Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Com o aumento da concorrÃncia entre as empresas presentes no mercado da construÃÃo, tem-se buscado uma diminuiÃÃo dos custos para conseguir um maior lucro em obras. Umas das saÃdas viÃveis à a busca da integraÃÃo com os fornecedores de materiais considerados estratÃgicos, como os componentes âblocosâ utilizados para alvenaria. Com o objetivo de analisar a integraÃÃo entre a fÃbrica e a obra, no municÃpio de Fortaleza, atravÃs da identificaÃÃo das caracterÃsticas de gestÃo dos fluxos fÃsicos, um total de quatro obras, todas em fase de execuÃÃo de alvenaria, sendo duas executadas com componentes cerÃmicos e duas executadas com componentes de concreto, foram avaliadas. A mesma quantidade de fabricantes foi utilizada na pesquisa: duas especÃficas para componentes cerÃmicos e as demais para componentes de concreto. Cada obra possuÃa relaÃÃo de parceria jà estabelecida com um fabricante avaliado. Ao final do trabalho sÃo sugeridas algumas orientaÃÃes para a elaboraÃÃo de projetos de inventÃrio para a alvenaria, contribuindo diretamente para a racionalizaÃÃo dos deslocamentos, facilitando o fluxo de materiais e colaborando para o aumento da produtividade dos profissionais, diminuindo, ainda, o desperdÃcio de materiais, equipamentos e mÃo de obra, alÃm de fornecer um maior controle dos componentes. Os paletes com dimensÃo reduzida (0,60 m x 0,60 m), implementados nas fÃbricas e entregues nas obras, facilitam os deslocamentos no interior do canteiro de obras, evitando prejuÃzos ao longo do processo de movimentaÃÃo. / Com o aumento da concorrÃncia entre as empresas presentes no mercado da construÃÃo, tem-se buscado uma diminuiÃÃo dos custos para conseguir um maior lucro em obras. Umas das saÃdas viÃveis à a busca da integraÃÃo com os fornecedores de materiais considerados estratÃgicos, como os componentes âblocosâ utilizados para alvenaria. Com o objetivo de analisar a integraÃÃo entre a fÃbrica e a obra, no municÃpio de Fortaleza, atravÃs da identificaÃÃo das caracterÃsticas de gestÃo dos fluxos fÃsicos, um total de quatro obras, todas em fase de execuÃÃo de alvenaria, sendo duas executadas com componentes cerÃmicos e duas executadas com componentes de concreto, foram avaliadas. A mesma quantidade de fabricantes foi utilizada na pesquisa: duas especÃficas para componentes cerÃmicos e as demais para componentes de concreto. Cada obra possuÃa relaÃÃo de parceria jà estabelecida com um fabricante avaliado. Ao final do trabalho sÃo sugeridas algumas orientaÃÃes para a elaboraÃÃo de projetos de inventÃrio para a alvenaria, contribuindo diretamente para a racionalizaÃÃo dos deslocamentos, facilitando o fluxo de materiais e colaborando para o aumento da produtividade dos profissionais, diminuindo, ainda, o desperdÃcio de materiais, equipamentos e mÃo de obra, alÃm de fornecer um maior controle dos componentes. Os paletes com dimensÃo reduzida (0,60 m x 0,60 m), implementados nas fÃbricas e entregues nas obras, facilitam os deslocamentos no interior do canteiro de obras, evitando prejuÃzos ao longo do processo de movimentaÃÃo.

