Orientador: Afonso Lopes / Banca: Marcilio Vieira Martins Filho / Banca: Luís Carlos Passarini / Resumo: A grande demanda de recursos energéticos pelos sistemas de produção aliados à escassez dos combustíveis fósseis tem motivado o desenvolvimento e a produção do Biodiesel, que é um combustível produzido de fontes renováveis. Diante disso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar o desempenho operacional e a opacidade da fumaça do motor de um trator agrícola, operando com diesel metropolitano e interior misturados ao Biodiesel de mamona, em sete proporções. Os ensaios foram conduzidos no Departamento de Engenharia Rural da UNESP/Jaboticabal - SP. Os resultados mostraram que o tipo de diesel influenciou no consumo de combustível e na opacidade da fumaça, sendo o diesel metropolitano de melhor qualidade. Observou-se, também, que à medida que a proporção de Biodiesel aumentou, o mesmo ocorreu para o consumo de combustível, entretanto, a opacidade da fumaça reduziu com acréscimo da proporção de Biodiesel até B75. / Abstract: The great demand for energy resources by production systems allied to scarcity of fossil fuels has driven the development and production of Biodiesel, a fuel produced from renewable sources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the performance and smoke opacity from a farm tractor, operating with interior and metropolitano diesel mixed with mamona Biodiesel in seven proportions. The tests were conducted in Departamento de Engenharia Rural of UNESP / Jaboticabal - SP. The results showed that the kind of diesel influenced consumption of fuel and smoke opacity, and the metropolitano diesel showed better quality, it was observed as well that as Biodiesel proportion increased, comsumption of fuel increased too, however, the opacity of smoke decreased with an increase of Biodiesel proportions by B75. / Mestre

Orientador: Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani / Banca: Rouverson Pereira da Silva / Banca: Alberto Carvalho Filho / Resumo: A partir do final da década de 1990, as regiões produtoras de amendoim do Estado de São Paulo investiram na modernização tecnológica da produção agrícola, principalmente quanto à mecanização. Diante desta situação, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar o conjunto trator-semeadora-adubadora atuando com biodiesel de amendoim (B5), em operação de semeadura de amendoim em LATOSSOLO Vermelho eutroférrico sob preparo convencional. Foram mensuradas as variáveis de desempenho operacional (força e potência na barra de tração, velocidade, capacidade de campo efetiva, consumo de combustível e de energia e patinagem), a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração e indicadores de qualidade da operação (distribuição longitudinal de plântulas, espaçamento entre fileiras de semeadura e número de dias para emergência). O experimento foi conduzido em área de campo na Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus de Jaboticabal - SP, latitude -21º14' e longitude -48º16' com altitude média de 560 metros e clima Aw. A análise geoestatística foi empregada às variáveis de desempenho operacional e resistência mecânica do solo à penetração e para os indicadores de qualidade utilizaram-se o controle estatístico de processo e a análise de capabilidade. A resistência mecânica do solo à penetração não apresentou correlação com as variáveis de desempenho operacional. A distribuição longitudinal de sementes e o espaçamento entre fileiras demonstraram processo instável e o número de dias para emergência apresentou estabilidade e resultados capazes de atingir os limites especificados. O controle estatístico de qualidade permitiu concluir que o processo de semeadura não atende as especificações previamente determinadas. / Abstract: Since the end of 1990's, the peanut production regions of São Paulo State, invested in technological modernization of agricultural production, especially on the mechanization. Faced with this situation, this study aimed evaluate the tractor-seeder-fertilizer system, working with a peanut biodiesel (B5), in peanut sowing operation in OXISOL under conventional tillage. Was measured the operational performance variables (drawbar force, required power, forward speed, effective field capacity, fuel and energy consumption and slippage), the soil mechanical penetration resistance and operational quality indicators (plants longitudinal distribution, row spacing and number of days to emergency). The experiment was carried out on Universidade Estadual Paulista's area, Campus Jaboticabal - SP - Brazil, latitude -21º14' and longitude -48º16' with 560 meters of average altitude and Aw climate. The geostatistics analysis was used for the operational performance variables and soil mechanical penetration resistance and statistical process control and process capability analysis for the quality indicators. The soil mechanical penetration resistance not demonstrates correlation with the operational performance variables. The longitudinal distribution showed unstable process, like the row spacing and the number of days to emergence demonstrate stability and capable to reach results in specifications. The statistical quality control showed that the sowing operation not meet the previously determined specifications. / Mestre

