Potentially valuable information about the underlying data generating process of a dependent variable is often lost when an independent variable is transformed to fit into the same sampling frequency as a dependent variable. With the mixed data sampling (MIDAS) technique and increasingly available data at high frequencies, the issue of choosing an optimal sampling frequency becomes apparent. We use financial data and the MIDAS technique to estimate thousands of regressions and forecasts in the quarterly, monthly, weekly, and daily sampling frequencies. Model fit and forecast performance measurements are calculated from each estimation and used to generate summary statistics for each sampling frequency so that comparisons can be made between frequencies. Our regression models contain an autoregressive component and five additional independent variables and are estimated with varying lag length specifications that incrementally increase up to five years of lags. Each regression is used to forecast a rolling, one and two-step ahead, static forecast of the quarterly Yen and U.S Dollar spot exchange rate. Our results suggest that it may be favourable to include high frequency variables for closer modeling of the underlying data generating process but not necessarily for increased forecasting performance. / Graduate / 0501 / 0508 / 0511 / benjamincann@gmail.com

Temporal variations of Earth\'s magnetic field provide a great range of geophysical information about the dynamics at different layers of the Earth. Since it is a planetary field, regional and global aspects can be explored, depending on the timescale of variations. In this thesis, the geomagnetic field variations for the last two millennia were investigated. For that, some improvement on the methods to recover the ancient magnetic field intensity from archeological material were done, new data was acquired and a critical assessment of the global archaeomagnetic database was performed. Two methodological advances are reported, comprising: i) the correction for microwave method of the cooling rate effect, which is associated to the difference between the cooling times during the manufactory of the material and that of the heating steps during the archaeointensity experiment; (ii) a test for thermoremanent anisotropy correction from the arithmetic mean of six orthogonal samples. The temporal variation of the magnetic intensity for South America was investigated from nine new data, three from ruins of the Guaraní Jesuit Missions and six from archaeological sites associated with jerky beef farms, both located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with ages covering the last 400 years. These data combined with the regional archaeointensity database, demonstrates that the influence of significant non-dipole components in South America started at ~1800 CE. Finally, from a reassessment of the global archaeointensity database, a new interpretation was proposed about the geomagnetic axial dipole evolution, where this component falls constantly since ~700 CE associated to the breaking of the symmetry of the advective sources operating in the outer core. / Variações temporais do campo magnético da Terra fornecem uma grande diversidade de informações geofísicas sobre a dinâmica das diferentes camadas da Terra. Por ser um campo planetário, aspectos regionais e globais podem ser explorados, dependendo da escala de tempo das variações. Nesta tese, foram investigadas as variações do campo geomagnético para os dois últimos milênios. Para isso, aprimoramentos nos métodos de aquisição da intensidade geomagnética registrada em materiais arqueológicos foram realizados, bem como a aquisição de novos dados e uma avaliação crítica da base de dados arqueomagnética global. Dois novos avanços metodológicos são aqui propostos, sendo eles: i) correção para o método de micro-ondas do efeito da taxa de resfriamento, que está associada à diferença entre os tempos de resfriamento durante a manufatura do material e o das etapas de aquecimento durante o experimento de arqueointensidade; (ii) teste para correção da anisotropia termorremanente a partir da média aritmética de seis amostras posicionadas ortogonalmente umas às outras durante o experimento de arqueointensidade. A variação temporal da intensidade magnética para a América do Sul foi investigada a partir de nove dados inéditos, sendo três provenientes das ruínas das Missões Jesuíticas Guaraníticas e seis de sítios arqueológicos associados a fazendas de charque, ambos localizados no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, com idades que cobrem os últimos 400 anos. Esses dados, combinados com o banco de dados regionais de arqueointensidade, demonstram que a influência significativa de componentes não-dipolares do campo magnético na América do Sul começou em ~1800 CE. Finalmente, a partir de uma reavaliação do banco de dados globais de arqueointensidade uma nova interpretação foi proposta a respeito da evolução do dipolo axial geomagnético, sugerindo que essa componente está decrescendo constantemente desde ~700 CE devido à quebra da simetria das fontes advectivas que operam no núcleo externo.

