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The purpose of this article is to identify opportunities that digital transformation in post-harvest activities offers to an engineering solution provider. The research method is a simple case study. The object is a company based in southern Brazil that provides engineering-integrated digital solutions to grain producers, including products and services. The specific objectives are to describe the company’s digital products and services, identify opportunities and players, and discuss how players can take advantage of opportunities owing to business process digitalization. The main results include separating products into three technological layers and identifying five types of opportunities (financing, commercialization, operation, logistics, traceability, and insurance), eight types of players, and the main opportunities for each player. The most significant opportunities are risk reduction in insurance contracts, improvement in grain quality, increments in food safety, and accurate information on grain movements. The main implication of the study is that grain producers and other players can explore opportunities, and solution providers can evolve toward complete digitalization by integrating service into the current offerings of post-harvest engineering solutions.

This article is about experiments investigating teaching and learning processes and their effects on students. Specifically, the laboratory experiment method aims to determine if using virtual reality in classes leads to better learning outcomes, knowledge retention, satisfaction, engagement, and attractiveness compared to traditional teaching methods. The study found that students who used VR (Experimental Group—EG) had significantly better learning outcomes (with an average of 5.9747) compared to the control group (Control Group—CG), who only had traditional classes (with an average of 4.6229). The study employed a Likert scale from 1 to 7. The difference between EG and CG was 29.2%. Furthermore, the study found that students in the EG had higher knowledge retention, satisfaction, engagement, and attractiveness compared to the CG. All measurements were above 6.4 on the same scale. This study is important because it explores innovative teaching methods and their potential to improve learning outcomes, satisfaction, and efficiency. It also opens up avenues for further research on teaching methodologies for undergraduate students.

Digital transformations in manufacturing systems confer advantages for enhancing competitiveness and ensuring the survival of companies by reducing operating costs, improving quality, and fostering innovation, falling within the overarching umbrella of Industry 4.0. This study aims to provide a framework for the integration of smart statistical digital systems into existing manufacturing control systems, exemplified with guidelines to transform an existent statistical process control into a smart statistical process control. Employing the design science research method, the research techniques include a literature review and interviews with experts who critically evaluated the proposed framework. The primary contribution lies in a set of general-purpose guidelines tailored to assist practitioners in manufacturing systems with the implementation of digital, smart technologies aligned with the principles of Industry 4.0. The resulting guidelines specifically target existing manufacturing plants seeking to adopt new technologies to maintain competitiveness. The main implication of the study is that practitioners can utilize the guidelines as a roadmap for the ongoing development and implementation of project management. Furthermore, the study paves the way for open innovation initiatives by breaking down the project into defined steps and encouraging individual or collective open contributions, which consolidates the practice of open innovation in manufacturing systems.

The research question this study poses is how to measure the efficiency of project management activities. The purpose of this article is to quantify the efficiency of the execution of a project portfolio managed by a project management office (PMO) structure. The research subject is a PMO operating within a petrochemical manufacturing company in southern Brazil. The research method is quantitative modeling. The study employed data envelopment analysis (DEA) to calculate the relative efficiencies of projects in three classes according to complexity over a period of four years. Each project is a decision-making unit (DMU), as required by the DEA procedure. One novelty is the calculation of cost- and time-weighted efficiency values, which slightly differ from the average. The main results indicate that the average efficiency for classes of projects roughly stands between 40 and 80%. The results also indicate a learning process guided by the PMO, as the average efficiency increased over three years in two classes of projects, according to the prioritization imposed by the office. The study also pointed out that the most influential variables in determining project efficiency are accuracy in meeting deadlines and the time planned for completion. The most important implication is that, from now on, the company has a theoretical foundation to justify focusing further efforts on reducing and controlling time to completion, not only cost and scope conformity, to increase overall project efficiency. Future research should prioritize investigating management techniques that increase the likelihood of completing projects within their deadlines.

ABSTRACT: This study aims at identifying factors that facilitate the development of the capacity to generate innovations in a subsidiary of a multinational company. Based on the understanding that innovation management deals with the establishment of organizational routines and the investigation of environmental factors that affect the success of the innovation process, the purpose of this work is to contribute toward identifying these factors. For this, a single case study was carried out in a Brazilian subsidiary of a German multinational company, having as incorporated objects the two Business Units of the subsidiary. The results include 20 potential factors to drive the innovation process in the subsidiary company organized as a tree-like structure with three categories: reasons to innovate, spontaneous factors and induced factors. The structure serves as a conceptual framework to address future research, as well as to help subsidiaries’ managers to leverage innovative potential. The study opens room for further implementation of open innovation in the company, as the innovation process is now more stable and robust. Excellent alternatives for open innovation projects are available in the local market and can now be implemented by the company.

Background: Order picking is a critical activity in end-product warehouses, particularly using the picker-to-part system, entail substantial manual labor, representing approximately 60% of warehouse work. Methods: This study develops a new linear model to perform batching, which allows for defining, assigning, and sequencing batches and determining the best routing strategy. Its goal is to minimise the completion time and the weighted sum of tardiness and earliness of orders. We developed a second linear model without the constraints related to the picking routing to reduce complexity. This model searches for the best routing using the closest neighbour approach. As both models were too complex to test, the earliest due date constructive heuristic algorithm was developed. To improve the solution, we implemented various algorithms, from multi-start with random ordering to more complex like iterated local search. Results: The proposed models were tested on a real case study where the picking time was reduced by 57% compared to single-order strategy. Conclusions: The results showed that the iterated local search multiple perturbation algorithms could successfully identify the minimum solution and significantly improve the solution initially obtained with the heuristic earliest due date algorithm.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to identify the main leverage points that can accelerate the results of the resocialization program via prison work implemented in one of the states of Brazil. The research method was design science research. The main research technique was a systemic analysis, a technique belonging to the field of knowledge of the soft systems methodology. The systemic analysis mapped and listed in closed loops the factors of major influence on the program’s results. The sources of information were meetings with specialists from the prison public administration and a survey of the state population. The main deliverable of the study is a systemic map with the identification of two leverage points that, if addressed by the public administration, can remove the main obstacles to the program, the insufficient funds for investment in justice structures, and the skepticism of a large part of the population. The team of public agents responsible for managing the program validated the conclusions.

