Semi-Autonomous Work Team Implementation in Manufacturing Cells Using a Simplified Project Management

A change in a social system such as semi-autonomous work team can be conducted in both ways - change management andproject management - according to literature. This work developed a simplified project management methodology toimplement self-management cells that are a type of organization in which employee groups are in charge of a completesequence of work in the production process of goods for internal or external clients. The objective is to adapt a methodologyused in project management as a way of organizing change to allow the empowerment of the workers in the manufacturingcells, through identifying the requirements for implementation and assessment of the self-directed concept. This work is aresult of nine years of research-action methodology applied to a self-management cell in an auto parts manufacturing companyand accomplished the implementation of semi-autonomous work teams. Improvements were achieved in logistics andinventory reduction, both for parts and for machining tools. The financial consequences of these improvements showed abreak-even of the invested amount within 8 months.