"A study was undertaken to assess the effect of just in time (JIT) inventory control methods in a batch processing environment on operator job content and worker psychological outcomes. Attitude surveys and the General Health Questionnaire were given to assembly line workers at a printed circuit board manufacturing factory in England. During the study the manufacturing process was reorganized from a conventional six stage assembly line to a system following JIT principles. The attitude surveys were administered 1 month before and 7 months after implementation of the JIT system. Surveys covered such factors as worker job content, operator control, job breadth, boundary control, cognitive demands, and problem solving demand. Univariate tests indicated that higher skill utilization took place on the production line before JIT was introduced. Introduction of JIT resulted in a reduction in timing control, an increase in production pressure, and a drop in job satisfaction. There were no other significant changes in job content or psychological variables before and after JIT introduction. From this study the authors conclude that the introduction of JIT systems to batch processing operations does not adversely affect operator job content or levels of worker psychological strain."

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