Fordism, post-fordism, and cyberfordism: the paths and detours of Industry 4.0

Abstract

This article approaches Industry 4.0 as the core of cyberfordism, a new production paradigm that emerged amid the ultra-neoliberal stage of capitalism. The first part of the study presents the characteristics of Industry 4.0, showing how it radicalizes production automation and inserts artificial intelligence in decision-making processes. The second part returns to the Fordist and post-Fordist production paradigms, demarcating the continuity between them and cyberfordism. We point out the deconstruction of the Fordist commitment and the welfare state during the transition to post-Fordist and neoliberal flexibilization models. In the third part, we discuss the characteristics of the cyberfordist paradigm, which maximizes the purposes of classic Fordism since it tends to make skilled labor and managers unnecessary. In the conclusion, we highlight the contributions and recommendations for future research.

Keywords:
Fordism; Post-Fordism; Cyberfordism; Industry 4.0