Andrew Walton

Applying lean principles for high product variety and low volumes: some issues and propositions

Much has been written and talked about on the subject of lean manufacturing (LM) since the idea was first defined by Womack, Jones and Roos. This has stimulated academics and practitioners within various sectors of manufacturing industry to assess the viability of applying lean manufacturing principles to their circumstances. Addresses the vexing question asked specifically by many manufacturers in high variety, low volume (HVLV) segments: “Can we either directly or in adapted form apply LM principles and, if so, how do we go about it in our circumstances?” First describes the main characteristics of HVLV situations and then, drawing from experience of such organizations, contrasts these characteristics with those of the typical large lean manufacturing company. Uses this discussion as the framework to debate some of the major organizational and technological barriers which need to be overcome in applying lean principles in HVLVs. Then proposes approaches which feasibly can be considered when implementing lean manufacturing principles within a typical HVLV situation. Concludes with examples of the application of these principles to real situations in two case companies. The cases present instances of how organizations adapt lean principles to design and implement logistics and manufacturing operations for leanness, in creating and leveraging integrative supplier relationships and in evolving towards a process orientation which permits the institution of consistent measures to gauge strategic performance.

What is Fair Trade

Abstract This article categorises the emerging conceptualisations of Fair Trade and explores which of them offers the best characterisation of the project. It introduces Fair Trade and establishes a set of desiderata to guide the process of conceptualisation. It is argued that the practices and rhetoric of the project suggest it is best characterised as an attempt to establish a form of interim global market justice in a non-ideal world. Three alternative conceptualisations are explored, some including sub-categories. In each section a description of the view is outlined and it is argued that each such alternative is either an unpersuasive account of Fair Trade or cannot better the one already defended. In the final section the normative debate surrounding Fair Trade conceptualised as an attempt to establish interim global market justice in a non-ideal world is introduced. The article suggests that there are avenues for the projects ethical defence but concludes that this can be settled only with further research.

Product market, turbulence and time compression

Discusses the conventional approach to manufacturing system design. Argues that this top‐down, uni‐directional approach is not sufficiently robust or easy to implement, particularly in brown‐field sites where maintaining focus has been found to be difficult. Suggests a three‐dimensional approach which incorporates product‐market considerations through focus, turbulence minimization and time compression, and looks at each of these three dimensions in detail. Presents the generic steps for implementing the new approach and describes a case example.

The Common Arguments for Fair Trade

In this article I consider the connection between individual morality and Fair Trade goods. In particular, I consider whether a number of arguments commonly advanced in defence of Fair Trade can defend the conclusion that individuals ought to purchase Fair Trade goods in particular, or whether they are sufficient to show only that purchasing Fair Trade goods is one of a number of acceptable ways to meet more general moral duties. Although various points are made in the article, its main theme is that it is difficult to show that purchasing Fair Trade goods is, even in one way, preferable to donating to charity, at least without advancing certain highly contentious moral claims. I argue that unless defenders of Fair Trade can address these issues, it will be difficult to defend the view that individuals should purchase Fair Trade goods in particular.

Consequentialism, Indirect Effects and Fair Trade

In this article I consider two consequentialist positions on whether individuals in affluent countries ought to purchase Fair Trade goods. One is a narrow argument, which asserts that individuals should purchase Fair Trade goods because this will have positive direct effects on poverty reduction, by, for example, channelling money into development. I argue that this justification is insufficient to show that individuals should purchase Fair Trade goods because individuals could achieve similar results by donating money to charity and, therefore, without purchasing Fair Trade goods. The second position has a wider focus. It notes both the direct effects of purchasing Fair Trade goods and possible indirect effects, such as the impact this might have on other individuals. I argue that certain actions, of which Fair Trade is one example, will be more likely to encourage individuals who would not otherwise contribute to poverty reduction to contribute and that this may produce additional positive value. Although space prohibits specific conclusions about Fair Trade, I note that considerations of this kind could give us reason to purchase such goods beyond those that issue from the direct effects of doing so and that, as such, they are crucial for determining whether individuals should purchase Fair Trade goods.

