How strong are the links between new market conditions, new production principles, and better working conditions?

This article reports on a study of how seven Danish small- and medium-sized enterprises introduced parts of “just-in-time” in their production and especially how it influenced working conditions. Changes in skill demands and strains, as well as opportunities for autonomy and cooperation, were investigated through primarily qualitative methods. Three other Danish studies inquiring into relations between working conditions and advanced manufacturing equipment are brought into focus. All these studies show how divergent are the changes in working conditions. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.