Developing an analysis tool to identify potentials for mobile,time-flexible work in production: Results from the MofAPro research project

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Mobile, time-flexible work provides advantages for companies and employees. However, those opportunities have so far been used primarily in the administrative sector.

OBJECTIVE:

In a joint practice-oriented project, the possibilities for flexibilization in the production sector are being investigated. Therefore, practical aids of action are to be developed. In this paper the procedure and first results are shown.

METHODS:

To obtain initial indications of the opportunities and limitations of mobile, time-flexible work in the production sector, interviews were conducted with employees of the company project partners. An analysis tool was developed based on the results of the interviews. The development follows an iterative process of practice testing and discussion rounds with the project partners.

RESULTS:

The preliminary analyses show that small and medium-sized companies (SME) need a practical tool for identifying flexibilization potentials in the production sector. In addition, it has been shown that there are several factors that determine or promote the possibilities of mobile, time-flexible work in the production sector. Those factors are considered in the analysis tool. The structure, contents and application of the analysis tool are presented in this paper.

CONCLUSION:

The presented procedure and analysis tool provide valuable implications for practice. It shows practical ways of analyzing flexibilization potentials of companies and individual jobs. This provides a basis for discussions between the employer and employees, works councils, and applicants for the occupation of job positions in the production sector.