Neste trabalho examinamos os efeitos do controle e governança familiar nas decisões de fusões e aquisições (M&A). Analisamos 420 empresas não-financeiras listadas na BM&FBovespa entre 1997 e 2007 e encontramos que empresas controladas por famílias empresarias por meio de excesso de direitos de voto são mais propensas a se engajar em atividades de M&A. Encontramos também que empresas cujo presidente do conselho de administração é um membro da família controladora, a probabilidade de crescimento via M&A diminui. Finalmente, encontramos que as atividades de M&A em empresas controladas por famílias prejudicam o desempenho operacional de longo prazo. Em conjunto, mecanismos de excesso de controle parecem atenuar a restrição de recursos financeiros das famílias para perseguir o crescimento via M&A, entretanto, esta estratégia de crescimento gera resultados operacionais inferiores. Estes resultados têm importantes implicações para a literatura de governança e para a prática empresarial em países emergentes como o Brasil. / We examine the effect of family control and governance on merge and acquisitions (M&A) decisions. We analyze 420 Brazilian non-financial firms from 1997 to 2007 and found that family-controlled firms with excess of control rights are more likely to engage in M&A transactions. We unravel that family chairman reduces the likelihood of family firms to grow through M&As. We also find that M&A activities in family controlled firms are detrimental to their operational performance in the long-run. Overall, family control enhancing mechanism seems to attenuate family limited resources to expand through M&A, where institutions are weak and the capital market is not developed, but this growth strategy leads to poor operational performance. Altogether, these results have important implications for corporate governance research and practice in emerging economies like Brazil.

Considerando o atual cenário de desenvolvimento local no Brasil, nota-se que o grande desafio para os gestores de políticas públicas é o processo de avaliação dessas políticas. Muito se evoluiu em planejamento, implantação e execução. Contudo, não basta implementar políticas públicas; faz-se necessário avaliar as contribuições de suas ações, norteadas por seus principais objetivos e por sua razão de existência. Nesse sentido, esta pesquisa propôs-se a analisar as possíveis contribuições geradas pelas ações da Agência de Desenvolvimento de São João da Boa Vista às micro e pequenas empresas (MPE) locais. Para tanto, foram selecionados dois projetos de apoio às MPE, implementados e gerenciados pela Agência de Desenvolvimento de São João da Boa Vista - projeto de revitalização das MPE comerciais e projeto de revitalização das MPE industriais. Foram utilizadas duas metodologias nesta pesquisa: a Metodologia de Diagnóstico de MPE de Allegretti, por meio da qual se buscou identificar o desempenho gerencial e operacional das MPE assistidas e não-assistidas pela Agência e fazer uma comparação entre os desempenhos desses dois grupos, e a Metodologia de Sistemas Flexíveis - Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), de Peter Checkland, que foi aplicada com os gestores e parceiros da Agência e com os empresários participantes dos projetos de revitalização do comércio e da indústria, a fim de identificar as contribuições geradas por esses dois projetos às MPE assistidas pela Agência. Com a aplicação da Metodologia de Diagnóstico, constatou-se que o desempenho das empresas que foram acompanhadas pela Agência de Desenvolvimento de São João da Boa Vista foi superior ao desempenho das não-assistidas, em todas as dimensões analisadas. Com a aplicação da Metodologia de Checkland, constatou-se que os projetos de revitalização do comércio e da indústria promoveram reais contribuições às MPE participantes. Essas contribuições foram agregadas por meio da consolidação de novas competências gerenciais e operacionais no perfil dos empreendedores e de seus colaboradores. Dentre as várias contribuições identificadas, ressalta-se a mais significativa: o surgimento de uma cultura de aprendizagem organizacional, onde todos têm consciência da importância de suas contribuições enquanto \"atores\" que compõem o sistema \"Agência de Desenvolvimento\", e enquanto elementos interrelacionados com os outros atores internos e externos do sistema, e que buscam continuamente sua melhoria, sendo todos responsáveis pelos resultados alcançados. / Considering the present local development in Brazil, the biggest challenge for managers of public policies is to evaluate these policies. The arrangement, implantation and execution have improved a lot. However, it is necessary to evaluate the contribution of its actions, guided by its main purposes. This research is aimed to evaluate the promising contributions generated by the actions promoted by the Development Agency of São João da Boa Vista for micro and small local companies. To reach this purpose, two projects, managed by the Development Agency of São João da Boa Vista which supports micro and small companies, were selected: the revitalization of micro and small commercial company project and the revitalization of micro and small industry project. The methodologies that support the research were the Diagnostic Methodology of Micro and Small Companies, elaborated by Allegretti, which was applied to identify the performance of micro and small companies, and the Soft System Methodology (SSM), elaborated by Peter Checkland, which was applied to identify the contributions developed by those projects. The research showed that the performance of micro and small companies supported by the Development Agency was superior to the performance of those which were not supported by the Agency, in all analyzed dimensions. It was also shown that the revitalization of micro and small commercial company project and the revitalization of micro and small industry project promoted real contributions to the micro and small companies which took part in the program. These contributions were aggregated by the consolidation of new abilities to the employers\' and collaborators\' profile. It is important to stand out the most relevant contribution identified: the appearance of apprenticeship culture, in which everybody is aware of their acts and contributions, and in witch everybody perceives themselves as \"actors\" that compose the system \"Development Agency\", which promotes their improvement, being responsible for the results reached.