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a aplicação do método conhecido como Desdobramento da Função Qualidade no processo de desenvolvimento de embalagens. Este estudo é delimitado para embalagens de autopeças e foi realizado numa montadora de automóveis. A Casa da Qualidade, primeira etapa do método, foi utilizada pelo setor de desenvolvimento de embalagens da montadora para identificar e atender as necessidades dos seus clientes internos e orientar os fornecedores de autopeças no desenvolvimento de embalagens visando melhor qualidade e redução de custos. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em 2008/ 2009. Essas necessidades foram obtidas por meio de pesquisa qualitativa com as áreas envolvidas no processo de desenvolvimento de embalagens. O trabalho pode ser classificado como exploratório, pois, a partir do levantamento bibliográfico do método QFD e da realização de entrevistas, buscou-se uma melhor compreensão do problema associado a constantes atrasos no cronograma devido à necessidade de alterações da embalagem protótipo. Como resultado preliminar, este estudo permitiu visualizar aspectos importantes relativos a embalagens que não eram considerados na fase inicial do desenvolvimento. Isso ocasionava constantes atrasos no cronograma de aplicação da peça nacional devido à necessidade de alterações na embalagem protótipo. / The objective of this study is to analyze the method known as Quality Function Deployment in the development of packaging. This study is limited to packing of parts packaging and it was carried out in a factory of assembly of cars. The house of quality, first step of the method was used by the industry to develop packages of the factory to identify and meet the needs of your internal customers and direct suppliers of parts in the development of packages aimed at providing better quality and reduced costs. The study was conducted in 2008 / 2009. These needs were obtained through qualitative research with the areas involved in the development of packaging. The work can be classified as exploratory, because from the literature of the QFD method and interviews, we sought a better understanding of the problem associated with constant delays in planning due to the need for changes to the packaging prototype. As preliminary result, this study allowed the visualization of important aspects relating to packaging that were not considered in the initial phase of development. This occasioned the frequent delays in the planning of implementation of the national part due to the need for changes in packaging prototype.

In the rapid pace of globalization and new market competition, the New Product Development (NPD) and the Supply Chain Management (SCM) represent today a frontier to obtain competitive advantages to companies. One interface between NPD and the SCM, the Supplier Integration (SI) has proved to be effective as competitive advantage. However, there is a lack of research on how human variables, such as national culture, can moderate the effectiveness of Supplier Integration on those fields. Therefore, this study investigates the relationships between Supplier Integration from the Product-Process-Supply Chain triad and the National Culture Dimensions. I conducted an exploratory case study in 3 companies in the automobilist industry that operates as a Modular Consortium (MC) in Southern Brazil and used the Hofstede´s (2001) national culture dimensions to model national cultural factors. The findings show an evident relation between Supplier Integration with the Low Power Distance, Low Individualism and High Uncertainty Avoidance poles, while no Masculinity and Longterm Orientation pole was distinct for the Supplier Integration in the case study. The managerial implications of this study is to provide a better understanding of the potential impact of human factor to the Supplier Integration in companies that will have operations in Brazil. / No ritmo acelerado da globalização e nova concorrência no mercado, Desenvolvimento de Novos Produtos (NPD) e Supply Chain Management (SCM) representam hoje uma fronteira para obter vantagens competitivas para as empresas. Uma interface entre o NPD e o SCM, a Integração do Fornecedor (SI) provou ser eficaz como vantagem competitiva. No entanto, há uma falta de investigação sobre como variáveis humanas, tais como cultura nacional, pode moderar a eficácia da integração do fornecedor (SI) nesses campos do conhecimento. Portanto, este estudo investiga as relações entre fornecedor Integração da Cadeia na tríade Produto-Processo-Cadeia de Suprimentos e as Dimensões da Cultura Nacional. Para tal foi realizado um estudo de caso exploratório em três empresas do setor automobilístico que operam no Consórcio Modular (MC) no Sudeste do Brasil e usaram-se as dimensões culturais de Hofstede\'s (2001) para modelar fatores humanos. Os resultados mostram uma evidente relação entre a integração do fornecedor com a baixa Distância do Poder, baixo Individualismo e elevada Aversão à Incerteza, no entanto não foram obtidas relações evidentes para as dimensões Masculinidade e Orientação a Longo Prazo para a Integração do Fornecedor no estudo de caso. A principal colaboração deste trabalho é o fornecimento de uma melhor compreensão do potencial impacto do fator humano para a integração do fornecedor em empresas que possuem operações no Brasil.

