This research, carried out in the Brazilian petrochemical sector, analyses the process of technological change in the work environment whose operations require chiefly tacit knowledge. The proposed innovation imposes a reorganization of the qualification of the work force, taking into account the intensive use of microelectronic technology of the new equipments and the demand for scientific knowledge by the operators. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with 91 workers from the areas of operation, maintenance and management and revealed that tacit knowledge is directly related to the complexity of the work process which generates differentiated needs of scientific and technological training for the qualification process. It was also possible to confirm that when the workers' knowledge acquired in the processes of formal education converges with the demands of activities which they execute, it tends to facilitate the articulation between tacit and scientific knowledge. The data is supported by previous studies carried out in processes of productive restructuring.
tacit knowledge and technological innovation; training for work; work and education