Global democracy in a society of peoples

This paper explores the political structures suitable for the realization of John Rawls’ The Law of Peoples (1999). In particular, it explores whether Rawls’ principles and fundamental foundations recommend establishing global institutions and, if so, whether, and in what sense, these institutions should be democratic. It is often suggested, either implicitly or explicitly, that The Law of Peoples would operate through the bilateral and multilateral interactions of, ideally conceived, nation-states. This paper argues, on the contrary, that it would advise a series of democratic global institutions. The case is developed with respect to the idea of a global institution with the remit of regulating international trade and applied, in the contemporary context, to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Do Moral Duties Arise from Global Trade

Abstract This paper discusses the idea that trade – the practice of regularised exchange of goods or services between nation-states for mutual advantage under an orchestrated system of rules – can generate moral duties, duties that exist between only participants in the activity. It considers this idea across three duties often cited as duties of trade: duties not to harm; duties to provide certain basic goods; and duties to distribute (certain) benefits and burdens fairly. The paper argues that these three duties seem unlikely contenders for duties thought in some sense to supervene on trade, the former two because they seem to exist regardless of the existence of trade and the latter because it seems to apply to a group more widely conceived than to be coherently thought centred on trade. It concludes that, at least across these three duties, it is more plausible to think that they are duties which, although possibly having relevance for how trade is conducted, do not emerge from the practice and are, rather, grounded elsewhere.

Qualified market access and inter-disciplinarity

This note offers reflections on qualified market access (QMA)—the practice of linking trade agreements to values such as human rights, labour standards, or environmental protection. This idea has been suggested by political theorists as a way of fulfilling our duties to the global poor and of making the global economic system more just, and it has influenced a number of concrete policies, such as European Union (EU) trade policies. Yet, in order to assess its merits tout court, different perspectives and disciplines need to be brought together, such as international law, economics, political science, and philosophy. It is also worth reflecting on existing practices, such as those of the EU. This note summarises some insights about QMA by drawing such research together and considers the areas in which further research is needed, whilst reflecting also on the merits of interdisciplinary exchanges on such topics.

Fraternal Society in Rawls’ Property-Owning Democracy

Abstract This paper discusses what type of sociological context is appropriate for Rawls’ ‘property-owning democracy’. Following certain suggestions offered by Rawls and in the work of Joshua Cohen, it explores, in particular, the kind of fraternity and social interaction suitable for citizens in Rawlsian society and the role of the state in engineering these bonds. Utilising a normative framework based on Rawls’ discussion of a property-owning democracy and various data sets, the paper argues that bonds of social trust, active participation in trade unions and enrolment in public schools, and the use of state policy to organise a mixture of public, cooperative, and private economic institutions would be suitable for a Rawlsian society to adopt because it appears that these structures are favourably connected to the ends of Rawlsian justice.

Reflecting On Our Strengths and Strategy

In our 2016 Editorial (Politics 36(1): 3–4. DOI: 10.1177/0263395715616015) we noted that reaching the mid-way point of our editorial term and the transition to SAGE offered the opportunity to reflect upon and reframe our ongoing editorial aims. This exercise should be seen in the context of the significant development of Politics over the past 4 years in particular: ISI ranking; a new 8000 word-limit for articles; an increase in frequency of publication and total annual page count; and a substantial focus on social media presence and online dissemination of articles. Politics is a flagship journal of the Political Studies Association and exists to publish timely, original research of interest both to the Association’s members and wider academic and non-academic audiences. Generalist journals such as Politics exist to publish the full range of research in the field and are thus inclusive of a diverse array of methods, theoretical frameworks, and empirical focuses. The question thus arises what our particular editorial strengths and strategy are and how these distinguish our journal from other journals in the field. We hope the aims outlined below will serve as an ambitious set of guiding principles that will both show the unique strengths of Politics and identify our future editorial strategy. We hope this will attract authors to publishing in Politics as well as clarify the editorial decisions we make.