ABSTRACT: This study aims to evaluate the financial and economic feasibility of implementing a biorefinery to process the solid waste, called brewers’ spent grain, generated in the production of craft beer into special flour. In addition, to present a path for open innovation in the possibility of replication of the process and technology used in the plant. The inappropriate disposal generates an environmental problem, but individually, depending on the production volume of the brewery, the cost of processing the waste can be unfeasible. On the other hand, such waste embeds a high nutritional value for human food. This study followed the precepts of the circular bio-economy and industrial symbiosis strengthening of sustainable development. The research method is the Monte Carlo simulation, including four different scenarios and projections. The results indicate the financial and economic viability of industrial plants—biorefineries—for the transformation of the residue into special flour in three of the four scenarios studied in the five-year cycle. In the Monte Carlo simulation, no losses are evident in any of the 10,000 interactions. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the sensitivity of the supply is slightly higher than the price of the final product. Results may be useful to support the development of new, innovative products relying on collaboration among internal and external partners and open innovation concerns.

The aim of this article is to diagnose the situation of electromobility in local government units of Polish municipalities. Besides the main features of the communes, the issue of type of strategy that is being built was raised, what are the trends in this respect, and how public transport fits into them? The empirical basis was a survey conducted in 2020 using the CAWI (computer assisted web interview) method, covering all 2477 communes in Poland. Responses were received from 2230 municipalities (90% response rate). Based on the statistical analysis, the main conclusion is that rural communes are less willing to implement the electromobility strategy, but if they decide to do so, they develop long-term strategies. Another conclusion is that the amount of budget revenue per capita does not affect decisions on building an electromobility strategy. Also, a general tendency in Poland is an increase in the propensity to invest in electromobility, mainly in infrastructure for users, compared to public transport and electric buses. The main implication of the study is that Polish public authorities now have background information regarding the theme that can be useful in developing guidelines for local electromobility strategy implementation.

The MOORA for Neural Networks Analysis (MONNA) software was created to classify variables and evaluate the degree of correlation between them, helping to choose a property portfolio and facilitating decision making involving multiple criteria. The MONNA software presents the classification of the alternatives calculated automatically by the MOORA (Multi-Objective Optimization on the Basis of Ratio Analysis) and provides a Global Average Rate (GAR). Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) analysis provides the degree of correlation between variables and uses GAR as the output parameter. The degree of correlation between the variables allows us to assess whether these variables are dependent on each other and can capture customer preferences. For the application we used a survey that sought to know the preferences of customers, which will serve to make the decision of which properties should be part of the company’s portfolio. The contribution and originality of the MONNA software is that through the integration of the MOORA and ANN methods, the classification and criterion evaluation calculations are faster and standardized. The use of software by decision makers helps to have more accurately find and classify available options, preventing simulations from being done by iterative processes and providing validated numerical data for management evaluation.

The purpose of this article is to present a method for calculating the lead-time, the inventory, and the safety stock or buffer in job shop manufacturing, which are essentially stochastic variables. The research method is quantitative modelling. The theoretical foundation of the method relies on the techniques belonging to the WLC (workload control) body of knowledge on the manufacturing management. The study includes an application of the method in a manufacturing plant of the furniture industry, whose operation strategy requires high dependability. The company operates in a supply chain and must have high a reliability in deliveries. Adequate safety stocks, lead times, and inventory levels provide the protection against the lack of reliability in the deliveries. The inventory should remain within a certain range, being as small as possible to maintain low lead times, but not too small that it could provoke a starvation, configuring an optimization problem. The study offers guidelines for a complete application in industries. Further research shall include the influence of the variability of the lot size in the stochastic variables.

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo foi entender como a flexibilidade pode auxiliar grandes empresas focais da indústria calçadista compradoras de materiais que serão usados em produtos de moda a atender a demandas de mercado, principalmente de mercados internacionais. Foram estudadas duas cadeias de suprimentos da indústria da moda, uma localizada no Brasil, outra na China. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso múltiplo. Foi construída uma estrutura de construtos e dimensões que descreveu os vários níveis de flexibilidade que podem ser observados em cadeias de suprimento. Quatro construtos de flexibilidade foram considerados: flexibilidade operacional, tática, estratégica e de cadeia. Uma variável dicotômica dependente, de saída da estrutura, foi alocada: a orientação de mercado, que pode ser por diferenciação ou por redução de preço. Vinte e quatro empresas dos dois países participaram do estudo. Os achados sugerem que a flexibilidade operacional pode ser influenciada pelos custos de mão de obra e de equipamentos e pelo nível de tecnologia empregado e que a flexibilidade operacional influencia os demais níveis de flexibilidade. Também sugerem que flexibilidade de cadeia pode influenciar o tipo de competição. Um modelo para futuras pesquisas sobre flexibilidade foi apresentado.

The objective of this study was to present a model to measure the quality of didactic material used for distance learning (EaD). The research method used was data modeling to support multi-criteria decision-making, through Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and it used the software Assistant 7,0 Beta in order to obtain hierarchical matrices and their respective Consistency Index. The literary review identified the didactic material commonly used for distance learning. Following, specialists assessed and adapted the model to introduce it to the actors in the study. The results were that guiding quality in distance learning (EaD) documents that assess didactic material did not elect a degree of importance to the elements, they just listed and offered general guidelines to the quality standard; the AHP ranked the didactic materials according to their importance, the textbook had the highest percentage, followed by the video lessons. These items should absorb more attention from managers in terms of quality, followed by chat and radio. Considering all subcategories assessed by each didactic material, it was possible to observe that the text book is the one that requires more attention in terms of priority, in relation to the scope of its content, then the content must be error-free, without conceptual or approach bias , and finally with good graphic and visual quality. The quality subcategory that derives from video lessons are error-free material and without conceptual or approach bias. These categories were outlined in accordance with two reference standards for quality and didactic materials: AFT (2000) e MEC (2007).

The purpose of this article was to propose a maintenance strategy and a set of improvement actions for increasing the availability in a compression station of waste gases from the petroleum distillation process, composed of two alternative compressors A and B in a plant of the oil industry. The research method was the quantitative modeling. The methodology includes the calculation of the current availability and suggesting actions to raise it. Time to repair (TTR) and time between failures (TBF) were modeled for the individual compressors and for the gas compression station as a whole. With the average values of the models (MTBF and MTTR) were calculated individual availabilities of A and B (32.4% and 83.3%, respectively) and global, 96.7%. The data were collected from the company's information system. By the form factors associated with TBF, it was possible to affirm that, despite operating for over twenty years, both machines are in the premature failures phase. This fact is due to the exchange of raw materials, which occurred about five years ago: the plant proceeded to process heavier oil, originated from the pre-salt layer, for which the installation was not designed. Such divergence may be characterized as a design fault, associated with the corrective maintenance strategy. Finally, a list of improvements projects was presented to increase the availability of the post and terminate the phase of premature failures.

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar os impactos da implantação do TPC (Tambor-Pulmão-Corda), descrevendo as desvantagens observadas antes desta modificação, bem como os benefícios obtidos após as mudanças. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso único, efetuado em uma empresa pertencente ao polo moveleiro de Bento Gonçalves localizado no Rio Grande do Sul. Entre os resultados obtidos com a pesquisa, evidenciaram-se os processos da empresa, o espaço físico, o transporte de peças entre setores e o sequenciamento da produção, prévios a aplicação da metodologia. Constatou-se que a implantação de um sistema TPC foi essencial para que a melhoria dos processos fosse alcançada.

