Properties advanced of the silicon nitride based ceramics and recent performance on automotive parts manufacture by machining process: Advanced Ceramics, demand Forecast

Automotive parts manufacture by machining process using silicon nitride-based ceramic tool development in Brazil already is a reality. Si 3N4-based ceramic cutting tools offer a high productivity due to their excellent hot hardness, which allows high cutting speeds. Under such conditions the cutting tool must be resistant to a combination of mechanical, thermal and chemical attacks. Silicon nitride based ceramic materials constitute a mature technology with a very broad base of current and potential applications. The best opportunities for Si3N 4-based ceramics include ballistic armor, composite automotive brakes, diesel particulate filters, joint replacement products and others. The goal of this work was to show latter advance in silicon nitride manufacture and its recent evolution on machining process of gray cast iron, compacted graphite iron and Ti-6Al-4V. Materials characterization and machining tests were analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Vickers hardness and toughness fracture and technical norm. In recent works the authors has been proved to advance in microstructural, mechanical and physic properties control. These facts prove that silicon nitride-based ceramic has enough resistance to withstand the impacts inherent to the machining of gray cast iron (CI), compacted graphite iron (CGI) and Ti-6Al-4V (6-4). Copyright © 2008 SAE International.

Gestão de recursos humanos e desempenho operacional: evidências empíricas

A gestão de recursos humanos é frequentemente apontada como uma variável que influencia positivamente no desempenho das organizações. Enquanto argumentos e proposições teóricas de teor similar se multiplicam na literatura especializada, ainda são raras as pesquisas que lançam luzes sobre essa relação para empresas brasileiras. Nesse sentido, foi realizada uma pesquisa com o objetivo de verificar, empiricamente, se a gestão de recursos humanos influencia de maneira positiva o desempenho de empresas do segmento de autopeças e componentes automotivos em suas operações. Metodologicamente, realizou-se um survey com 75 empresas do setor mencionado, cujos dados foram analisados por meio de modelagem de equações estruturais, uma análise multivariada de segunda geração. A principal hipótese da pesquisa foi confirmada, revelando que, de fato, a gestão de recursos humanos está positivamente relacionada com o desempenho operacional das empresas analisadas.

Verdes e competitivas?: a influência da gestão ambiental no desempenho operacional de empresas brasileiras

Argumentos de que a gestão ambiental pode se relacionar positivamente com o desempenho operacional das empresas vêm se propagando pela literatura especializada desde a década de 1990. Esses argumentos ficaram conhecidos como abordagem verde e competitiva ou Hipótese ganha-ganha, de que tanto o Meio Ambiente quanto as empresas se beneficiariam com a adoção de práticas de gestão ambiental. Entretanto, há uma lacuna sobre tal temática, que carece de evidências empíricas que validem ou refutem tais argumentos para a realidade brasileira. Por isso, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de verificar empiricamente, se a gestão ambiental influencia positivamente o desempenho das operações de empresas do setor automotivo brasileiro, com foco no segmento de autopeças e componentes automotivos. Metodologicamente, realizou-se um survey com 75 empresas do setor mencionado, cujos dados foram analisados por meio de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, uma análise multivariada de segunda-geração. Os principais resultados indicam que a adoção de práticas de gestão ambiental se relaciona positivamente com o desempenho operacional das empresas analisadas, confirmando a hipótese da pesquisa. Entretanto, a gestão ambiental explica o desempenho operacional com intensidade fraca, o que pode indicar que há outras variáveis de gestão organizacional influenciando o desempenho operacional das empresas, merecendo pesquisas futuras.

Avaliação de sistemas de prevenção de falhas em processos de manufatura na indústria automotiva com metodologia de auxílio à decisão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aplicação de redes NeuroFuzzy ao processamento de peças automotivas por meio de injeção de polímeros

The injection molding of automotive parts is a complex process due to the many non-linear and multivariable phenomena that occur simultaneously. Commercial software applications exist for modeling the parameters of polymer injection but can be prohibitively expensive. It is possible to identify these parameters analytically, but applying classical theories of transport phenomena requires accurate information about the injection machine, product geometry, and process parameters. However, neurofuzzy networks, which achieve a synergy by combining the learning capabilities of an artificial neural network with a fuzzy set's inference mechanism, have shown success in this field. The purpose of this paper was to use a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network and a radial basis function artificial neural network combined with fuzzy sets to produce an inference mechanism that could predict injection mold cycle times. The results confirmed neurofuzzy networks as an effective alternative to solving such problems.

Análise da relação entre manufatura enxuta e desempenho operacional de empresas do setor automotivo no Brasil

Arguments that lean manufacturing can positively relate with the operational performance of companies have been spreading the literature since the 1990s. However, there is a theoretical and empirical gap on this issue that needs further empirical evidence to validate or refute these arguments to the Brazilian reality. Hence, this research aims to, empirically, verify if the lean manufacturing positively influences the performance of the operations of companies in the Brazilian automotive industry, focusing on the segment of automotive parts and components. Methodologically, we carried out a survey of 75 companies in the mentioned sector. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling, a second-generation multivariate analysis. The main results of this research are: in fact, lean manufacturing positively affects the operational performance of the studied companies, validating the main hypothesis stated in this article, but this relation is just considered weak, although positive; all lean manufacturing practices analyzed were encountered in the reality, especially for the variable continuous improvement, with the highest average and the correlation between the adoption of Kanban and Just in Time; the operational performance construct has some practices/measures identified by the literature, which have not been validated by the studied sector, as innovation (new products) and quality.