M. Tech. (Department of Logistics Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The importance of the food retail industry and its role in stimulating economic growth and ensuring food availability as the final actor in the food supply chain in many countries is well documented in literature. This stands true in the case of Zimbabwe, where the industry has grown tremendously to become a significant contributor to the gross domestic product through employment creation, tax contributions and infrastructural development. Despite these contributions, the industry faces challenges in the form of supply chain risks. This is primarily due to the nature of the retail supply chain in Zimbabwe where over two-thirds of the products sold are imported. This forms the basis of this study which seeks to understand how supply chain risk management in food retail firms impacts on firm operational performance. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between supply chain risk management and operational performance in the food retail industry in Harare, Zimbabwe. To achieve the study’s aim, several variables were considered; namely, supply chain risk management, supply chain risk information sharing, and supply chain risk analysis and assessment, supply chain risk-sharing mechanisms and operational performance. The study followed a quantitative research approach based on a positivist paradigm. A total of 264 food retail firm owners, managers and professional employees who possess knowledge on supply chain risk management in Harare were selected using a non-probability, purposive sampling technique. Data were then collected using a close-ended survey questionnaire which was developed using adapted measurement scales. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25.0) and the Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS version 25.0) statistical software. The applied data analysis techniques included descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Inferential statistics used two approaches, namely, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The EFA tested for the factor structure of the collected data, whereas SEM tested for both psychometric properties of measurement scales and the relationships in the proposed hypotheses. The results of the study showed that supply chain risk management has a direct and significant relationship with both supply chain risk information sharing and supply chain risk analysis and assessment. Supply chain risk analysis and assessment yielded a positive and significant relationship with supply chain risk-sharing mechanisms. The relationship between supply chain risk analysis and assessment and supply chain risk-sharing mechanisms was significant but weak. Supply chain risk-sharing mechanisms had a strong and positive relationship with operational performance. There was, however, no significant direct relationship between supply chain risk management and operational performance. Insights gained from this study have merit from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Theoretically, the study provides an understanding of some driving factors to supply chain risk management, supply chain risk-sharing information sharing, supply chain risk analysis and assessment, supply chain risk-sharing mechanisms and operational performance within the food retail industry in Zimbabwe. Since there is limited evidence of similar previous studies in Zimbabwean food retail firms, the results are an essential addition to the existing body of literature within the area of supply chain management and supply chain risk management in the context of a developing country. From a management perspective, the study suggests specific recommendations that should be implemented for the optimisation of all five constructs.

No description available.