Temporal variations of Earth\'s magnetic field provide a great range of geophysical information about the dynamics at different layers of the Earth. Since it is a planetary field, regional and global aspects can be explored, depending on the timescale of variations. In this thesis, the geomagnetic field variations for the last two millennia were investigated. For that, some improvement on the methods to recover the ancient magnetic field intensity from archeological material were done, new data was acquired and a critical assessment of the global archaeomagnetic database was performed. Two methodological advances are reported, comprising: i) the correction for microwave method of the cooling rate effect, which is associated to the difference between the cooling times during the manufactory of the material and that of the heating steps during the archaeointensity experiment; (ii) a test for thermoremanent anisotropy correction from the arithmetic mean of six orthogonal samples. The temporal variation of the magnetic intensity for South America was investigated from nine new data, three from ruins of the Guaraní Jesuit Missions and six from archaeological sites associated with jerky beef farms, both located in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, with ages covering the last 400 years. These data combined with the regional archaeointensity database, demonstrates that the influence of significant non-dipole components in South America started at ~1800 CE. Finally, from a reassessment of the global archaeointensity database, a new interpretation was proposed about the geomagnetic axial dipole evolution, where this component falls constantly since ~700 CE associated to the breaking of the symmetry of the advective sources operating in the outer core. / Variações temporais do campo magnético da Terra fornecem uma grande diversidade de informações geofísicas sobre a dinâmica das diferentes camadas da Terra. Por ser um campo planetário, aspectos regionais e globais podem ser explorados, dependendo da escala de tempo das variações. Nesta tese, foram investigadas as variações do campo geomagnético para os dois últimos milênios. Para isso, aprimoramentos nos métodos de aquisição da intensidade geomagnética registrada em materiais arqueológicos foram realizados, bem como a aquisição de novos dados e uma avaliação crítica da base de dados arqueomagnética global. Dois novos avanços metodológicos são aqui propostos, sendo eles: i) correção para o método de micro-ondas do efeito da taxa de resfriamento, que está associada à diferença entre os tempos de resfriamento durante a manufatura do material e o das etapas de aquecimento durante o experimento de arqueointensidade; (ii) teste para correção da anisotropia termorremanente a partir da média aritmética de seis amostras posicionadas ortogonalmente umas às outras durante o experimento de arqueointensidade. A variação temporal da intensidade magnética para a América do Sul foi investigada a partir de nove dados inéditos, sendo três provenientes das ruínas das Missões Jesuíticas Guaraníticas e seis de sítios arqueológicos associados a fazendas de charque, ambos localizados no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, com idades que cobrem os últimos 400 anos. Esses dados, combinados com o banco de dados regionais de arqueointensidade, demonstram que a influência significativa de componentes não-dipolares do campo magnético na América do Sul começou em ~1800 CE. Finalmente, a partir de uma reavaliação do banco de dados globais de arqueointensidade uma nova interpretação foi proposta a respeito da evolução do dipolo axial geomagnético, sugerindo que essa componente está decrescendo constantemente desde ~700 CE devido à quebra da simetria das fontes advectivas que operam no núcleo externo.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo propor alguns critérios básicos, para o desenvolvimento de plásticos de engenharia em aplicações, componentes e partes dos veículos chamados populares, particularmente no Brasil, em substituição a partes tradicionalmente usinadas, fundidas ou injetadas em ligas metálicas. A despeito da desconfiança que cerca alguns dos componentes em plásticos que se destinam às aplicações automotivas, (e uma das principais razões para isso, são as elevadas temperaturas presentes em algumas áreas do automóvel), as grandes indústrias do setor não deixam de conceber novos projetos em polímeros de alta performance, para aplicações tidas como críticas em termos de resistência geral. Os chamados plásticos de engenharia são preferivelmente escolhidos devido à sua fácil processabilidade, e sua flexibilidade em propiciar desenhos mais complexos, com boa estabilidade dimensional e uma excelente resistência à corrosão em ambientes de hostilidade química. No passado, as empresas claramente optavam pelos plásticos chamados de termofixos, que hoje estão quase esquecidos ou obsoletos (principalmente devido aos processamentos mais custosos e/ou mais lentos). Hoje são largamente substituídos pelos termoplásticos de engenharia. Atualmente, o consumo de plásticos em alguns carros brasileiros já alcança quase 130 kg de plásticos nos seus interiores e/ou exteriores (como o Ford KA, por exemplo), o que ajuda a reduzir o peso total do automóvel, aumentando a economia de combustível, reduzindo os custos de processos, aliada a uma excelente aparência superficial. Este trabalho versará sobre a possibilidade de se propor critérios mais objetivos na fase inicial de um processo de seleção de plásticos de engenharia (notadamente, poliamidas, acetais, poliésteres, e policarbonato), aumentando a eficácia da escolha e diminuindo custos (evitando erros e economizando tempo), como um guia prático de consulta para engenheiros e