Relationship Between Work Culture and Operational Performance in JIT Environment

Traditional concepts of quality and customer satisfaction have been challenged in recent years and new benchmarks have been established. Several Indian firms have either initiated steps towards JIT implementation or claim to have already implemented many aspects of JIT. The work culture system consists of those human resource practices that provide a cooperative and communicative atmosphere so that tasks within and across the functional units are coordinated. The detailed investigative study is carried in two companies manufacturing engineering products and having many similarities in terms of turnover, strength of the workforce, technological strength and year of establishment. One has implemented and practicing JIT since last 20 years and other is yet to plan for the same. Operational Performance of the firm improved due to proper work culture and ethics because of (1) Direct, open and less formal communication, (2) Participation culture and respect for everyone's viewpoints, (3) Multi-skilled workforce and empowerment promoting high concern across the functional boundaries, Change is always perceived as a positive phenomenon for better. The work culture system in JIT environment has a higher degree of influence on the competitive advantage and influences the dependent performance of the firm to a greater extent