Recomendações para criação e gerenciamento de um sistema da qualidade em empresas de autopeças

This paper addresses the difficulties and best practices of a quality system of an automotive parts company. In it will be discussed the features and benefits of the proper use of a system of management and quality assurance. It emphasizes the proper use of tools and methodologies that aim improving the quality of processes and products. It also has some guidance information given by the standards of quality which helps the implementation of the quality system and the standards are important because it attests to the quality of companies. So, this work has as objective to guide the creation and management of the quality system in auto parts companies, which seek an increase in the quality of products and processes, it also helps to certify companies in the current quality standard for the sector, ISO TS 16949, and thus increases the competitiveness of companies in this market. As result, this paper resumes good practices, difficulties and key steps for creating and managing a quality system

Programação por Metas, Análise por Envoltória de Dados e Teoria Fuzzy na avaliação da eficiência sob incerteza: aplicação em minifábricas do segmento de autopeças

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Análise dos fatores influentes nos riscos de descontinuidade na cadeia de peças de reposição automotivas

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

A case study of concurrent engineering application on the development of parts for the white goods industry in Brazil

This classical way to manage product development processes for massive production seems to be changing: high pressure for cost reduction, higher quality standards, markets reaching for innovation lead to the necessity of new tools for development control. Into this, and learning from the automotive and aerospace industries factories from other segments are starting to understand and apply manufacturing and assembly oriented projects to ease the task of generate goods and from this obtain at least a part of the expected results. This paper is intended to demonstrate the applicability of the concepts of Concurrent Engineering and DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) in the development of products and parts for the White Goods industry in Brazil (major appliances as refrigerators, cookers and washing machines), showing one case concerning the development and releasing of a component. Finally is demonstrated in a short term how was reached a solution that could provide cost savings and reduction on the time to delivery using those techniques.

Effect of poultry viscera meal inclusion in broiler diets in different rearing periods on performance, carcass and parts yields

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Natural fibers based composites - Technical and social issues

Brazil is the only country in South America to have an automotive supplier sector based on natural fibers. New opportunities are arising due to an increase demand by the car makers in applying natural fibers in their parts. Several crop fibers have been developed in Brazil. Among them can be listed caroa, piacava, pupunha, mutum and others of regional application. For the automotive industry, which requires large quantities with uniform quality, the alternatives are sisal (170,000 ton/yr), curaua (150 ton/yr in 2003), malva, 200 ton/yr; Brazil is the single largest producer country of sisal, and commercially, the only one in curaua. For South America, the alternatives are fique in Colombia, abaca in equator, flax in Argentina and curaua in Venezuela. It must be understood by the target countries of drugs, is that crop fiber can be an economic alternative to coca in the Andes region, therefore an instrument of land reform and drug reduction plantations. Several companies have a strong program of apply natural fibers based components in their products: Volkswagen do Brazil, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors do Brazil. Among their suppliers can be listed companies such Pematec (curaua), Toro (sisal, coir and jute), Incomer (sisal and jute), Ober (jute, curaua), Indaru (jute and sisal), Antolin (imported kenaf,) Tapetes Sao Carlos (sisal), Poematec (coir) and Art-Gore, with Woodstock'' wood and natural fibers). Figures about production and demand are discussed in the paper.

Anti-leishmanial effects of purified compounds from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae)

Species of Baccharis exhibit antibiotic, antiseptic, wound-healing, and anti-protozoal properties, and have been used in the traditional medicine of South America for the treatment of several diseases. In the present work, the fractionation of EtOH extract from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella indicated that the isolated compounds caffeic acid and pectolinaringenin showed inhibitory activity against Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and Leishmania (V.) braziliensis promastigotes, respectively. Moreover, amastigote forms of both species were highly sensible to the fraction composed by oleanolic + ursolic acids and pectolinaringenin. Caffeic acid also inhibited amastigote forms of L. (L.) amazonensis, but this effect was weak in L. (V.) braziliensis amastigotes. The treatment of infected macrophages with these compounds did not alter the levels of nitrates, indicating a direct effect of the compounds on amastigote stages. The results presented herein suggest that the active components from B. uncinella can be important to the design of new drugs against American tegumentar leishmaniases.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of derivatives from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Water-soluble nutrients in aerial plant parts of peanut and white oat as affected by lime and gypsum application

A calagem e a gessagem influenciam a disponibilidade e a absorção de nutrientes, podendo alterar a quantidade de ácidos orgânicos na parte aérea das culturas. Essas alterações, quantificadas por meio da análise de nutrientes solúveis em água, podem potencializar o efeito da correção do solo, garantindo a sustentabilidade do sistema de semeadura direta. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da aplicação superficial de calcário e gesso no teor de nutientes solúveis em água nos resíduos vegetais das culturas de amendoim e aveia-branca. O experimento foi realizado em Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico em Botucatu (SP), nos anos agrícolas de 2004/2005 e 2005/2006. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições, em que as parcelas foram constituídas por doses de calcário, e as subparcelas, pela presença ou ausência da aplicação de gesso. Foi cultivado amendoim no verão e aveia-branca no inverno, em toda a área experimental. Na cultura do amendoim a aplicação de gesso elevou os teores de Ca solúvel em água apenas na primeira safra, em razão do curto período entre a aplicação do produto e a determinação dos teores de nutientes solúveis no extrato vegetal da cultura. A calagem realizada nas culturas de amendoim e aveia-branca elevou os teores solúveis de Ca, Mg, K e não alterou o teor de Cu e reduziu os teores de Zn, Mn e Fe nos dois anos de cultivo. Já a gessagem reduziu os valores da condutividade elétrica do amendoim (2004/2005 e 2005/2006) e da aveia-branca (2004/2005).