As dimensões geográficas dos Arranjos Produtivos Locais

This article aims to further discuss the Local Productive Arrangements (APLs), considering some geographical visions thinking about spatial configuration and the economic and social processes that characterize them, configuring a wide range of territorialities and productive territories that mark the landscape current Brazilian. In this sense, APLs are present today in both the figure of those who study analytical concept for regional development, and as a public policy supporting networks and supply chains in their territorial bases, especially small businesses. Thus, this arrangements can be read, geographically, as territorial productive specializations that are configured in spatial circuits of production, integrated with other regions, localities and supply chains through the morphology of networks and districts and grounded in networks of urban networks of material and immaterial flows which are bringing urban centers of different sizes. Considering the multidimensionality of the subject, the clusters have certain weaknesses in terms of their assumptions and perspectives, especially the limitations of the tool if designed just for resources and policies applied at the local level. Suggest the approach of a "geography of APLs" is to seek treat it from a territorial and socio reading.

Há sinergia entre o sistema lean manufacturing e a gestão ambiental? mapeando o estado da arte

In recent decades, two research themes have been prominent in the academic and organizational setting: lean manufacturing and green management. Since 1996, when Florida (1996) wrote an article focusing on the synergy between these two areas, the debate if “Lean is Green?” enters in the academic field. It is in this context that this research presents the results of a systematic literature on the topic, focusing on the characteristics, positive and negative impacts, lean paradigms, green paradigms and design of supply chains. To perform this procedure it were followed the methodological footsteps of Lage Junior and Godinho Filho (2010). The research occurred in the database Scopus and it was conducted from June, 2012 to July, 2012.The key word used was “green lean” and as search filter it were included only articles and conference Papers. Their main result is a deep analysis of the accumulated knowledge on the subject, where it is revealed that the majority of studies point to the synergy between some components of the lean manufacturing system in relation to environmental management. The research gap found is related to articles that address the entropy of the union of lean and green systems.

Análise das práticas de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos em empresas calçadistas da cidade de Jaú - SP

Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Produção - FEB

An investigation about Brazilian mango and grape exports

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to characterise the transactions between European buyers and Brazilian mango and grape producers. Design/methodology/approach - The method selected for this paper was multiple case studies. The Brazilian mango and grape supply chains' export activities to Europe were investigated. The field research was undertaken in Brazil, Germany, The Netherlands and the UK. In total, 41 face-to-face interviews were carried out. Findings - The supermarkets' literature tends to generalise the strategies of retailers focusing on differentiation and preferred suppliers. However, in empirical research conducted in the UK, Germany and The Netherlands it is possible to conclude that the procurement strategies of supermarkets can vary sharply. The results reveal the presence of different agents who demand different quality standards. The level of intensity depends on consumer behaviour, the features of product commercialised and the characteristics of the production segment in each country. Research limitations/implications - First, in relation to the empirical method there is a limitation because the case study does not allow statistical generalisation. Consequently, it will be interesting to undertake quantitative research in order to quantify the variables presented and their impact on the structure of value chains. Second, the research focuses only on two stages of the supply chain, producers and buyers. Practical implications - The differences between UK and German supermarkets challenge the supermarket literature, which tends to generalise the strategies of retailers focusing on differentiation and preferred suppliers. Originality/value - The study shows that the issue of influence and activities of retail agents along the value chain can be analysed taking several variables into consideration: the products commercialised; the distribution segment; and the consumer market. This result opens the way for analysing different structures of the value chain and the impact of these differences on the entry of producers for developing countries into the global market.

The role of empirical research in the study of complex forms of governance in agroindustrial systems

The growing complexity of supply chains poses new challenges for Agricultural Research Centers and statistical agencies. The aim of this perspective paper is to discuss the role of empirical research in understanding the complex forms of governance in agribusiness. The authors argue that there are three fundamental levels of analysis: (i) the basic structure of the market, (ii) the formal contractual arrangements that govern relations within the agroindustrial system and (iii) the transactional dimensions governed by non-contractual means. The case of the agrochemical industry in Brazil illustrates how traditional analyses that only address market structure are insufficient to fully explain the agricultural sector and its supply chain. The article concludes by suggesting some indicators which could be collected by statistical agencies to improve understanding of the complex relationships among agribusiness segments. In doing so, the paper seeks to minimize costs and to enable a better formulation of public and private policies.

