Technology and Capital in the Age of Lean Production: A Marxian Critique of the "New Economy" (S U N Y Series in Radical Social and Political Theory)

\*\*\* collection of chapter from the manuscript \*\*\* Tony Smith's "Technology and Capital in the Age of Lean Production" is an extremely thorough and detailed analysis of the process of lean production, its comparison to Fordism, the viability of the claims of lean production proponents, and the phenomenon's implications for Marxist theory. Smith goes into astounding detail in describing and analysing the shopfloor nuts and bolts of lean production as well as the ways in which different units of capital interact in this production form, and he shows that it is, indeed, a structurally new way of proceeding compared to the Fordist factory production that has dominated capitalism since the interbellum. The various chapters are devoted to assessing every aspect of lean production from the perspectives of its supporters and subsequently of Marxist theorists, and this is not limited to just the surface phenomena of the production process - deskilling and globalization are given their due in this book as well. Refuting such silly "new economy" enthousiasts like Florida, Kenney and Womack, political philosopher Tony Smith demonstrates the complete applicability of the Marxist critique of capitalism to each and every real development demonstrable in lean production, and also that the change from Fordism to lean production serves to confirm rather than disprove the expectations of Marx & Engels on the relevant points. "This book illustrates the continued value of Marxism as a method for analyzing contemporary capitalism, despite the new post-Fordist variant termed "lean production" that is spreading the globe. Characterized by knowledge work, lean production also includes the mass customization of commodities to consumer desires, and the close cooperation of firms within extended networks of production and distribution. Its proponents argue that it can unite companies, workers, and consumers in the harmonious pursuit of common interests, thereby making the Marxian perspective hopelessly outdated. However, this book is the first to defend Marxian political economy against the claims made by lean production advocates."--BOOK JACKET.