Explaining the crisis in Toyota's Valenciennes factory

After production began at the French subsidiary of Toyota in Valenciennes in 2001, unexpected problems became apparent at work, and turnover in the labour force was high. Have these problems come to light because the Toyota production system is not suited to local conditions, or is it because, behind the façade of lifetime employment, and seniority wage – "Nenko in Japanese – (traditionally associated with the Toyota Production System), there is in fact a more worrying situation ? Although this social crisis – which has existed in Toyota’s French factory since production began – is exceptional because of its scale and significance, it seems to be the usual consequence of this production system whenever it is applied away from the institutional, economic, social and cultural situation where it is viable.