A importância da confiança e colaboração entre empresas para mitigação do efeito chicote na gestão da cadeia de suprimentos

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

“Eco-innovations in more sustainable supply chains for a low-carbon economy: A multiple case study of human critical success factors in Brazilian leading companies”

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

Abordagem metodológica para avaliação de relacionamentos de redes de empresas: um exemplo de aplicação na indústria brasileira de autopeças

Many researchers emphasize the increasing dynamics of business globalization, virtually as a new order of driving rules to be considered and included regarding operations management. In this sense, and trying to attain a set of suitable competitive conditions according to the needs of their business, the very internal processes of management and decision making have been growing in terms of complexity and range of issues to be considered. To do so, it is important to understand and absorb possible changes in competitive conditions as they arise. This paper aims to present a conceptual model and a case study to illustrate the assessment of the relationships involving actors within an operations network. The understanding of the basis behind these relationships and the identification of the existing hierarchic profile governing them, represent primary items to be considered embedded in a decision making system. The results obtained suggest the possibility to make use of the proposed model as an auxiliary tool to assess existing relationships within an operations network.

Análise dos benefícios do edi para a competitividade logística das organizações

The concept of EDI -Electronic Data Interchange is normally used to determine integration technologies between companies. Logistically, this implies in the integrationbetween enterprises in supply chain, involving the electronic transmission of data and thus reducing human intervention in the process, still favoring organizational performance. This study investigated the main benefits of EDI for organizational competitiveness and its possible impacton improving logistics performance of four companies comprising large national networks. Through multiple case studieswere able to identify common features that the use of EDI can favorer these companies. The results were significant and assume that the use of this tool can add value to logistics, primarily through streamlining processes, inventory optimization, cost reduction and performance improvement potential. Thus, the use of Electronic Data Interchange as a strategic tool for logistics proved, through this study, an efficient alternative for business improvement and good practice, able to leverage competitive advantages not only for individual companies, but also for the entire supply chain.

Extending lean manufacturing in supply chains: a successful case in Brazil

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a success story involving the extending of lean manufacturing practices between a focal firm and its supplier, both located in Brazil, thereby configuring a case of excellence. Design/methodology/approach – An in-depth case study was conducted involving two companies: Company A, focal, leader in its segment, located in Brazil; and Company B, Company A's supplier, also located in Brazil. Findings – Results indicate there are several mechanisms for extending lean manufacturing practices in the supply chain, such as workshops, training, and integrated teams. These mechanisms are shown and guidelines are also introduced for companies seeking to successfully extend lean manufacturing practices. Originality/value – An original use of define, measure, analyze, improve, control for structuring the extending of lean manufacturing practices to suppliers and, consequently, the importance of the lean six-sigma relationship in this context. Furthermore, the guidelines introduced serve as a benchmark for other companies interested in the topic.

Low-carbon operations and production: putting training in perspective

The purpose of this paper is mainly to show how training may support low-carbon operations and production management in a more sustainable organizational context. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual framework to facilitate the integration between training and low-carbon operations and production is presented. Findings – To accomplish better training in a low-carbon organization, some steps should be followed. Challenges may occur, including the necessity of collaboration across the supply chain. Research limitations/implications – The proposed framework should be applied and improved based on the actual conditions in organizations.

Using complex networks to quantify consistency in the use of words

In this paper we have quantified the consistency of word usage in written texts represented by complex networks, where words were taken as nodes, by measuring the degree of preservation of the node neighborhood. Words were considered highly consistent if the authors used them with the same neighborhood. When ranked according to the consistency of use, the words obeyed a log-normal distribution, in contrast to Zipf's law that applies to the frequency of use. Consistency correlated positively with the familiarity and frequency of use, and negatively with ambiguity and age of acquisition. An inspection of some highly consistent words confirmed that they are used in very limited semantic contexts. A comparison of consistency indices for eight authors indicated that these indices may be employed for author recognition. Indeed, as expected, authors of novels could be distinguished from those who wrote scientific texts. Our analysis demonstrated the suitability of the consistency indices, which can now be applied in other tasks, such as emotion recognition.

Strategies and procedures for the development of intermodal freight transport in Europe: the role of motorways of the sea services and railway terminals

Since the birth of the European Union on 1957, the development of a single market through the integration of national freight transport networks has been one of the most important points in the European Union agenda. Increasingly congested motorways, rising oil prices and concerns about environment and climate change require the optimization of transport systems and transport processes. The best solution should be the intermodal transport, in which the most efficient transport options are used for the different legs of transport. This thesis examines the problem of defining innovative strategies and procedures for the sustainable development of intermodal freight transport in Europe. In particular, the role of maritime transport and railway transport in the intermodal chain are examined in depth, as these modes are recognized to be environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Maritime transport is the only mode that has kept pace with the fast growth in road transport, but it is necessary to promote the full exploitation of it by involving short sea shipping as an integrated service in the intermodal door-to-door supply chain and by improving port accessibility. The role of Motorways of the Sea services as part of the Trans-European Transport Network is is taken into account: a picture of the European policy and a state of the art of the Italian Motorways of the Sea system are reported. Afterwards, the focus shifts from line to node problems: the role of intermodal railway terminals in the transport chain is discussed. In particular, the last mile process is taken into account, as it is crucial in order to exploit the full capacity of an intermodal terminal. The difference between the present last mile planning models of Bologna Interporto and Verona Quadrante Europa is described and discussed. Finally, a new approach to railway intermodal terminal planning and management is introduced, by describing the case of "Terminal Gate" at Verona Quadrante Europa. Some proposals to favour the integrate management of "Terminal Gate" and the allocation of its capacity are drawn up.

