4.2.1 Operational practices
Bata’s strong symbiosis of workers’ autonomy and empowerment through technology
was unique and very effective even by today’s standards. Because of the lack of space,
we present here only a short summary of Bata practices:
(i) The process of continuous innovation and improvement; the total system of preventive
maintenance: machine shop working as “clockwork”;
(ii) In-house adaptation and rebuilding of all purchased machinery; 10 percent of the
engineering employees involved directly in the R&D function;
(iii) The assurance of continuously high-quality output with processes streamlined
to eliminate breakdowns and stoppages and individual workers given quality
responsibility;