profissionais do setor automotivo brasileiro. / The main objective of this paper is to propose some basic economical and objective criteria for the engineering plastics development in applications, components and parts in the low-end cars segment (known in Brazil as popular cars), to replace traditional metallic machined, die-casted or injected parts. In spite of the lack of reliance in plastics components in automotive applications (one of them being the high temperature in the engine area), big industries in the sector always conceive new projects on high performance polymers for applications considered critical because of its general resistance. The named engineering plastics are preferably chosen due to its easy processing, complex design flexibility, with a good dimensional stability and an excellent resistance against corrosion in environments with chemical hostility. In the past, companies clearly selected the called thermo-stable plastics, almost forgotten or obsolete nowadays (mainly due to the high cost and/or slowness on processing). Today they are largely replaced by engineering thermoplastics. Nowadays, the consumption of plastics in Brazilian low-end cars already reached approximately 130 kg of plastics in their interior and/or exterior (like in Ford KA, for example), which helps to reduce total car weight, increasing the saving of fuel, mitigating process costs, besides to an excellent surface appearance. This paper will approach about the possibility of proposing more objective criteria in the initial phase of the engineering plastics selection (notably polyamides, acetals, polyesters, and polycarbonates), increasing the choice efficacy and diminishing costs (avoiding mistakes and saving time), as a practical consulting guide to engineers and professionals from the Brazilian automotive sector.

This study explores some major themes in relation to marriage among contemporary Western Muslims. These themes include gendered ideals and expectations of the potential spouse, generational differences, inter-religious marriages for Muslim women, and individual choice and parental authority in mate selection. It re-evaluates the Islamic notion of marital compatibility (kafa’a) and shows how this notion is understood and can be applied to contemporary Western Muslims. Due to little academic research on the problem particularly of unavailable spouses, the study relies primarily on blogs, online discussions of marriage among Muslims, and internet articles on Western Muslim marriages. The dilemma faced by Western Muslims, particularly females, is that there is a lack of compatible available husbands for them. The study finds that, according to marriage-minded women, this unavailability is largely due to traditional expectations of gender roles from potential husbands contrasted against the women’s unconventionally older ages, focus on education and career, and overall understanding of power dynamics in marriage. The study also explores changing methods of mate selection among Western Muslims, which include services offered by Islamic centers, Internet matchmaking, and marriage events—where the average male participant is younger than the average female participant. As the age of marriage-minded females increases, their individual choice is more recognized in their marriage while their options of suitable men decreases significantly. Many of them therefore turn to interfaith marriages, which are not recognized by Islamic law, although some religious authorities across the West them on the basis of necessity. Western Muslim women are in a unique but complicated space where they are struggling to maintain their personal ideals of education and careers and are seeking partners who share these ideals; yet, with the tension between men’s expectations of women and women’s of men during courtship, and the role of family in mate selection, the problem of marriage becomes more complex with the various axes contributing to it. / text

The choice of a first programming language is critical for fostering problem solving skills and remains a concern in programming instruction that should be taken into account during discussions on the Computer Science curriculum. Criteria that should be considered in selection, therefore, need to be established. Few precedents exist for the implementation of such a language, and guidelines for this process ought to be introduced. This study aims to institute valid criteria and guidelines for the selection and implementation of a first programming language in high schools. Criteria for selection were established and guidelines for implementation introduced through a literature study, after which the validity of these was tested empirically. Care was taken to ensure the relevance of criteria, which were established regarding the development of thinking and programming skills, requirements for the programming language and its software development environment to make it appropriate for learners, new tendencies in programming, issues influencing programming used in practice, affordability, training and resources, and programming for various purposes. Guidelines were introduced for the implementation of a first programming language in high schools regarding appreciating teachers' roles in implementation, issues surrounding pilot testing, considering cost implications at macro-implementation level, introducing a new curriculum, and guidance, support and assessment. The validity of selection criteria and implementation guidelines identified was empirically verified within the South African context, in that all items in a questionnaire based on criteria and guidelines received averages rating these as 'fairly important'. Effect sizes designating practical significance