Enjeux d’autonomie pour la transmission des savoirs et savoir‑faire des travailleurs expérimentés de l’industrie manufacturière

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show how autonomy for the transmission of know-how of experienced workers is characterized by taking into account the conditions of work organization and realization. The study took place in an industrial lithography company organized according to a lean model, and was based on 14 half-days of activity observation, 6 semi-structured interviews with the lithographers, and periods of data restitution with management (human resources team and production manager) and workers. The results reveal two main types of situation where transmission autonomy is either “prevented” or “conditional”. These types of situation are underpinned by a dilemma in the activity of experienced workers (between transmission and production) the outcome of which tends to favour production. By default, this choice is supported by management who ignore the requirements of the lithographers’ work and makes them responsible for the transmission.The study shows the issues underlying transmission autonomy and emphasises the need for management to think about transmission by considering the conditions in which autonomy can be exercised.

Keywords

• transmission of know-how
• autonomy
• experienced workers
• activity chronicles
• lithography