Human Centred Systems in the Global Economy : Springer : 9783540197454 : 3540197451 : 06 Aug 1992 : The arrival of the information society in Japan has radically altered the industrial structure, work patterns and cultural values of its society. The innovation and implementation of information technology has accelerated this change and made its effects more profoundly felt. Because of this, there is now a need to widen the debate on human-centred manufacturing systems to include broader issues such as industrial culture, international economies and global knowledge. Human Centred Systems in the Global Economy contains the proceedings of an international workshop held at Tokyo Keizai University which looked at the design of human-centred systems in the context of these technological and social changes. The workshop attracted contributions from internationally known researchers in Europe, Japan, the USA, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the USSR. The resulting volume is unique in tha