for differences between 0 the reported importance and application/usage of criteria and guidelines and 0 the use of implementation guidelines as regarded by groups consisting of policy makers and teachers respectively indicate a need for more careful consideration of what is important and practical in the world of the teachers who implement a selected language. Key terms: selection criteria, implementation guidelines, first programming language, high schools, Computer Studies, curriculum development, curriculum implementation, curriculum dissemination / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The choice of a first programming language is critical for fostering problem solving skills and remains a concern in programming instruction that should be taken into account during discussions on the Computer Science curriculum. Criteria that should be considered in selection, therefore, need to be established. Few precedents exist for the implementation of such a language, and guidelines for this process ought to be introduced. This study aims to institute valid criteria and guidelines for the selection and implementation of a first programming language in high schools. Criteria for selection were established and guidelines for implementation introduced through a literature study, after which the validity of these was tested empirically. Care was taken to ensure the relevance of criteria, which were established regarding the development of thinking and programming skills, requirements for the programming language and its software development environment to make it appropriate for learners, new tendencies in programming, issues influencing programming used in practice, affordability, training and resources, and programming for various purposes. Guidelines were introduced for the implementation of a first programming language in high schools regarding appreciating teachers' roles in implementation, issues surrounding pilot testing, considering cost implications at macro-implementation level, introducing a new curriculum, and guidance, support and assessment. The validity of selection criteria and implementation guidelines identified was empirically verified within the South African context, in that all items in a questionnaire based on criteria and guidelines received averages rating these as 'fairly important'. Effect sizes designating practical significance for differences between 0 the reported importance and application/usage of criteria and guidelines and 0 the use of implementation guidelines as regarded by groups consisting of policy makers and teachers respectively indicate a need for more careful consideration of what is important and practical in the world of the teachers who implement a selected language. Key terms: selection criteria, implementation guidelines, first programming language, high schools, Computer Studies, curriculum development, curriculum implementation, curriculum dissemination / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:53:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GALO_Nadya_2014.pdf: 1286140 bytes, checksum: 61414a7c6df1ec47f52a3c1d9a64a659 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-20 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / A company doesn t operate singly in the market, because it is involved in a chain of buyers and suppliers, from which depends its operational efficiency. Thus, the choice of a partner requires the fulfillment of a number of requirements to ensure that business objectives will be not affected by inadequate supply. In this context, supplier selection can be an important process for an organization that wishes to evaluate the alternatives according its preference criteria for contracting services. However, certain criteria may present difficulties in measuring and to define indicators that can compose each criterion can allow the performance measurement of each supplier, adding objectivity to the process. The objective of this research was to identify and analyze which criteria supplier selection are used for hiring logistics service providers (LSPs) and what are the indicators used to assess the performance of this partner, in a group of companies in the retail. For this, we used the method of case study in five companies, four shippers and one 3PL. This is an exploratory qualitative research and the technique used was the direct intensive research using semi-structured questionnaires. Thus, were identified and analyzed the selection criteria and performance indicators used by companies to selection and evaluation of LSPs. The analysis allowed characterizing the selection of suppliers of these companies and performance measurement, as well as some specific features. As a result, it was observed that companies can point which criteria are relevant for the selection of LSPs and they have indicators for supplier performance evaluation, however the alignment between criteria and indicators is not fully established because the indicators used are more geared to monitoring the operation than the supplier evaluation. / Uma empresa não atua isoladamente no mercado, pois está envolvida em uma cadeia de compradores e fornecedores da qual depende sua eficiência operacional. Assim, a escolha de um parceiro requer o atendimento de uma série de requisitos que garantam que os objetivos da empresa não sejam afetados pelo fornecimento inadequado. Neste contexto, a seleção de fornecedores pode ser um processo importante para uma organização que deseja avaliar as alternativas de acordo com seus critérios de preferência para contratação de serviços. Contudo, certos critérios podem apresentar dificuldade de mensuração e definir indicadores que possam compor cada critério pode possibilitar a medição do desempenho de cada fornecedor, acrescentando objetividade ao processo. Desta forma, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar e analisar quais critérios de seleção de fornecedores são utilizados no momento da contratação de prestadores de serviços logísticos (PSLs) e quais são os indicadores utilizados na avaliação do desempenho deste parceiro, em um conjunto de empresas do setor do varejo. Para tanto, foi utilizado o método de estudo de caso em cinco empresas, sendo quatro embarcadores e um operador logístico. