On the Line at Subaru-Isuzu: The Japanese Model and the American Worker (ILR Press books) [Paperback]

Laurie Graham (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Graham (sociology, Purdue Univ.) worked in the Subaru-Isuzu nonunion plant near Lafayette, Indiana, for six months, keeping covert records of her experiences and those of her co-workers. Her book explains Japanese management strategies, which center production on work teams and emphasize output; it also takes on U.S. worker responses, worker/management cooperation, and coersion vs. consent. The work's seven chapters address topics such as the Japanese model debate, worker selection, orientation and training, the work setting, thinking like an associate, and working like a worker and depicts voices from the floor?reporting what some of Graham's co-workers reported. A scholarly account that is particularly recommended for students and academics of contemporary labor and industrial relations.?Joseph W. Leonard, Miami Univ., Oxford, Ohio
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 169 pages
• Publisher: Ilr Pr; First Edition edition (June 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875463460
• ISBN-13: 978-0875463469
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #757,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars "Based on a true story", January 4, 2012

By 

Shawman65 - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Line at Subaru-Isuzu: The Japanese Model and the American Worker (ILR Press books) (Paperback)

I have read Ms. Graham's book and it is very well written. It is a good account of the work conditions for temporary employees which account for roughly 25% of Subaru's workforce at any one time. But as a account of a Subaru employee(not a temp),I am afraid it is inaccurate. It appears Ms. Graham wanted to be the next Upton Sinclair and created a story when she couldn't find one.
My advice for readers is decide why are you are reading the book before you buy it. If you want an actual account of what it is like to be a "temp" in a automotive plant, read it. Or if you want to slam the Japanese for issues that are not japanese, knock yourself out. But if you want to read what it is like to be an employee of a Subaru, don't read it.

9 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fiction??, August 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: On the Line at Subaru-Isuzu: The Japanese Model and the American Worker (ILR Press books) (Paperback)

I have read this book.. What a work of fiction! I work at the same auto plant 'Laurie Graham' worked (worked??) and wrote about.. This book seems to have been written with a pre-determined opinion.. She had it in her mind before she worked in the plant to knock the SIA work place. She writes about a few months that she worked at SIA.. Well after most of us have worked at SIA (5-9yrs Union Free) Zero layoffs. Low OSHA's comparied to other autoplants and great pay and benifits! This book seems to give most of us at SIA a good laugh! Try Reading Ben Hampers 'Rivet Head'.. Good for a laugh also.. but much more accurate.

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant first person account of Japanese transplant, May 16, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: On the Line at Subaru-Isuzu: The Japanese Model and the American Worker (ILR Press books) (Paperback)

This book is a first person account of working in a Japanese transplant auto assembly facility. Author Laurie Graham worked "undercover" in the Subaru-Isuzu plant in Lafayette, Indiana when it opened up. She finds that the fabled "Japanese system" cannot live up to its promises to the worker in the absence of a labor union. The book is very well written: clear, substantial, and full of insights into work life and the techniques used to maintain control over the workers. I recommend it very highly. --Bruce Nissen [e-mail]