The purpose of this study is to identify how open innovation variables influence the competitive capability of manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a regional territory in Southern Brazil. The research method is a survey of 67 SMEs in Southern Brazil that provided data for an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model encompassing seven innovation variables and five competitiveness constructs. The results indicate that most innovation initiatives have a low impact on creating a competitive edge in the surveyed companies. The most remarkable positive impacts are (i) technology trends influencing the shop floor productivity, (ii) flexibility influencing internal aspects, and (iii) customer satisfaction and innovative ideas and customized supplies influencing the market orientation. The study also reports that innovation processes are not safe from failures. Some ill-defined innovation initiatives may jeopardize the competitive edge.

The objective of this article is to analyze comparatively the importance of intellectual capital and the impact of intellectual capital on the performance of Brazilian companies awarded the Rio Grande do Sul Quality Award in 2004 and 2017. A sample of 72% of the Brazilian companies that received this Quality Award of the Gaucho Quality and Productivity Program in 2004 and 70.5% in 2017 were investigated. It can be affirmed that intellectual capital continues to be an essential asset, but during this period there have been some changes concerning the level of presence and importance among the elements that compose it. Regarding the changes in the influence of intellectual capital on organizational performance between 2004 and 2017, the results showed that intellectual capital, through human, structural and client capital, practically still has the same level of influence on organizational performance.

Industrial Symbiosis is the part of Industrial Ecology that manages environmental and economic improvements through the exchange of materials, resources, utilities, and by-products between members of a network of companies, such as supply chains or technological clusters. The purpose of this article is to analyze the mutual exchange of materials that occur among a steelmaking plant, vendors, and other business partners in a network of industrial companies. The research object is a steelmaking plant of Brazil. Almost 100 % of the raw material of the steelmaking industry is metallic scrap originated from other industries. Likewise, the steelmaking industry routes almost 100 % of the waste to other companies provided there is commercial and logistical feasibility. Seven major companies form the network, but this study involves only three companies. The complete study involves the entire network. This study involves a steelmaking plant, that generates by-products (slag, electric arc furnace dust, mill scale, and zinc sludge) used by a cement plant and a zinc smelting plant as raw materials. The zinc smelting plant closes the loop of the circular economy, as the sludge serves as raw material for zinc ingots used by the steelmaking plant in the galvanization process of its wire rod manufacture. The study concluded that synergetic relationships of mutual interest are the main factor that drives the industrial symbiosis in the network. Environmental aspects are also relevant. Even existing mutual interest, industrial symbiosis strongly depends on external factors, like logistics and legal compliance. The companies must rely on intermediate transportation companies that usually have difficulties to comply with the legislation and rarely has competitive costs or high production scale.

The purpose of this article was to describe a case of autonomous maintenance implementation in a pilot area of a metal mechanical industry company. The TPM – Total Productive Maintenance is a managerial technology that can help companies to reduce failures and breakages of machines. One of the most important issues of TPM is autonomous maintenance. The method of research was the case study. A program of twelve points was structured and adopted as stand-alone maintenance deployment guide. The program began in a pilot area, including three machining centers. The main results of the pilot program were: increasing by more than 700% the Mean Time between Failure, reducing by more than 40% in the Mean Time to Repair, as well as the consequent increase of more than five percentage points on the availability of the three machines and almost 60% reduction in the cost of maintenance materials. The main conclusion was that the TPM, and in particular the autonomous maintenance, can increase the efficiency of maintenance as strategic factor, which enhances the competitiveness of manufacturing in industrial companies.

The purpose of this article was to describe the implementation of a strategy for Predictive Maintenance in the graphics department of the company Souza Cruz SA after the techniques of Vibration Analysis, Thermography, Ferrography and Inspection Sensitive. The research method was the action-research. The proposed study is the application of a management Predictive Maintenance acting strategically within the context in which it is embedded. The article reviews the theoretical concepts and Predictive Maintenance techniques mentioned above. In the survey, were raised in the information system of the company, the rate of breakdown of equipment (downtime), waste energy costs, maintenance costs and availability of H / h (man / hour) and availability of equipment for the production the period prior to the implementation of a predictive maintenance management and consistent compared with results after this deployment. From the results obtained, it was evident that only preventive maintenance, combined with a model predictive maintenance is not poor enough to maintain the desired reliability in a department of great importance to your company. So, it is possible to say that the implementation of a predictive maintenance strategy can make the Maintenance sector to work strategically with common goals to the company as a whole.

The purpose of this article is to define a maintenance strategy for an electric induction furnace, installed on a special steels Foundry. The research method was the quantitative modeling. The proposed method is based on Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), applied to industrial equipment. Quantitative analysis of reliability, availability and maintainability were used as support the definition of the maintenance strategy of the equipment. For research, historical data were collected from time-to-repair (TTR) and time between failures (TBF) of the equipment under consideration. Supported by ProConf 2000 software, most appropriate distributions have been identified and modeled to TTR (lognormal) and TBF (Weibull). With the results, availability of equipment Av = 98,18% and form factor g = 1 of the Weibull distribution were calculated. It was possible to find a position for the equipment on the bathtub curve, in the maturity phase and define the best maintenance strategy for this case, the predictive maintenance. Finally, the current strategy was discussed and development suggestions were presented to this strategy.

The purpose of this article is to calculate the location of bases of technical assistance to fuel stations of a network of distribution of fossil fuels and biofuels in the State of Paraná. The research method was the quantitative modeling. The methodology included the separation of the municipalities in the State of Paraná in clusters, supported by the k-means method. Seven clusters, beyond the capital, were defined. Each cluster was treated as a local market. Then, by the barycenter method, Cartesian coordinates of gravity centers of the regions were calculated. The cities with lower distances to the calculated coordinates were chosen to host the bases of technical assistance, which minimizes cost and time of transportation to each city of the respective region. The main contribution of this research was the location of the seven service centers.

The purpose of this article is to analyze factors that can influence the competitiveness of companies in the furniture cluster of Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul. By a literature review, we identify four factors that can influence competition in clusters: the region's productivity, innovation, relationship with suppliers, and cooperation between companies. The research method is the single case study. The research techniques are the review of specific bibliographic and documentation of the studied cluster, and interviews with experts of the cluster. The main findings are: the cluster has high productivity, mainly by hi-tech machinery employed by the main companies; innovation is permanent and motivated by the imposition to medium and short companies of business goals by the main companies; the relationship with suppliers is problematic regarding the large-scale vendors by the lack of the practice of collective purchases in the area; and cooperation between enterprises is small, by the culture of the region that don´t appreciate depending on resources available outside the companies. Such factors can contribute to produce hypotheses for further research.