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória com abordagem qualitativa e a técnica utilizada foi a investigação direta intensiva com o uso de questionários semiestruturados. Deste modo, foram identificados e analisados os critérios de seleção e os indicadores de desempenho utilizados pelas empresas para seleção e avaliação de PSLs. As análises permitiram caracterizar a seleção de fornecedores destas empresas e a medição de desempenho, assim como algumas características específicas. Como resultado, observou-se que as empresas conseguem apontar quais critérios são relevantes para a seleção de PSLs e possuem indicadores para a avaliação do desempenho do fornecedor, entretanto o alinhamento entre critérios e indicadores não é totalmente estabelecido porque os indicadores utilizados são mais voltados ao acompanhamento da operação do que à avaliação do fornecedor.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T16:19:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BIANCA RIBEIRO MORAIS COSTA.pdf: 1270847 bytes, checksum: 31b1d8c5d4fe963fb6fc6131fb445ac9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-28 / The aim of this study is to point out the selection criteria and evaluation of English textbook in state schools of Goiás, considering the suggestions made by the Programa Nacional do Livro Didático (PNLD/2011), and the subsequent use of the adopted textbook in the classroom. The research, which follows the parameters of the qualitative approach, can be classified as a case study and was conducted in 2011 in the city of Anápolis, Goiás, where the researcher and the participants in this study live. Data were collected by means of questionnaires, interviews, audio recordings of classes and the researcher s field notes. The theoretical basis of this study is related to the context of teaching English in public schools (COX; ASSIS- PETERSON 2008; PAIVA, 2003; WALKER, 2003), the general characteristics of textbooks and their use in public schools (ALMEIDA FILHO; CONSOLO, 1990; RAMOS, 2009; MAGNO and SILVA, 2009), the specific characteristics of English book (ANSARY; BABAAI, 2002; XAVIER; SOUZA, 2008; TOMLINSON, 2008), the relationship between textbook and teaching practice (CORACINI , 1996; PEREIRA, 2007; SILVA, 1996), the selection criteria and evaluation of English textbook (DIAS, 2009, BROWN & RODGERS, 2002; RIBEIRO, 2008) and the implementation of the Programa Nacional do Livro Didático - PNLD/2011 in relation to the curriculum component: Modern Foreign Language - English and Spanish (BRASIL, 2010, BRASIL, 2011). The analysis results show that the English textbooks, in most cases, were selected based on the criteria suggested by the Programa Nacional do Livro Didático Língua Estrangeira Moderna (BRASIL, 2010) or by other criteria considered relevant by the teachers who made the choice. Regarding the use of the adopted textbook, we can see that this teaching material contributes to English teaching learning process, therefore, helping teachers and students in their activities, despite some negative features pointed out by the participants. / Os objetivos desse estudo são apontar, apresentar e discutir os critérios de seleção e avaliação do livro didático de língua inglesa na rede estadual de ensino de Goiás, considerando as sugestões apresentadas pelo Programa Nacional do Livro Didático (PNLD/2011), bem como observar e analisar a posterior utilização do LD adotado em sala de aula. A pesquisa, que segue os parâmetros da abordagem qualitativa, pode ser classificada como estudo de caso, e foi realizada durante o ano letivo de 2011, na cidade de Anápolis, Estado de Goiás, onde residem a pesquisadora e as participantes deste estudo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário, entrevista, gravação das aulas em áudio e notas de campo da pesquisadora. A fundamentação teórica do estudo está relacionada ao contexto do ensino de inglês na escola pública (COX; ASSIS-PETERSON, 2008; PAIVA, 2003; WALKER, 2003); às características gerais do livro didático e sua utilização na escola pública (ALMEIDA FILHO; CONSOLO. 1990; RAMOS, 2009; MAGNO; SILVA, 2009); às características específicas do livro de inglês (ANSARY; BABAAI, 2002; XAVIER; SOUZA, 2008; TOMLINSON, 2008); à relação entre livro didático e prática docente (CORACINI, 1996; PEREIRA, 2007; SILVA, 1996); aos critérios de seleção e avaliação do LD de inglês (DIAS, 2009; BROWN; RODGERS, 2002; RIBEIRO, 2008) e à execução do Programa Nacional do Livro Didático PNLD/2011 em relação ao componente curricular Língua Estrangeira Moderna - Inglês e Espanhol (BRASIL, 2010; BRASIL, 2011). Os resultados da análise evidenciam que os livros didáticos de língua inglesa, na maioria dos casos, foram selecionados tendo por base os critérios sugeridos pelo Guia Nacional do Livro Didático Língua Estrangeira Moderna (BRASIL, 2010) ou por outros critérios tidos como relevantes pelos docentes que realizaram a escolha. Em relação à utilização do LD adotado, podemos observar que esse material didático contribui para a realização satisfatória do processo ensino - aprendizagem de língua inglesa, pois, auxilia professor e aluno em suas atividades, apesar de apresentar características negativas segundo as participantes.

