German experiences in automated manufacturing based on human skill and knowledge

In the attempt to make the fabrication of certain products more flexible, two things have become apparent in the past. On the one hand, maximum division of labor (in the Taylorian sense), in most cases, will not produce optimum results; instead, increased attention should be paid to sufficient qualification and appropriate organization of the persons involved in the manufacturing processes. On the other hand, a choice among options must be made in the technical design of manufacturing equipment (`technology as an option´). In particular, the appropriate degree of automation must be found in each case. Consequently, it is necessary that the appropriate automation be determined for each specific case of manufacturing. The lesson learnt in Germany is in short: economic success depends on the right combination of technology, organization of work and workers´ qualifications. The author briefly gives some case examples and discusses appropriate engineering design