Em 2008, fabricantes de calçados da região de Nova Serrana juntamente com seus fornecedores de insumos articularam uma intervenção setorial destinada a aumentar a diversidade da oferta na cadeia de suprimentos, acelerar o desenvolvimento de novos produtos e reduzir os custos dos insumos. A despeito do interesse das partes, a intervenção não produziu os resultados desejados. Este artigo busca entender os motivos que bloquearam tais objetivos. Foram estudados quinze fabricantes de calçados e quinze fornecedores de insumos. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso múltiplo. Em sessões de grupos focados com os empresários, foi construída uma estrutura de construtos e variáveis que desvelou a inter-relação entre a flexibilidade de suprimento e o desenvolvimento de produtos. Os achados sugerem que a demanda por exclusividade de insumos, imposta pelos grandes fabricantes de calçados, a possibilidade de conflito com os representantes dos grandes e médios fornecedores de insumos, o receio de cópia das criações, a desatenção a demandas locais e o desempenho insatisfatório em entregas causaram o insucesso da intervenção.

This article aims at analyzing the service operations that a manufacturer of equipment for the oil industry now offers together with their products, in order to maintain its position in a market in which technology is a competitive criterion. The research method is the case study. The integration between product and associated services is well suited described by PSS: Product-Service Systems. The research techniques were: analysis of industry-specific documents, semi-structured interviews, and non-participant observation in plant. Thirteen services which the manufacturer offers, associated with the product, gas turbines, where studied. The services were detailed and contextualized in industry and compared with theoretical elements found in the literature on PSS. Most services are based on the product and are offered as aftermarket activities. The study also describes expected economic and environmental gains.

A literatura aponta diferentes modelos de arranjos produtivos segundo sua complexidade, incluindo cadeias de suprimentos, redes de cooperação, cadeias produtivas, arranjos produtivos locais, até os clusters. O objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar um caso em um cluster no qual foram observados comportamentos comumente relatados na literatura sobre cadeia de suprimentos. Tal comportamento tem surgido em um ambiente típico de cluster, que mescla competição e colaboração (a coopetição). Foram estudados os relacionamentos que se estabeleceram entre uma empresa líder no cluster, que passou a assumir papel semelhante ao de empresa focal em cadeia de suprimentos, e alguns de seus fornecedores, que assumiram atitudes cooperativas tal como observado em operações de fornecimento de matérias-primas em cadeias de suprimento.

The purpose of this article was to evaluate the environmental performance of a medium-sized company that provides services for surface treatment of aluminum. The treatment is known as anodizing. The research method was qualitative numerical modeling. The environmental performance of the company was organized into five constructs: atmosphere, wastewater, energy and natural resources, solid waste, and legislation and management. Nineteen indicators were chosen to explain the five constructs. Ten employees of the company prioritized the constructs and evaluated the situation of the indicators by means of a scale of assessment. By means of a mathematical model, the general performance of the environmental operation was calculated at 74.5% of the maximum possible. The indicators that most contributed to the performance not to reach 100% were consumption of electricity and water consumption. The construct of worse performance was natural and energy resources. These are the priorities for future environmental improvement actions that the company may promote.

The purpose of this article was to define the most appropriate maintenance strategy for a centrifugal pump (preventive, predictive, corrective or emergency), based on reliability calculation. The research method was the quantitative modeling, applied in a petroleum plant. The study may contribute to the development of a strategic model for the management of the industrial plant maintenance. In the company's information system, records of eleven years have been gathered on times between failures and times for repair of the equipment. These times were modeled by probability distributions. From the results obtained were calculated Reliability and Maintainability functions R(t) and M(t). By combining their expected values (MTBF and MTTR), Av availability was calculated. The figures for MTBF, MTTR and Av were respectively 3,936 hours, 133 hours and 96.73%. The most likely shape factor of the Weibull distribution which modeled the time between failures was 0.69. So, it was possible to affirm that the pump is in the infant mortality phase. The theoretical framework of RCM indicated corrective maintenance as the strategy for the item. This strategy aims to eliminate the defects of equipment design, reinforce items that usually break and remove the causes of the failures.

O objetivo deste artigo é descrever o caso de um fabricante de cimento que implantou e consolidou o coprocessamento de casca de arroz e de pneus inservíveis em fornos de clínquer, apoiado em práticas de logística reversa, através de estudo de caso como método de pesquisa. A empresa estudada já usava casca de arroz como combustível alternativo e recebeu oferta da indústria de pneumáticos para queima de pneus que não seriam mais aproveitados em fornos de clínquer. Para aproveitar os resíduos, a empresa integrou fluxos diretos e reversos de matéria-prima, combustíveis e resíduos industriais, reduzindo em mais de 30% os custos de transporte. O coprocessamento conjunto substituiu parcialmente combustíveis fósseis originados na indústria petrolífera. O ganho ambiental mais importante foi a redução na queima de cerca de 10 mil toneladas de combustível fóssil, o que acarretava a geração de cerca de 30 mil toneladas de CO2 por ano.El propósito de este artículo es describir el caso de un fabricante de cemento que ha desplegado y consolidado el coprocesamiento de neumáticos inútiles y cascarilla de arroz en hornos de clínker, apoyados en prácticas de logística inversa. El método de investigación fue el estudio de caso. La empresa estudiada ya usaba cascarilla de arroz como combustible alternativo y recibió una oferta de la industria neumática para quema de chatarra de neumáticos en hornos de clínker. Para tomar ventaja de los residuos, la compañía ha integrado los flujos directo e inverso de materias primas, combustibles y residuos industriales, reduciendo los costos de transporte más de 30%. El coprocesamiento reemplazó parcialmente combustibles fósiles obtenidos en la industria petrolera. La ganancia ambiental más importante fue la reducción en la quema de unas 10.000 toneladas de combustibles fósiles, que implica la generación de cerca de 30.000 toneladas de CO2 al año.The purpose of this article is to describe the case of a manufacturer of cement that have deployed and consolidated the coprocessing of rice husk and scrap tires in clinker kilns, supported by reverse logistics practices. The research method was the case study. The company studied already use rice husk as alternative fuel and received an offer from the tyre industry for burning scrap tires in clinker kilns. To take advantage of the offer, the company integrated direct and reverse flows of raw materials, fuels and industrial waste, reducing more than 30% the transportation cost. The combined coprocessing partially replaced fossil fuels originated in the oil industry. The environmental gain more important was the burning reduction of about 10,000 tons of fossil fuel, which entailed the generation of about 30,000 tons of CO2 per year.