Este trabalho tem por objetivo propor alguns critérios básicos, para o desenvolvimento de plásticos de engenharia em aplicações, componentes e partes dos veículos chamados populares, particularmente no Brasil, em substituição a partes tradicionalmente usinadas, fundidas ou injetadas em ligas metálicas. A despeito da desconfiança que cerca alguns dos componentes em plásticos que se destinam às aplicações automotivas, (e uma das principais razões para isso, são as elevadas temperaturas presentes em algumas áreas do automóvel), as grandes indústrias do setor não deixam de conceber novos projetos em polímeros de alta performance, para aplicações tidas como críticas em termos de resistência geral. Os chamados plásticos de engenharia são preferivelmente escolhidos devido à sua fácil processabilidade, e sua flexibilidade em propiciar desenhos mais complexos, com boa estabilidade dimensional e uma excelente resistência à corrosão em ambientes de hostilidade química. No passado, as empresas claramente optavam pelos plásticos chamados de termofixos, que hoje estão quase esquecidos ou obsoletos (principalmente devido aos processamentos mais custosos e/ou mais lentos). Hoje são largamente substituídos pelos termoplásticos de engenharia. Atualmente, o consumo de plásticos em alguns carros brasileiros já alcança quase 130 kg de plásticos nos seus interiores e/ou exteriores (como o Ford KA, por exemplo), o que ajuda a reduzir o peso total do automóvel, aumentando a economia de combustível, reduzindo os custos de processos, aliada a uma excelente aparência superficial. Este trabalho versará sobre a possibilidade de se propor critérios mais objetivos na fase inicial de um processo de seleção de plásticos de engenharia (notadamente, poliamidas, acetais, poliésteres, e policarbonato), aumentando a eficácia da escolha e diminuindo custos (evitando erros e economizando tempo), como um guia prático de consulta para engenheiros e profissionais do setor automotivo brasileiro. / The main objective of this paper is to propose some basic economical and objective criteria for the engineering plastics development in applications, components and parts in the low-end cars segment (known in Brazil as popular cars), to replace traditional metallic machined, die-casted or injected parts. In spite of the lack of reliance in plastics components in automotive applications (one of them being the high temperature in the engine area), big industries in the sector always conceive new projects on high performance polymers for applications considered critical because of its general resistance. The named engineering plastics are preferably chosen due to its easy processing, complex design flexibility, with a good dimensional stability and an excellent resistance against corrosion in environments with chemical hostility. In the past, companies clearly selected the called thermo-stable plastics, almost forgotten or obsolete nowadays (mainly due to the high cost and/or slowness on processing). Today they are largely replaced by engineering thermoplastics. Nowadays, the consumption of plastics in Brazilian low-end cars already reached approximately 130 kg of plastics in their interior and/or exterior (like in Ford KA, for example), which helps to reduce total car weight, increasing the saving of fuel, mitigating process costs, besides to an excellent surface appearance. This paper will approach about the possibility of proposing more objective criteria in the initial phase of the engineering plastics selection (notably polyamides, acetals, polyesters, and polycarbonates), increasing the choice efficacy and diminishing costs (avoiding mistakes and saving time), as a practical consulting guide to engineers and professionals from the Brazilian automotive sector.