Chrysler is stepping up their use of team-based manufacturing, moving away from the “Fordist” approach that’s been continually embraced and rejected by global automakers. Their approach brings up memories of the many other companies that have gone to teams, including some that were successful and some that ended up reverting. While dividing work into teams is always an attractive idea, many organizations miss the key success factors. People like to work in teams, but quality and productivity gains may be left on the table.

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