What is Fordism? Restructuring work in the South African metal industry

Abstract

A framework for understanding contemporary changes in the nature of work is provided by the fordist/post-fordist model which argues that fordism can no longer sustain high rates of productivity under changing conditions of accumulation and is rapidly giving way to new methods of production, patterns of consumption and relations of global domination. This framework forms part of the Regulation approach which focuses on the social structures, institutions and relations which regulate and resolve the system of accumulation's contradictions, making it workable and enabling accumulation to proceed (Gelb 1991).