Sustentabilidade e cadeia de suprimentos: uma perspectiva comparada de publicações nacionais e internacionais

O objetivo do artigo é apresentar um quadro de referência de conceitos da Gestão da Sustentabilidade na Cadeia de Suprimentos (GSCS) para auxiliar pesquisas futuras na tentativa de integração intra e interorganizacional fundamentada em aspectos da sustentabilidade. Trata-se de um artigo teórico, cujo procedimento metodológico adotado foi o desk research em periódicos da área de gestão e operações, realizado em duas etapas. Na primeira, buscou-se visualizar os estudos da temática em seis importantes periódicos internacionais da área, totalizando 53 artigos entre 1954 e 2009. Esta etapa gerou uma evolução da temática, contribuindo para apontar tendências. Na segunda, foram revisados seis periódicos nacionais da área de administração. Selecionaram-se 11 artigos, publicados entre 1961 e 2009, resultando em um panorama da temática no contexto acadêmico brasileiro. O conceito de GSCS apareceu apenas em 2007, o que mostra a atualidade do tema, embora este seja a junção de temáticas anteriormente estudadas.

Filiera corta: percorsi di innovazione tecnici, organizzativi e sociali nella gestione strategica delle nicchie. Esperienze in Toscana e in Provenza

There is a widening consensus around the fact that, in many developed countries, food production-consumption patterns are in recent years interested by a process of deep change towards diversification and re-localisation practices, as a counter-tendency to the trend to the increasing disconnection between farming and food, producers and consumers. The relevance of these initiatives doesn't certainly lie on their economic dimension, but rather in their intense diffusion and growth rate, their spontaneous and autonomous nature and, especially, their intrinsic innovative potential. These dynamics involve a wide range of actors around local food patterns, embedding short food supply chains initiatives within a more complex and wider process of rural development, based on principles of sustainability, multifunctionality and valorisation of endogenous resources. In this work we have been analysing these features through a multi-level perspective, with reference to the dynamics between niche and regime and the inherent characteristics of the innovation paths. We apply this approach, through a qualitative methodology, to the analysis of the experience of farmers’ markets and Solidarity-Based Consumers Groups (Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale) ongoing in Tuscany, seeking to highlight the dynamics that are affecting the establishment of this alternative food production-consumption model (and its related innovative potential) from within and from without. To verify if and in which conditions they can constitute a niche, a protected space where radical innovations can develop, we make reference to the three interrelated analytic dimensions of socio-technical systems: the actors (i.e. individuals. social groups, organisations), the rules and institutions system, and the artefacts (i.e. the material and immaterial contexts in which the actors move). Through it, we analyse the innovative potential of niches and the level of their structuration and , then, the mechanisms of system transition, focusing on the new dynamics within the niche and between the niche and the policy regime emerging after the growth of interest by mass-media and public institutions and their direct involvement in the initiatives. Following the development of these significant experiences, we explore more deeply social, economic, cultural, political and organisational factors affecting innovations in face-to-face interactions, underpinning the critical aspects (sharing of alternative values, coherence at individual choices level, frictions on organisational aspects, inclusion/exclusion, attitudes towards integration at territorial level), towards uncovering until to the emergence of tensions and the risks of opportunistic behaviours that might arise from their growth. Finally, a comparison with similar experiences abroad is drawn (specifically with Provence), in order to detect food for thought, potentially useful for leading regional initiativestowards transition path.

La sostenibilità organizzativa dei progetti agricoli di cooperazione internazionale allo sviluppo

The importance of organizational issues to assess the success of international development project has not been fully considered yet. After a brief overview, in 1st chapter, on main actors involved on international cooperation, in the 2nd chapter an analysis of the literature on the project success definition, focused on the success criteria and success factors, was carried out by surveying the contribution of different authors and approaches. Traditionally projects were perceived as successful when they met time, budget and performance goals, assuming a basic similarity among projects (universalistic approach). However, starting from a non-universalistic approach, the importance of organization’s effectiveness, in terms of Relations Sustainability, emerged as a dimension able to define and assess a project success. The identification of the factors influencing the relationship between and inside the organizations becomes consequently a priority. In 3th chapter, starting from a literature survey, the different analytical approaches related to the inter and intra-organization relationships are analysed. They involve two different groups: the first includes studies focused on the type of organizations relationship structure (Supply Chains, Networks, Clusters and Industrial Districts); the second group includes approaches related to the general theories on firms relationship interpretation (Transaction Costs Economics, Resource Based View, Organization Theory). The variables and logical frameworks provided by these different theoretical contributions are compared and classified in order to find out possible connections and/or juxtapositions. Being an exhaustive collection of the literature on the subject is impossible, the main goal is to underline the existence of potentially overlapping and/or integrating approaches examining the contribution provided by different representative authors. The survey showed first of all many variables in common between approaches coming from different disciplines; furthermore the non overlapping variables can be integrated contributing to a broader picture of the variables influencing the organization relations; in particular a theoretical design for the identification of connections between the inter and the intra-organizations relations was made possible. The results obtained in 3th chapter help to defining a general theoretical framework linking the different interpretative variables. Based on extensive research contributions on the factors influencing the relations between organizations, the 4th chapter expands the analysis of the influence of variables like Human Resource Management, Organizational Climate, Psychological Contract and KSA (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities) on the relation sustainability. A detailed analysis of these relations is provided and a research hypothesis are built. According to this new framework in 5th chapter a statistical analysis was performed to qualify and quantify the influence of Organizational Climate on the Relations Sustainability. To this end the Structural Equation Modeling (SEMs) has adopted as method for the definition of the latent variables and the measure of their relations. The results obtained are satisfactory. An effective strategy to motivate the respondents to participate in the survey seems to be at the moment one of the major obstacles to the analysis implementation since the organizational performances are not specifically required by the projects’ evaluation guidelines and they represent an increase in the project related transaction costs. Their explicit introduction in the project presentation guidelines should be explored as an opportunity to increase the chances of success of these projects.