The development and structuration of the concept of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) still does not seem to be consolidated in the literature. Also, the concept of GSCM need further research so that they can be better understood and applied. The main objective of this paper is to present a framework that can organize and guide future research in GSCM. From literature, it was possible to identify a set of practices that appear to be mature and look at how some authors have organized the subject. We examined generic studies that have attempted to represent the time the state of the art research, and localized studies relating to specific industries or geographic regions. It reached a working framework structured in three main fields: strategy, innovation, and operations. The fields are structured in four, three and five subjects, respectively. Strategy has been structured in: formulation, performance evaluation, communication and collaboration, and barriers and drives. Innovation has been structured in: process, product and market. Operations were structured in: green procurement, green manufacturing, green distribution, reverse logistics and waste management. Some studies have been cited as examples of issues belonging to the framework.

O objetivo deste artigo foi calcular tempos de atravessamento e inventário médios em um sistema de manufatura flexível, que atende muitas ordens, de tamanho e mix variado. Foi aplicado o workload control (controle por carga de trabalho) para o cálculo da situação atual, e simulação computacional (software ProModel) para avaliar duas situação alternativas: aumento na demanda e redução na demanda. O método de pesquisa foi a modelagem quantitativa. Os resultados apontam que atualmente há excesso de inventário, provocado por desequilíbrio entre demanda e entrega da manufatura, o que é típico em sistemas de filas. Seria necessário sincronizar melhor entradas e saídas. Os cenários simulados apontam que a manufatura não suporta aumento de carga, crescendo continuamente o inventário, até a operação tornar-se inviável. Para estabilidade do inventário, seria necessário reduzir a demanda, se for mantido o atual regime de trabalho, com entradas aleatórias e independentes.

This paper presents an application of QFD (Quality Function Deployment), whose objective was to identify and translate into quality requirements, the demands of users of a car air freshener. The development is presented and discussed from market research to planning of quality improvement. The method used included the following steps: (i) construction of quality matrix, (ii) construction of the product matrix, (iii) construction of the processes matrices, (iv) construction of the resources matrix, and (vi) planning of quality items and objectives. By the application, it was possible to identify the quality demands of customers and define which actions should be implemented in order to meet these demands. The analysis considered factors available in the company, such as financial, human resources and infrastructure.

The aim of this article was to describe how the deployment and use of a Warehouse Management System (WMS) can help increase productivity, reduce errors and speed up the flow of information in a distribution center. The research method was the case study. We had chosen a distributor of goods, located in Vale do Rio dos Sinos, RS, which sells and distributes for companies throughout Brazil products for business use. The main research technique was participant observation. In order to highlight the observed results, we collected two indicators, productivity and errors for the separation of items into applications. After four months of observation, both showed significant improvement, strengthening the hypothesis that selection and implementation of management system was beneficial for the company.

The inherent complexity of environmental performance measurement makes it difficult to be gauged, sending it forth to methodologies supported on assessments of the various factors that could influence the overall performance. In association with the environmental performance lies the need to create methods that allows the assessment over the time in order to facilitate comparisons amongst different organizations or operations of a same company. Measurement of environmental performance comes from several sources thus a dominant approach widely recognized and accepted by the academic community and organizations can not be singled out. The purpose of this review is to test a method for assessing environmental performance in a manufacturer organization, performing a case study in the paper industry. The results can be compared with other operations and can be used, cumulatively, in supply chains. The specific objectives are (i) to model the environmental performance of the transaction, (ii) to use the model to measure performance, and (iii) to interpret the results and come to a conclusion. It begins with a review of the environmental performance measurement and then proceeds to the description of the research methodology and the results of its application. The method consists of five constructs, assessed by managers and processes experts according to their potential of environmental performance's improvement: solid waste, wastewater, gas emissions, deployment of natural resources, and legal compliance. The constructs are perceived by qualitative indicators categorically evaluated. The final result is an index of 76.69%, which represents the environmental performance of the operation.

This article aims at presenting a multiple case study in which we measured the prioritization given to competitive factors by six companies that buy rice products for retailing. The multiple case study took place in six large self-service food agents that operate in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. The competition in the industry was described by a tree-like structure, which first layer includes: price, quality, variety, image, deliver and services as competitive factors. For prioritizing, we distributed relative importance between factors, with the aid of the AHP method of multicriteria decision support. Quality was prioritized in five companies. The other one prioritized variety. Internal comparisons were made with the results from second layer of the structure.

This paper aims at presenting a multiple case study in which was analyzed the influence of information systems usage on the stock management processes in medium and little-sized retailers. We assessed four supermarkets from the inner land of Rio Grande do Sul, with different status in information systems development. The performance in stock management was appraised with the aid of five numerical indicators, defined in focus group sections with experts, led by researcher. The main observed influences were: average inventory, stock cycle, percentage of shortages and GM-ROI. WE observed high negative correlations between these variables and the level of usage of information systems: the more the company uses it, the less the variables grew, what is a desirable behavior. We do not found influence of the information system on sales volumes.

O objetivo deste artigo foi construir uma estrutura de temas estratégicos em serviços de pós-venda de uma empresa de manufatura de base tecnológica. O artigo faz uma revisão sobre operações e estratégia de pós-venda e apresenta a metodologia de pesquisa, o método de trabalho e os resultados de um caso-piloto em uma empresa de fabricação de equipamentos eletrônicos industriais. O método compreendeu sessões de grupos focados com especialistas que construíram uma estrutura de quatro temas estratégicos e vinte e três fatores de competição em pós-venda. A estrutura foi testada em questionário respondido por gestores da operação. Foram indagadas a importância e o desempenho da empresa nos fatores de competição da estrutura. Verificou-se que o fator reparos em bancada ou oficina tem mais desempenho que importância e está sobrevalorizado pela gestão. Também se verificou que os fatores testes acelerados, uso de confiabilidade em projeto e em garantia e uso de sistemas de informação para prospecção e para tratamento de clientes estão subvalorizados e poderiam receber mais recursos em uma eventual reformulação da estratégia de pós-venda. Os outros fatores mostraram-se equilibrados: os desempenhos avaliados são similares às importâncias atribuídas. Na continuidade, a pesquisa será estendida aos distribuidores da empresa que operam em campo a estratégia de pós-venda.This paper aimed at constructing a structure for strategic themes in after-sales services of a manufacturing technology center. After-sales service operations and strategy are reviewed and the research methodology, and the findings of a case study in an industrial electronic equipment manufacturer were presented. The method included team work that together with experts developed a structure composed of four strategic themes and twenty-three after sale competitive factors. The structure was tested by a questionnaire administered to operations managers of the company. The company's importance and performance in terms of competition structure were investigated. It was found that the repair of parts on the bench or in the shop has more performance than importance, and it is overvalued by the company's management. It was also found that accelerated tests, design and warranty reliability, and employment of information systems in new business prospecting and customer relationship are undervalued and should receive more financial support with a reformulation of after-sales service strategy. Other factors seemed to be balanced: the results of evaluated performance were similar to those of the attributed importance. Further research will address the company's retailers that adopt after sale strategies.