Additive manufacturing is an industrial process, developed in the early 1980s and currently used in several industries such as the medical, aircraft and automotive industries. In the first place,additive manufacturing was mostly usedby manufacturing industries to produce prototypes, models and patterns. Nowadays, this technology can be used at any point in the lifecycle of a product from pre-production(rapid prototyping and rapid tooling) to production (direct manufacturing). This technology is especially adapted for the production of limited series of small and geometrically complex components.The purpose of this study is to identify howadditive manufacturing affects operational performance during the development and production phases, specifically in the case of the automotive industry.With this purpose in mind, I have collected primary and secondary data through a qualitative study using both in-depth semi-structured interviewsand archival records found on automotive companies’ websites. The objective of collecting multiple sources datawas to gain a reliable and comprehensive perception of the situation and understand the effects of additive manufacturing on operational performance, and more precisely on the seven production wastesdefined on lean practices, to be able to answer my research question. The data are analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach and testthe presupposition that emerged from the empirical findings. Through the analysis of the data collected, I came to the conclusion that additive manufacturing is mostly used during the prototyping phase and sometimes also used for rapid tooling. But it appears that this technology is only used for direct manufacturing in some specific niche markets such as luxury carmakers. Another interesting finding concerns the use of additive manufacturing for marketing purpose. Concerning operational performance, the impacts of additivemanufacturing remainlimited, and contrary to what some authors said, the use of this technology is still marginal in the automotive industry compared to traditional manufacturing.

Since the late eighties, BPR has established itself as one of the attractive radical change management option for coping and adapting to the new competitive market environment and become popular both in the public and private organisations throughout the world . Cognizant of this fact, all Ethiopian public (government owned) institutions including the public financial institutions have embarked on large-scale change projects since 2004 in which Business process re-engineering(BPR) is a central element . This research examined whether implementation of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) projects have improved operational performance of the selected case public commercial banks in Ethiopia by collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative comprehensive data set, using mixed research approach through questionnaires, interviews, observations and review of secondary sources of information. The operational performance measures utilized in this study are cost reduction, speed of service delivery, service quality, customer satisfaction as well as innovation. A total of 837 (84% response rate) questionnaires were returned from respondents of the selected branches and head offices. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight senior managers of the respective banks, who were also members of their respective banks reform team and were involved in the design and implementation of BPR. The third method that was used to collect qualitative data was personal observation of the selected bank branches in order to measure the speed of service delivery and convenience of the waiting places. The researcher measured the service delivery time of selected busy bank branches for five consecutive days, for half an hour spent in each branch. This study found that the introduction of BPR in the case banks was met with mixed reactions from employees and some managers. The main achievements of BPR were: service delivery time reduced dramatically as a result of the new process redesign and introduction of information and communication technology services(introduction of e-banking); introducing a single customer contact point through employee empowerment to make all the necessary decisions at that point of contact which resulted in improving the satisfaction of employees and customers. The challenge was that resistance from employees and some managers (labelled the initiative as “Blood pressure raiser” due to their assumptions it will result in employee lay off or the change brings increased workloads for some remaining employees without compatible rewards following the new process redesign. The study also revealed that telecom infrastructure and power interruption considered as main problem areas in providing banking services efficiently and effectively through branch net workings. The researcher recommends that for a better BPR design and implementation as well as sustainability of improvement gains in the banking sector, a forum should be established to discuss and share good practices and technology in the banking sector ; establish strong change management offices to continuously assist and monitor results; and continuously involve and communicate key stakeholders in the design and implementation of change initiatives. / Business Management / D.B.L.

O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.), matéria-prima para produção de açúcar, etanol e bioeletricidade (a partir da biomassa). Nas usinas o sistema de colheita é o que mais onera os custos abrangendo a área agrícola. Cumpre assinalar que em virtude das exigências legais e ao menor custo do corte mecanizado em relação a outros sistemas de colheita, o setor tem investido em novas tecnologias e modelos de gestão dessa operação. O gerenciamento de todas as etapas da colheita (corte, carregamento e transporte) tem a finalidade de deixar o sistema mais eficiente e atender às necessidades de matéria-prima da unidade industrial. Com o propósito de atingir a excelência na produtividade e qualidade da colheita mecanizada, as usinas podem utilizar diversas metodologias e/ou programas de gerenciamento. A Manutenção Produtiva Total (MPT) apresenta-se como uma técnica gerencial, atuando na forma organizacional, no comportamento das pessoas, na forma com que tratam os problemas, não só de manutenção, mas de todos os trabalhadores diretamente ligados ao processo produtivo. Neste contexto o objetivo deste trabalho foi aplicar a metodologia MPT na operação de colheita mecanizada de uma usina de cana-de-açúcar, incluindo-se a avaliação dos indicadores de desempenho durante três safras: 2008/2009; 2009/2010 e 2010/2011. Os resultados obtidos confirmaram que essa metodologia é um modelo de gestão viável para a aplicação aqui proposta. / Brazil is the largest sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) producer in the world. Sugarcane is the raw material for sugar, alcohol and bioelectricity (from biomass) production. In mills, the harvesting system is the heaviest issue in the budget including the agriculture area. It is worth mentioning that according to the legal demands and the lowest cost of mechanized cut in comparison with other methods, the area has invested in new technology and new management models for such operation. Management in all its stages (cutting, loading and transportation) has as main goal to make the system more efficient and fulfill the industrial unit raw-material needs. With the sole purpose to achieve excellence in production and quality of mechanized harvesting, mills can use different methods or management programs. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is introduced as a management technique, working in the organizational area, in peoples behavior, in the way they react, face and solve a problem, not just in maintenance, but with all workers directly involved in production process. In such context, the purpose of the following study was the use of the TPM in the harvesting operation in a sugar mill. Performance indicators during three crops are included: 2008/2009, 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. The obtained results confirmed that such method is a feasible management method for the proposed application of this study.

