Age and knowledge management in the automotive industry (KNOWMOVE)
Aims
To encourage firms in the motor manufacturing industry to recognise their older workers as a valuable resource. The project focuses on how training, knowledge management and other incentives can extend working life. .
Outcomes
KNOWMOVE is developing and testing knowledge management approaches that can map, organise and store older workers' experiences and examples of good practices in a repository ready for use by every employee in the company. It will also develop and test new working arrangements and organisational models that make the best use of older workers' skills and knowledge.
Methodology
The project is working with three major manufacturing companies, and a cluster of small manufacturing firms in Southern Sweden to explore approaches to age management and knowledge management. They are supported by representatives of employer and employee organisations and training agencies.
Partners meet regularly to exchange ideas, develop and evaluate resources and initiatives.
CROW is responsible for the baseline analysis of firms’ practices and worker attitudes, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of project activities. This includes:
- a review of relevant literature and background information
- interviews with managers and union representatives in the partner organisations.
- two surveys of older workers across all the participating firms to discover their views toward work, their employers, retirement, and sharing knowledge. The first survey was conducted at the beginning of the project and the second will be at the end, to test for evidence of change in older workers' attitudes and experience.
- A final evaluation report, describing what has been achieved and implications for the future, in the industry and in the EU more widely
The project is due for completion in December 2006.
Knowmove knowledge management system - [PDF file*]
Partnership
The project is led by GKN in Lohmar in Germany. Other partners are Centro Ricerche Fiat in Turin, Italy; Bekaert in Ingelmunster, Belgium; and a group of small firms in Anderstorp, Sweden. Other project partners include an Italian multimedia development company GRIFO, employee representatives (the European and Italian Metalworkers Federations: EMF and Fim-Cisl), employer organisations (Swedish Transport Group (MAF), and CLEPA, representing employers in the European automotive supply industry), and MINDSET (Swedish training organisations).
Funder
European Social Fund
Leader of the CROW module
Professor Stephen McNair
E-mail: stephen.mcnair@niace.org.uk