Toward an Understanding of Learning by Doing: Evidence from an Automobile Assembly Plant

S-Tier
Journal: Journal of Political Economy
Year: 2013
Volume: 121
Issue: 4
Pages: 643 - 681

Score contribution per author:

2.681 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We investigate learning by doing using detailed data from a major auto producer's assembly plant. We focus on the acquisition, aggregation, transmission, and embodiment of the knowledge stock built through learning. We find that most knowledge was not retained by plant workers despite their importance as a learning conduit. This is consistent with the plant's systems for productivity measurement and improvement. We further explore how learning at the hundreds of processes along the production line undergirds plantwide productivity. Our results shed light on how productivity gains accrue at the plant level and how firms apply managerial inputs to expand production.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/671137
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25