Modelling, simulation and optimization of maintenance considerations on condition based maintenance

Globalization has increased the pressure on organizations and companies to operate in the most efficient and economic way. This tendency promotes that companies concentrate more and more on their core businesses, outsource less profitable departments and services to reduce costs. By contrast to earlier times, companies are highly specialized and have a low real net output ratio. For being able to provide the consumers with the right products, those companies have to collaborate with other suppliers and form large supply chains. An effect of large supply chains is the deficiency of high stocks and stockholding costs. This fact has lead to the rapid spread of Just-in-Time logistic concepts aimed minimizing stock by simultaneous high availability of products. Those concurring goals, minimizing stock by simultaneous high product availability, claim for high availability of the production systems in the way that an incoming order can immediately processed. Besides of design aspects and the quality of the production system, maintenance has a strong impact on production system availability. In the last decades, there has been many attempts to create maintenance models for availability optimization. Most of them concentrated on the availability aspect only without incorporating further aspects as logistics and profitability of the overall system. However, production system operator’s main intention is to optimize the profitability of the production system and not the availability of the production system. Thus, classic models, limited to represent and optimize maintenance strategies under the light of availability, fail. A novel approach, incorporating all financial impacting processes of and around a production system, is needed. The proposed model is subdivided into three parts, maintenance module, production module and connection module. This subdivision provides easy maintainability and simple extendability. Within those modules, all aspect of production process are modeled. Main part of the work lies in the extended maintenance and failure module that offers a representation of different maintenance strategies but also incorporates the effect of over-maintaining and failed maintenance (maintenance induced failures). Order release and seizing of the production system are modeled in the production part. Due to computational power limitation, it was not possible to run the simulation and the optimization with the fully developed production model. Thus, the production model was reduced to a black-box without higher degree of details.

Decentralized or centralized production : impacts to the environment, industry, and the economy

Since product take-back is mandated in Europe, and has effects for producers worldwide including the U.S., designing efficient forward and reverse supply chain networks is becoming essential for business viability. Centralizing production facilities may reduce costs but perhaps not environmental impacts. Decentralizing a supply chain may reduce transportation environmental impacts but increase capital costs. Facility location strategies of centralization or decentralization are tested for companies with supply chains that both take back and manufacture products. Decentralized and centralized production systems have different effects on the environment, industry and the economy. Decentralized production systems cluster suppliers within the geographical market region that the system serves. Centralized production systems have many suppliers spread out that meet all market demand. The point of this research is to help further the understanding of company decision-makers about impacts to the environment and costs when choosing a decentralized or centralized supply chain organizational strategy. This research explores; what degree of centralization for a supply chain makes the most financial and environmental sense for siting facilities; and which factories are in the best location to handle the financial and environmental impacts of particular processing steps needed for product manufacture. This research considered two examples of facility location for supply chains when products are taken back; the theoretical case involved shoe resoling and a real world case study considered the location of operations for a company that reclaims multiple products for use as material inputs. For the theoretical example a centralized strategy to facility location was optimal: whereas for the case study a decentralized strategy to facility location was best. In conclusion, it is not possible to say that a centralized or decentralized strategy to facility location is in general best for a company that takes back products. Each company’s specific concerns, needs, and supply chain details will determine which degree of centralization creates the optimal strategy for siting their facilities.

