Agile workforce evaluation: a framework for cross-training and coordination
- 1 October 2004
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in IIE Transactions
- Vol. 36 (10), 919-940
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07408170490487759
Abstract
This paper outlines approaches for assessing and classifying manufacturing and service operations in terms of their suitability for use of cross-trained (flexible) workers. We refer to our overall framework as agile workforce evaluation. The primary contributions of this paper are: (i) a strategic assessment framework that structures the key mechanisms by which cross-training can support organizational strategy; (ii) a tactical framework that identifies key factors to guide the selection of an architecture and worker coordination policy for implementing workforce agility; (iii) a classification of workforce agility architectures; (iv) a survey of a broad range of archetypical classes of worker coordination policies; (v) a survey of the literature with an operational perspective on workforce agility; and (vi) identification of opportunities for research and development of architectures for specific production environments.Keywords
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