Work and Skill in FRP Fishing Boat Shipyard
2002 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 35-42
Details
2002 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 35-42
The purpose of this research is to examine the element of skill to solve skill-succession problem in fishing boat shipyard. This research focuses on multiskilled worker Mr. X in the small FRP fishing boat shipyard in Hokkaido. A qualitative research was used with on the job observation and literature survey. The known concepts of skill in Japan began from Seniority Skill, which is originally from Experimental Skill. The characteristic of Seniority Skill is technical skill, indefinite period to form skill, and seniority system in a factory. As a result of industrial rationalization and technology progress, Seniority Skill became irrational and began the era of Modern Skill. The characteristics of Modern Skill are definite period to form skill and the skill attaches greater importance knowledge about production machinery and work process than technical skill.
These concepts of the skill came from the workplace of factory with controllable work conditions, production management by management section (not work-site operator), and capital-intensive production. We, however, have also workplace with uncontrollable work condition, production management by work-site operator, and labor-intensive production. I definite such workplace "Outdoor Workplace" and the skill in the Outdoor Workplace "Field Skill".
The results indicate Field Skill is defined as follows: The ability that work-site operator can accomplish successful final products with good preparation through technical skill (which is correct scientifically) and accurate knowledge (which is from work experiment). In other word, Field Skill is process management by work-site operator. The skill is rational in terms of the amount of products, production technology, and uncontrollable work conditions. For example, fishing boat and equipment are custom-made products, The quality of products with FRP lamination and TIG welding is dependent on the skill of worker. And the manager cannot control weather condition, sea climate and worker in distant workplace.