Blattmeier

Technische Produktionssysteme und Prozesse - welcher Technologie auch immer - müssen den Bedürfnissen der industriellen Bauteilherstellung für Endanwendungen im Automobilbau entsprechen. Es stellt sich zunächst die Frage, auf welchem technologischen Reifegrad sich die generativen Technologien für den Automobilbau derzeit befinden? Welche außerordentlichen Vorteile können generative Prozessketten gegenüber konventionellen Herstellungsverfahren bieten und welche Hürden müssen genommen werden? Im Vordergrund der Untersuchung steht die Betrachtung von Pre-, In- und Post-Prozessen generativer wie auch konventioneller Produktionsverfahren. Bei der Gegenüberstellung der Prozessketten werden Maßstäbe angesetzt, die derzeit bei der Bauteilherstellung im Automobilbau Gültigkeit haben und auf Kriterien wie Effizienz, Reproduzierbarkeit und Kontrollierbarkeit aufbauen. Schließlich findet eine Einschätzung aus der Perspektive der Technologieintegration in derzeitige Produktionssysteme und Lieferketten statt. Es werden Restriktionen und Handlungsfelder von generativen Prozessen deutlich, die für den Einsatz für Endkunden-Bauteile im Fahrzeugbau behandelt werden müssen.

Technologische Reife von generativen Herstellungsverfahren für Endanwendungen im Automobilbau

Technische Produktionssysteme und Prozesse - welcher Technologie auch immer - müssen den Bedürfnissen der industriellen Bauteilherstellung für Endanwendungen im Automobilbau entsprechen. Es stellt sich zunächst die Frage, auf welchem technologischen Reifegrad sich die generativen Technologien für den Automobilbau derzeit befinden? Welche außerordentlichen Vorteile können generative Prozessketten gegenüber konventionellen Herstellungsverfahren bieten und welche Hürden müssen genommen werden? Im Vordergrund der Untersuchung steht die Betrachtung von Pre-, In- und Post-Prozessen generativer wie auch konventioneller Produktionsverfahren. Bei der Gegenüberstellung der Prozessketten werden Maßstäbe angesetzt, die derzeit bei der Bauteilherstellung im Automobilbau Gültigkeit haben und auf Kriterien wie Effizienz, Reproduzierbarkeit und Kontrollierbarkeit aufbauen. Schließlich findet eine Einschätzung aus der Perspektive der Technologieintegration in derzeitige Produktionssysteme und Lieferketten statt. Es werden Restriktionen und Handlungsfelder von generativen Prozessen deutlich, die für den Einsatz für Endkunden-Bauteile im Fahrzeugbau behandelt werden müssen.

Contribution to the Energy Efficiency and Environmental Compatibility of Cranes for Inland Waterway/ Feeder Ship Handling

Basis for the economic efficiency of international supply chains rests on the efficiency of multimodal transport chains. Materials and products are transported along the edges of transport networks with the forwarder endeavouring to maximize the transport efficiency by using the effects of scale along the edges. The network nodes provide the means to have the goods transferred between the means of transport. Whilst purely economic criteria were initially the driving force for a change in the means of transport, ecological requirements are now becoming ever more relevant. The transportation chains should not only be economically presentable but also it makes sense for them to have a “green footprint”. In this context the following considerations will deal with the transfer processes within the network nodes, especially those within inland and feeder terminals. Replies are to be given to the questions as to how far the choice of the crane primary drive has an impact on energy consumption and environmental compatibility of handling the goods and which additional benefit does the recuperation of engrained energies bring during the handling process.

Vertical integration and information sharing — an empirical investigation in the German apparel industry

Despite the astounding success of the fast fashion retailers, the management practices leading to these results have not been subject to extensive research so far. Given this background, we analyze the impact of information sharing and vertical integration on the performance of 51 German apparel companies. We find that the positive impact of vertical integration is mediated by information sharing, i.e. that the ability to improve the information flow is a key success factor of vertically integrated apparel supply chains. Thus, the success of an expansion strategy based on vertical integration critically depends on effective ways to share logistical information.

Impact of product-related environmental regulations in Asia : descriptive statistics from a survey of firms in Penang, Malaysia

This paper summarizes the main results of a unique firm survey conducted in Penang, Malaysia in 2012 on product-related environmental regulations. The results show that firms receiving foreign-direct investment have adapted well to regulations but faced more rejections. Several research questions are addressed and examined by using the survey data. Major findings are as follows. First, adaptation involves changes in input procurement and market diversification, which potentially changes the structure of supply chains. Second, belonging to global supply chains is a key factor in compliance, but this requires firms to meet tougher customer requirements. Third, there is much room for government policy to play a role in assisting firms.