Dallo spreco alimentare alla creazione di capitale sociale. Definizione di strumenti metodologici per la valutazione dell'impatto sociale dei progetti di recupero alimentare

Ogni anno in Europa milioni di tonnellate di cibo vengono gettate via. Una stima pubblicata dalla Commissione europea afferma che, nei 27 Stati membri, 89 milioni di tonnellate di cibo, o di 179 kg pro capite, vengono scartati. Lo spreco si verifica lungo tutta la catena di agro alimentare; la riduzione dei rifiuti alimentari è diventata una delle priorità dell'agenda europea. La ricerca si concentra su un caso studio, Last Minute Market, un progetto di recupero di sprechi alimentari. L'impatto di questo progetto dal punto di vista economico e ambientale è già stato calcolato. Quello che verrà analizzato è l'impatto di questa iniziativa sulla comunità e in particolare sul capitale sociale, definito come "l'insieme di norme e reti che consentono l'azione collettiva". Obiettivo del presente lavoro è, quindi, quello di eseguire, attraverso la somministrazione di un questionario a diversi stakeholder del progetto, un’analisi confrontabile con quella del 2009 e di verificare a distanza di cinque anni, se l'iniziativa Last Minute Market abbia prodotto una crescita di capitale sociale nella comunità interessata da questa iniziativa. Per riassumere l’influenza del progetto sul capitale sociale in un indice sintetico, viene calcolato quello che verrà chiamato indice di "affidabilità del progetto" (definito in statistica, la "capacità di un prodotto, un sistema o un servizio di fornire le prestazioni richieste, per un certo periodo di tempo in condizioni predeterminate").

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.

ASSESSING INFORMATION CONFLICTS DURING THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE

The objective of this research is to investigate the consequences of sharing or using information generated in one phase of the project to subsequent life cycle phases. Sometimes the assumptions supporting the information change, and at other times the context within which the information was created changes in a way that causes the information to become invalid. Often these inconsistencies are not discovered till the damage has occurred. This study builds on previous research that proposed a framework based on the metaphor of ‘ecosystems’ to model such inconsistencies in the 'supply chain' of life cycle information (Brokaw and Mukherjee, 2012). The outcome of such inconsistencies often results in litigation. Therefore, this paper studies a set of legal cases that resulted from inconsistencies in life cycle information, within the ecosystems framework. For each project, the errant information type, creator and user of the information and their relationship, time of creation and usage of the information in the life cycle of the project are investigated to assess the causes of failure of precise and accurate information flow as well as the impact of such failures in later stages of the project. The analysis shows that the misleading information is mostly due to lack of collaboration. Besides, in all the studied cases, lack of compliance checking, imprecise data and insufficient clarifications hinder accurate and smooth flow of information. The paper presents findings regarding the bottleneck of the information flow process during the design, construction and post construction phases. It also highlights the role of collaboration as well as information integration and management during the project life cycle and presents a baseline for improvement in information supply chain through the life cycle of the project.

Unterstützung des Managements von großen Netzen in der Logistik durch die systematische Bereitstellung von Methodenwissen

Das Management komplexer, interorganisatorischer und durch eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Beziehungen miteinander verknüpfter Strukturen und Prozesse, wie sie großen Netzen der Logistik zu-grunde liegen, stellt für die verantwortlichen Akteure eine anspruchsvolle Aufgabe dar. Der nachfolgende Beitrag stellt einen systematischen Ansatz vor, mit dem Netzwerkmanager bei der Erfüllung dieser Auf-gabe durch eine verbesserte Informationsgrundlage über verfügbare Methoden und Gestaltungsoptionen unterstützt werden sollen. Exemplarisch demonstriert wird die Funktionsweise dieses Ansatzes anhand des umfangreichen Instrumentariums des Netzwerk-Controlling, welches zur Schaffung von Transparenz in den unternehmensübergreifenden Prozessen zur Verfügung steht.

Bestimmung des stochastischen Zeitverhaltens in Supply Chains

Stochastische Einflüsse wirken auf alle elementaren Prozesse einer Lieferkette. Sie äußern sich in variablen Fertigungs-, Transport- oder Durchlaufzeiten sowie Lagerbeständen zur Prozessentkopplung. Die Auswirkungen auf Liefertreue, Vorlaufzeiten, Bestände oder Kos¬ten für die gesamte Supply Chain sind zurzeit nur simulativ abschätzbar. Das hier vorge¬stellte numerische Verfahren kann mit geringem Aufwand ähnliche, statistisch abgesicherte Kennzahlen für das Zeitverhalten liefern.