O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar um estudo de caso no qual foram analisados os processos de uma empresa de prestação de serviços de cobrança de clientes em atraso com instituições financeiras. O principal objetivo estratégico da empresa é acelerar seus processos e reduzir o prazo até a conclusão dos serviços. Os processos foram mapeados, as ineficiências foram identificadas e sugestões de melhorias foram apresentadas. Foram usados fluxogramas e organogramas. A principal ineficiência identificada foi o desbalanceamento entre atividades em sequência, devido à forma com que a empresa organizou sua atividade produtiva. A reorganização das equipes por processos e não por clientes trouxe equilíbrio às atividades e eliminou gargalos. Outra ineficiência encontrada foi a sobrecarga em recurso escasso, a equipe de advogados. O rearranjo permitiu que atividades fossem redirecionadas para recurso ocioso, a equipe de funcionários administrativos. Após as mudanças, o prazo de atendimento médio caiu de 61 para 40 dias e o percentual de atendimentos no prazo subiu de 12 para 81%.

Neste artigo, caracterizado como teórico e exploratório, assume-se uma perspectiva crítica de análise sobre o tema product-service system (PSS – Sistemas Produto-Serviço). O PSS é um sistema integrado de bens e serviços que visa oferecer soluções completas e integradas a consumidores de bens de base tecnológica. O objetivo deste trabalho é construir um marco referencial acerca dos elementos essenciais a serem considerados na concepção e gestão de um PSS, focalizando as diferentes abordagens verificadas na literatura. O PSS teve sua origem na sustentabilidade ambiental: a partir de um uso mais intensivo dos produtos, por meio de aluguel, compartilhamento ou multiuso, os recursos físicos teriam seu uso maximizado; tal abordagem tem como premissa a existência de um gerenciamento adequado desses bens físicos. Posteriormente, uma abordagem com foco na sustentabilidade econômica passou a ser considerada: a entrega de soluções no lugar de bens físicos gera relações de longo prazo com os consumidores e diversos parceiros. Foram identificadas, também, as categorias de PSS, os elementos a serem considerados no projeto de um PSS, as vantagens e os desafios decorrentes da aplicação do mesmo. Pretende-se que essa pesquisa teórica venha servir de base para posteriores estudos de casos exploratórios e um survey sobre o tema.

O objetivo deste artigo foi apresentar e testar um método de construção de modelos para a mensuração de desempenho ambiental em operações de manufatura. O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso múltiplo. O desempenho ambiental de uma operação de manufatura foi tratado como uma grandeza intangível, composta por cinco construtos latentes: emissões atmosféricas; efluentes líquidos; resíduos sólidos; uso de recursos naturais e gestão interna; e atendimento a legislações e certificações. Os quatro primeiros são de impacto direto, enquanto que o último foi considerado condição intermediária e necessária para os demais. Os significados dos construtos foram apreendidos por indicadores e mensurados qualitativamente por questionários respondidos por gestores de cinco operações: operação avícola, fabricação mecânica, fabricação de materiais elétricos, fabricação de rações e estamparia de aço. Os resultados foram estudados e comparados e forneceram subsídios para a eventual reformulação de estratégias de ação ambientais inseridas nas estratégias de operação das empresas.This paper presents and tests a method for building models to measure environmental performance in manufacturing operations. The research method was the multiple case study. Environmental performance of a manufacturing operation was treated as an intangible variant, composed of five latent constructs: atmospheric emissions, liquid effluents, solid waste, natural resources employment and management and legal requirements and certification compliances. The first four have direct impact on the environment and the last is accepted as a priority and necessary condition for the others. The meaning of the constructs was appraised by indicators and assessed by questionnaires answered by managers from five operations: chicken egg production, mechanical manufacture, electrical goods manufacture, animal food manufacture and steel stamping. The results were discussed and compared, providing some indicators for an eventual reformulation of environmental strategies of the enterprises studied, to be adopted within the enterprises operational strategies.

Este artigo investiga as compensações financeiras obtidas por fornecedores de componentes industriais de itens classificados como premium (produtos de alto valor agregado) ao atenderem às principais demandas de valor dos grandes compradores industriais. As compensações financeiras incluem aumento no preço e na fração do lote de compra (percentual do lote de compra destinado a cada fornecedor). O método de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso múltiplo. A pesquisa envolveu, de um lado, cinco clientes globais oriundos dos setores de siderurgia, bebidas e equipamentos, e de outro quatro fornecedores de componentes industriais: rolamentos especiais, subsistemas hidráulicos, subsistemas pneumáticos e equipamentos eletrônicos. A pesquisa investigou valores descritos na literatura para suprimentos industriais (produto, serviço e suprimento) e identificou que o valor produto é prioritário e os valores suprimento e serviços usualmente são considerados após a aprovação técnica do valor produto. A pesquisa também quantifica a influência da combinação desses valores em níveis de preços e fração do lote de compra. Os resultados auferidos sugerem questões para futuras pesquisas, as quais serão organizadas em forma de surveyThis paper investigates financial compensations achieved by premium item suppliers when they meet the value demands from industry clients. Financial compensations include an increase in the values and share of orders. The research methodology used was the multiple case study. This study included five global clients from the steelmaking, beverage, and equipment industry sectors and four suppliers of premium industrial components (Industrial bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatic subsystems, and Electronics). The following value drivers were found in the literature: product, service, and supply. Determining the value of the product is a priority followed by supply and service whose values are usually determined after the product is technically approved. This study also quantified the influence of the combination of these values, or prices, and those of the share of orders. Questions for further research, i.e. surveys, were suggested.

Este artigo apresenta um método para a medição de inventário em processo e tempo de atravessamento em um sistema de manufatura. O método consiste em modelar a manufatura por redes de Petri, simular o modelo em computador, alimentando-o com a situação de carga inicial dos processos e com um plano de produção, obtendo os momentos simulados de conclusão de cada ordem do plano. Após este procedimento, com o uso do diagrama de resultados e da fórmula do funil, calcula-se o valor médio simulado de inventário em processo que o plano produzirá na manufatura. Ao fim, faz-se uma discussão na qual explora-se como os resultados do método podem ser úteis em decisões de gestão, envolvendo o inventário admitido, pulmões e restrições da manufatura.This paper presents a method to measure work-in-process and leadtime in a manufacturing system. The method consists of modeling manufacturing by Petri nets, providing as input for the model the initial load of the process and a production plan, running it and obtaining from the simulation the moments of completion of the orders. Using the throughput diagram and the funnel formula, we then calculate the mean simulated value of the work-in-process that the plan will produce in the manufacturing system. Finally, we discuss how the results can be used to underpin management decisions on issues such as actual work-in-process, buffers and manufacturing constraints.

