Engaging environments: Tacit knowledge sharing on the shop floor

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that facilitate tacit knowledge sharing in unstructured work environments, such as those found in automated production lines. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on a qualitative approach, and it draws data from a four-month field study at a blown-molded glass factory. Data collection techniques included interviews, informal conversations and on-site observations, and data were interpreted using content analysis. Findings: The results indicated that sharing of tacit knowledge is facilitated by an engaging environment. An engaging environment is supported by shared language and knowledge, which are developed through intense communication and a strong sense of collegiality and a social climate that is dominated by openness and trust. Other factors that contribute to the creation of an engaging environment include managerial efforts to provide appropriate work conditions and to communicate company goals, and HRM practices such as the provision of formal training, on-the-job training and incentives. Practical implications: This paper clarifies the scope of managerial actions that impact knowledge creation and sharing among blue-collar workers. Originality/value: Despite the acknowledgement of the importance of blue-collar workers' knowledge, both the knowledge management and operations management literatures have devoted limited attention to it. Studies related to knowledge management in unstructured working environments are also not abundant. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Knowledge-based integrated production management model

Purpose - This paper aims to propose a model of production management that integrates knowledge management, as a third dimension, to the production and work dimensions and to identify factors that promote a favorable context for knowledge sharing and results achievement in the production operations shop floor environment.Design/methodology/approach - The model proposed is built from opportunities identified in the literature review.Findings - The factors in the model integrate its three main components: knowledge management, production organization and work organization, providing a representation of the dynamics of the workplace and shop floor environment.Practical implications - The proposed model and its factors allow managers to better understand and to improve the organization activities, because it integrates knowledge management with the production organization and work organization components of traditional models.Originality/value - Literature acknowledges the role of knowledge as competitive advantage, but it is still dealt in an implicit way within the traditional models of production management. This paper proposes a model and factors that provide a favorable context for tacit knowledge sharing and results achievement in the production operations shop floor environment. The model explicitly integrates knowledge management with traditional models' components.

Knowledge-based integrated Production Management Model applied to automotive companies

This paper aims to examine the relevance of a production management model, in the shop-floor operations environment, that integrates the dimensions of production organisation (lean and mass production), work organisation (enriched and semi-autonomous groups) and knowledge management. A theoretical model has been applied to automotive companies to verify model adherence. Each of those dimensions has been described by factors. Shop-floor personnel interviews were conducted to confirm the factors relevance to that company. Results have shown that the model represented the reality of those companies concerning the researched dimensions. The factors allow managers to promote a favourable context for knowledge sharing. © 2010 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Do conhecimento tácito ao conhecimento explícito: A elaboração de manual de política de indexação em bibliotecas universitárias

The indexing policy establishes the guiding principles and criteria for the indexer when determining the subjects of the documents. This article shows how to capture the indexers' tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge using the group verbal protocol methodology to produce an indexing manual. Continuing professional education results to be a key factor in obtaining good results when formalizing the indexing policy of a library and keeping it up to date.

Especialização produtiva e aglomeração industrial: uma análise da indústria de confecções de Ibitinga - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Del conocimiento tácito al explicito: elaboración de un manual de política de indización en bibliotecas universitárias

The indexing policy establishes the guiding principles and criteria for the indexer when determining the subjects of the documents. This article shows how to capture the indexers’ tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge using the group verbal protocol methodology to produce an indexing manual. Continuing professional education results to be a key factor in obtaining good results when formalizing the indexing policy of a library and keeping it up to date.

Criação de contexto favorável ao compartilhamento do conhecimento operário: pesquisa no ambiente vidreiro

In search for better competitiveness, the automotive industry has discussed and applied several concepts related to people and processes. However, in many organizations, the adopted concepts are implemented and kept unarticulated. In this context, authors recognize the role of the knowledge as competitive advantage, but it is still dealt in an implicit way with the traditional models of Production Management. Exploring opportunities in this scenario, this Thesis aims to analyse worker knowledge sharing using factors of Knowledge Management, Work Organization and Production Organization. For the realization of the present Thesis, the scope of the research was restricted to be the labour environment of the glass plants shop floor. The choice of the glass sector is justified due to high dependency on the tacit knowledge of blue-collars. The research uses a qualitative-quantitative approach and employs interviews with workers and managers to identify factors. To assess the importance of these factors in the management judgments, is employed the technique Incomplete Pairwise Comparisons based on Analytic Hierarchy Process Saaty (2001). The result indicates integration among factors and highlights the importance of systematic and technical conversation among operators to share better your knowledge. Also, worker knowledge sharing is improved using communication, training and work instruction. This research extends the conceptual frameworks encountered in literature from the factors integration of Knowledge Management with the Organization of Work and the Production and makes explicit use of the theme of knowledge. This contributes to promote of a favourable context for the creation and sharing of knowledge, among the people in the labour environment, and to support incremental innovation

As aglomerações produtivas de calçados, folheados e de jóias do CRAJUBAR (CE): formação, produção, trabalho, implicações socioespaciais

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

Mapeamento do conhecimento no processode atribuição de aulas em Escolas Técnicas

This article has the objective to describe the importance of management knowledge. And, for that, we have done a study upon a case, based on the mapping of the process of classes distribution in the Escolas Técnicas do Centro Paula Souza. The management of knowledge is a way to provide it to the people, considering that knowledge becomes a fundamental and necessary resource to the development of the privante or public organizations. The use of knowledge maps becomes a crucial factor in this process of transformation of tacit knowledge into explicit, because having a high knowledge level, and socialize it, is as essential and important as all the other resources that exist within the institutions.

Análise do fatores para o compartilhamento do conhecimento operário em indústrias do setor automotivo no Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Artesanato como exemplo de trabalho informal em uma região econômica periférica: uma análise geográfica do aglomerado produtivo de palhas e bordados da região norte do Piauí

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE

An aproach for implementing knowledge management in small and medium companies in Brazil: A case study

The search for competitive advantage in a global environment must consider the use of tacit and explicit knowledge circulating inside companies. Differential factors can be easily replicated nowadays. Due to the great volume of knowledge and information, it is necessary to create a system that allows the management of important knowledge. Existing models for Knowledge Management are based on the reality at large companies. In Brazil, most of the companies are smaller ones. This work presents a simplified model to implement Knowledge Management in Small and Medium Companies in Brazil, based on a unique case study with limited scope. Despite some human and financial restrictions, Knowledge Management can help smaller companies, preserving organizational memory and increasing process efficiency. Observing a unique case prevented any generalization of the model. But the recommendations can be references to other companies, because projects like this must address the specific issues of each organization. The objective of this study is to introduce a simplified model for planning Knowledge Management at small companies in Brazil, considering their restrictions and also seeking to create a competitive advantage. Human aspects are very important in Knowledge Management, but that is not the focus of this study. The model was conceived presuming the participation of all people involved.