnel Review, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 5-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/00483480810839941