Este artigo apresenta um método para a medição do tempo de atravessamento e do inventário em processo em manufatura. A medição foi usada em processo de controle organizacional de manufatura, cuja variável controlada foi o tempo de atravessamento de ordens. Tal controle pode ser útil em estratégias de manufatura em que a competição é baseada no uso do tempo, a TBC (time-based competition). Apresentou-se o método de medição, que inclui elementos da teoria das filas, e considerações para a simplificação de arranjos produtivos de manufatura. Para testar e refinar o método, estudou-se um caso em manufatura calçadista. Foram coletados dados de remessas e obtido, por análise estatística e simulação computacional, o comportamento da variável aleatória tempo de atravessamento de remessas. Como a medição foi inferior ao objetivo de desempenho, partiu-se para o controle, fazendo um diagnóstico que apontou efeitos indesejáveis observados que foram endereçados por ações corretivas implementadas. Para verificar a eficácia das ações, nova coleta foi feita. Desta vez, o objetivo de desempenho das entregas foi atendido, fechando um ciclo de controle. Os resultados foram discutidos, chegando-se a conclusões e alternativas de continuidade.This paper presents a method for the measurement of the lead-time and work-in-process in manufacturing. The measurement was used in an organizational control process in manufacturing, in which the controlled variate was the order lead-time. This kind of control can be useful in manufacture strategies formulated to compete in TBC (time-based competition). We presented the method, who includes elements from the queuing theory, and concerns about simplifying complex manufacturing arrays, in order to facilitate the analysis. In order to test and refine the method, we studied a case in a footwear manufacture system. We collected data from orders and, by statistical techniques and computational simulation, describe how lead-time behaves, in a stochastic way. As the objective was not reached by the measurement, a managerial diagnosis was made, pointing up undesirable effects that addressed control actions. In order to verify the effectivity of the actions, we had new data collected and the measurement method was again applied. This time, the objective of lead-time was reached, showing that the actions were appropriate. Results of the case was analyzed, leading to conclusions and continuities cues.

Este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso referente à implantação de técnicas de ecodesign em uma empresa da cadeia eletrônica automotiva. Inicia-se com uma revisão sobre sustentabilidade ambiental, ecologia industrial, ecodesign e análise de ciclo de vida. Segue-se com a descrição de algumas práticas ambientalmente corretas na indústria automotiva, e se finaliza com o processo de implantação, as diretivas de projeto e uma avaliação preliminar dos resultados até agora alcançados.This paper presents a case study discussing the introduction of ecodesign techniques in a company of the electronic automotive industry. The paper begins by reviewing environmental sustainability, industrial ecology, ecodesign and life cycle analysis. The report contains some environmentally accepted practices in the automotive industry and concludes with the process of implantation and establishment of design policies and with a preliminary assessment of the results so far yielded.

Este artigo apresenta e discute um estudo de caso sobre medição de desempenho ambiental (MDA) baseada em um método multicriterial de apoio à decisão, o AHP. A medição foi feita em uma operação de manufatura da indústria automotiva, cujo Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) é certificado conforme a norma ISO 14001:2004. A metodologia foi desenvolvida de forma a viabilizar a sua extensão a outras indústrias ou tipos de operação. O artigo inicia apresentando uma discussão sobre desempenho empresarial e ambiental, justificando a necessidade de um índice para medir e comunicar este desempenho. Cita-se o método multicriterial usado e, a seguir, propõe-se a metodologia de medição, na qual se formulam construtos de sustentação do índice, calculam-se importâncias relativas dos construtos e especificam-se os indicadores. O índice foi calculado para o desempenho atual, chegando-se a um desempenho ambiental próximo a 85% do máximo possível. Os construtos empregados na medição são: resíduos sólidos; efluentes; emissões atmosféricas; uso de recursos naturais; e gestão ambiental. As principais oportunidades de melhoria ambiental são reduções no uso de recursos naturais e em emiss��es atmosféricas.This paper presents and discusses a case concerning environmental performance measurement (MDA), in which a multicriterial approach, the AHP, was used. The measurement took place in a manufacturing operation in the automotive industry, whose environmental management system (SGA) is certified according to ISO 14001: 2004. The methodology was developed in such a way that it is feasible to reproduce it in other industries or operations. The paper discusses business and environmental performance, justifying the need for a numerical index, in order to establish such performances. We propose the measurement methodology, in which we formulate hierarchical constructs for sustaining the index, weighed by the AHP and measured by indicators evaluated with historical data, available in the operation database. The index reached almost 85% of the maximum range. The measurement constructs are: solid wasting; effluent; natural resources; environmental management; and atmospheric emissions. The main improvement opportunities are: reduction in natural resources quantity requirement and atmospheric emissions.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma proposta de estrutura multicriterial de avaliação de desempenho em organizações. O trabalho inicia descrevendo e contextualizando conceitos relativos aos sistemas de medição de desempenho em organizações. Também descreve modelos de gestão baseados nos critérios de excelência do prêmio Malcolm Baldridge e na teoria da mentalidade enxuta. A seguir propõe um método para a construção de uma estrutura flexível de avaliação de desempenho e descreve um caso de aplicação que a exemplifica: a avaliação do desempenho de aspectos da mentalidade enxuta inseridos em uma operação de transporte coletivo. Ao final discutem-se os resultados do caso, comparam-se estes com o método de avaliação vigente em duas empresas da indústria e encaminha-se a continuidade da pesquisa.This paper proposes a multicriterial framework for strategic performance assessment, beginning with a presentation of concepts of performance measurement, and a description of management models based on the Malcolm Baldridge Quality Award and lean thinking. A method is then outlined for building a flexible framework for performance assessment and a case study is described: an evaluation of the performance of aspects of lean thinking in an urban passenger transportation operation. The paper concludes with a discussion of the findings of the case study using the proposed method, comparing it with the evaluation method currently used by two companies in the sector under study.