Estudos da área de melhores práticas de produção têm revelado que a implementação de práticas idênticas em firmas diferentes pode conduzir a níveis de desempenhos distintos. É sugerida, pela literatura consultada, uma discussão mais apropriada das melhores práticas para contextos específicos. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é avaliar o relacionamento entre práticas (ou programas de ação) implantadas e a estratégia de produção e, também, analisar os efeitos das práticas sobre a melhoria de indicadores de desempenho operacional e de negócio em empresas do setor moveleiro no Brasil. O objetivo secundário é, por intermédio da análise desses relacionamentos, analisar se tais práticas podem ser consideradas as melhores práticas no contexto do setor pesquisado. Foi elaborado um modelo conceitual com cinco hipóteses de pesquisas, baseado na revisão da literatura. A pesquisa de campo consistiu de uma survey explanatória e de corte-transversal. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas, observações diretas no chão-de-fábrica e, também, mediante questionário estruturado respondido pela internet. Noventa e nove firmas participaram da pesquisa. A técnica usada para a análise dos dados foi a modelagem de equações estruturais com o método de estimação dos mínimos quadrados ponderados. Os resultados indicaram que (a) práticas de produção em diferentes áreas afetam direta e indiretamente indicadores de performance operacional e de negócio; (b) a implantação conjunta de práticas de infra-estrutura dão suporte às práticas-chave que estimulam a melhoria da performance de diferentes indicadores de indicadores; (c) em geral as práticas de produção influenciam diretamente, com maior magnitude, o desempenho operacional que o desempenho de negócio, uma vez que esse último é afetado indiretamente pelas práticas, por intermédio da melhoria do desempenho operacional; (d) práticas nas áreas de desenvolvimento de novos produtos, recursos humanos, gestão de qualidade e planejamento e controle de produção podem ser consideradas como melhores práticas para o contexto estudado, conforme análise da pesquisadora por meio da revisão da literatura. / Studies in the area of best practices have shown that the implementation of identical practices in different companies may result in diverse performance levels. Studies also suggest the need for deeper analysis of best practices for specific contexts. The main objective of this work is twofold. It analyses the relationship between manufacturing strategy and production practices. It also investigates the effects of such practices on the improvement on business and operational performance indicators in brazilian furniture companies. The secondary objective is to investigate whether such production practices can be considered indeed the best practices for the furniture industry. A conceptual model, with five research hypotheses, has been elaborated following thorough literature review. The empirical research consisted of an explanatory cross-sectional survey. Data have been collected during interviews and direct observations on the shop-floor from 99 furniture companies. Some data have also been collected from online questionnaire available on the internet. The technique used for data analysis was the structural equation modeling (SEM) with the weighted least square (WLS) estimation method. Results indicated that (a) practices of production in different areas direct and indirectly affect operational performance indicators of specific and general areas and also firm indicators; (b) the joint adoption of infrastructure supports key practices that stimulate improved performance of different indicators; (c) most of the practices of production influence operational performance directly and with greater magnitude than firm performance, as this last one is affected indirectly by the practices, through improved operational performance; and (d) practices in the area of development of new products, human resources, production planning and control and quality management were could be considered best practices in the context under study, in accordance with the analyzes of the researcher and theory review.