Shorter week a challenge in auto sector

There are many examples of work weeks shorter than our 40 hour work week in the U.S. However I have not found an example of one with a moving assembly line as in vehicle assembly. I can envision after my 35 years experience in the auto manufacturing sector that parts suppliers may be able to produce the same in 32 hours as they do currently in 40 hours. However, that must be accompanied by many work rule changes like “clean and inspect” their own facilities, which has proven to increase machine uptime (productivity). Also cross functional teams for tool and die changes decreases time for changeover and greater uptime/output of parts produced. Work rules must change to accomplish this and companies as well as workers could gain (shorter work week/same pay plus overtime at higher rate while companies can reduce indirect costs per part produced).

The shorter work week for an assembly line to produce the same amount in 32 hours compared to 40 requires major changes in work rules and facilities such as robots and AI devices. This is all about assembly line speed and number of worker on the line. Typical productivity metrics are based on the number of man hours to units produced. Can the assembly line be sped up 20% to accomplish this? Or can the number of workers on that line be reduced? It would take many concessions and reimagining how assembly work is to be done. Now add EV’s into the equation and this shorter work week can be achieved as batteries are a major one piece component and EV’s overall have fewer parts to assemble. Shorter assembly line and fewer parts means greater output of units/man hours as well as far fewer workers. But also know that companies that could have the gains described in an opinion column by Bernie Sanders and Shawn Fain would certainly be asking for a shorter work week if all of these gains were real.

Donald G. Vonk Harrison Township