O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um método para a medição e o pré-controle de um plano de ações estratégicas em manufatura. Uma premissa de pesquisa é que o método possa modificar as medições com a mesma rapidez com que o ambiente competitivo se modifica, permitindo que a execução do plano estratégico se mantenha alinhada com os objetivos estratégicos de manufatura. Para testar e refinar o método, foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso em uma manufatura de ferramentas mecânicas. Foi recuperada a estratégia incremental de manufatura, composta por seis objetivos e um plano formado por quinze cursos de ação, e aplicado um método multicriterial para a definição de indicadores e de sua importância relativa. Partindo do desempenho atual medido pelos indicadores, o método mensura o potencial de cada ação em contribuir para o atingimento dos objetivos. Segue-se uma avaliação das lacunas entre o objetivo de desempenho, o desempenho atual e o desempenho esperado das ações. Avalia-se finalmente, em função dos potenciais de melhoria de desempenho de cada ação e das restrições de investimento, a priorização das ações. Resultam possibilidades de alterações na estratégia, que aumentam o valor pré-alimentado de desempenho, caracterizando a ação de pré-controle da estratégia. Uma parte dos resultados foi discutida, chegando-se a alternativas de continuidade.This paper discusses a methodology to measure and precontrol the performance of a strategic manufacturing action plan. A research premise is that the methodology can change measurements as rapidly as modifications in the competitive environment occur, thus keeping the strategy aligned with strategic manufacturing goals. A case study was conducted at a mechanical tools manufacturer to test and refine the method. The company's incremental manufacturing strategy, consisting of six goals and fifteen courses of action, was revamped and a multicriterial approach applied to define indicators and their weights. Based on the current performance measured by the indicators, the method assesses each action's potential to contribute toward achieving the objectives. It then goes on to evaluate the gaps between the performance objectives, current performance and the performance expected to result from those actions, subject to investment constraints. This approach allows for modifications of the strategy, enhancing feedforward performance and characterizing the strategic precontrol action. Some of the results of this case study are discussed, prompting alternatives for continuity.

O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir o uso dos processos de pensamento da teoria das restrições, TOC (do inglês Theory of Constraints) como alternativa para análise sistêmica em organizações. Iniciou-se com uma revisão conceitual do pensamento sistêmico, uma referência a um dos vários métodos existentes na bibliografia e uma revisão dos processos de pensamento da TOC. A seguir foi apresentado um estudo de caso de uma aplicação do método da TOC conduzida em uma organização de saúde pública e uma discussão comparada entre o método da TOC e o método sistêmico referenciado. Ao final se conclui acerca da relação existente entre os métodos e situações sistêmicas de interesse, delimitando os tipos de situação em que cada método parece se comportar melhor e parece conduzir a resultados organizacionais aceitáveis.This paper discusses the use of the TOC (theory of constraints) thought process as an alternative to systemic organizational analyses. We begin with a conceptual review of systemic thought, a reference to one of the various methods available in the literature, and a review of the basics and main concepts of the TOC. This is followed by the discussion of a case study, in which the TOC method was applied in a public health service organization, and a comparison of the TOC method and the systemic method. The conclusion of this paper discusses the relation between the methods and systemic situations, outlining the kinds of situation in which each method seems to work best by producing acceptable organizational results.

Este trabalho apresenta o desenvolvimento e a aplicação de um método para a construção de indicadores a fim de avaliar aspectos intangíveis de um sistema produtivo. Hoje em dia, principalmente nas organizações de serviços, os aspectos intangíveis têm sido usados na modelagem do sistema, no entendimento de problemas e na proposta e implementação de estratégias. A partir da teoria das medições, que se baseia na filosofia da ciência e na estatística multivariada, foi elaborada uma abordagem para a modelagem teórica dos conceitos intangíveis de um sistema produtivo. A abordagem tem início com o mapeamento teórico das variáveis não-manifestas, e continua identificando os construtos e o estado das variáveis, que pode estar relacionado a conceitos intermediários, suportados por variáveis manifestas que podem assumir formatos categóricos, a serem pesquisadas por instrumentos apropriados, como os questionários. Após essas definições, o fenômeno em estudo pode ser representado por diagramas de caminho. Se o diagrama assume forma de árvore, a regressão múltipla pode ser usada e a análise é facilitada. Se o diagrama assume forma sistêmica, incluindo relações circulares, é necessário um tratamento matemático mais complexo, que foge do escopo deste trabalho. Uma aplicação da abordagem proposta foi conduzida em quinze empresas de transporte coletivo de Porto Alegre, sendo mensurada a capacidade das empresas de apreender os conceitos de produção enxuta. Os resultados são discutidos e são apresentadas sugestões para a continuidade dos trabalhos.This paper describes the development and application of a method for developing measurements for intangible values in productive systems. Nowadays, mainly in service organizations, intangible values are been used for modeling phenomena, understanding problems, proposing and implementing strategies. From concepts presented in the measurements theory, the philosophy of science and multivariate statistics, an approach for modeling theoretic terms relevant to productive systems is developed. The approach comprises a theoretical mapping of non-manifested variables, definition of constructs, definition of state variables, which can be related to intermediate concepts and supporting manifested variables, which can assume categorical formats, assessed by appropriate techniques like questionnaires. After the definitions, one can represent the focused phenomenon by a path-diagram. If the diagram takes a treelike form, multiple regressions may be used and the mathematical formulation becomes easier. If the diagram takes a systemic form, including circular relationships, a more complex mathematical treatment is required, escaping from the scope of this paper. The proposed approach is illustrated through a case study where the capacity of understanding the Lean Thinking concept was assessed in fifteen passengers transportation companies from Porto Alegre, Brazil. The results are discussed and suggestions for the continuity of the research are presented.

Este trabalho descreve uma aplicação da lógica fuzzy de controle e do CBR (Raciocínio Baseado em Casos) na indústria de processo contínuo. Essas técnicas são discutidas dentro do campo de conhecimentos da Inteligência Artificial, associadas ao processo de tomada de decisões empresariais. A Inteligência Artificial é apontada como um campo de conhecimentos que pode apoiar a tomada de decisões de um modo mais simples e mais preciso do que outros métodos, tais como a modelagem e a gestão por indicadores. As etapas para a construção de um sistema especialista, construído principalmente a partir de experiências empíricas humanas, também são discutidas. O trabalho se encerra apresentando uma rotina de tomada de decisão em um processo termoquímico na indústria cimenteira conduzida por um sistema especialista baseado em CBR e lógica fuzzy, e uma discussão sobre resultados comparados com operadores humanos nas mesmas condições.This paper describes an application of the fuzzy logic control and CBR in the continuous process industry. The techniques are discussed inside the larger branch of knowledge called Artificial Intelligence (AI), which can be related with the decision-making process in companies. Artificial Intelligence is pinpointed as a science that can support decisions in an easier and more precisely way than others methods as models and process indicators management. The steps for the erection of an Expert System, built mainly from human empirical experiences, are also discussed. The paper comes to an end by presenting a decision-making routine in a thermochemical process, in the cement industry, as performed by an Expert System decision-maker, based in CBR and fuzzy logic, and leading to a discussion about results and performance gains, in comparison with human-guided action in the same process.