[pt] O tema principal desta tese é a operacionalização da flexibilidade de manufatura, a partir de duas abordagens: teórica e empírica. A abordagem teórica visa a discussão com base em uma extensa revisão da bibliografia, da flexibilidade de manufatura e a sua operacionalização. No tocante à operacionalização, destaca-se a existência de diversos aspectos considerados indutores, como a tecnologia de processo, métodos de gerenciamento da produção, gerenciamento de recursos humanos, tecnologia de informação, processo de desenvolvimento de produtos e os relacionamentos na cadeia de suprimentos. Dentre esses aspectos, verificou-se a necessidade de aprofundamento na questão que trata dos relacionamentos na cadeia de suprimentos, em especial os relacionamentos produtor- fornecedor. Após o desenvolvimento do referencial teórico sobre os relacionamentos na cadeia de suprimentos, no sentido de apresentar as características gerais e seus efeitos sobre a flexibilidade de manufatura, passou-se a uma análise empírica com o foco no relacionamento produtor- fornecedor. A escolha desse indutor para a condução do estudo empírico deu-se em função da emergência do papel dos fornecedores na definição das estratégias do produtor e da importância das relações entre produtor e fornecedor na criação e desenvolvimento de vantagens competitivas. Além da construção de um referencial teórico - útil para a discussão da operacionalização da flexibilidade de manufatura como fonte de vantagens competitiva e preparação para futuras pesquisas - a tese também atende à demanda por estudos empíricos tão importantes para o avanço das pesquisas sobre o tema. Nesse sentido, buscou- se responder às duas questões de pesquisa: como se caracterizam os relacionamentos produtor-fornecedor quanto aos aspectos de confiança/comprometimento, compartilhamento de informações, desenvolvimento de fornecedores e desenvolvimento conjunto de produtos nas empresas estudadas? E como se dão os impactos dos aspectos de relacionamento produtor-fornecedor sobre a flexibilidade de manufatura e o desempenho da manufatura nas empresas estudadas? O estudo envolveu quatro empresas de manufatura em uma investigação da influência de quatro aspectos de relacionamento produtor-fornecedor - confiança/comprometimento, compartilhamento de informações, desenvolvimento de fornecedores e desenvolvimento conjunto de produtos - sobre três dimensões externas de flexibilidade de manufatura - mix, novos produtos e volume. A análise estendeu-se à observação dos efeitos generalizados dessas relações sobre o desempenho da manufatura dos níveis da flexibilidade de manufatura apresentados pelas empresas estudadas. / [en] The purpose of this dissertation is to study the operationalization of manufacturing flexibility, focusing on aspects of relationships in the supply chain and their impact on manufacturing flexibility. The research involves four manufacturing companies for studying the influence of four aspects of buyer-supplier relationship - trust/commitment, information sharing, supplier development and joint product development - on three external dimensions of manufacturing flexibility - mix, new products and volume. The study also observes the generalized effects of these relationships on manufacturing performance and on the levels of manufacturing flexibility shown by the companies studied. The buyer-supplier relationships are deeply analyzed and their general characteristics and effects on the operationalization of manufacturing flexibility are presented. In addition, the analysis of scope and achievability factors indicated the presence of little explored flexible resources in the companies studied. Finding ways for operationalizing flexibility must be seen as a priority question to obtain competitive advantage in manufacturing systems. This work shows how the relationships between the buyer and supplier can influence several external dimensions of manufacturing flexibility and, consequently, manufacturing performance.

In a competitive business environment that requires strategy and innovation to improve the bottom line, supply chain management has been vital in creating competitive advantage. Increasingly, companies are also identifying sustainability as an opportunity to create competitive advantage. This project explores supply chains as a leverage point in advancing sustainable development. Corporations have developed different tools to interact with their suppliers on sustainability. Three of these devices were analyzed against a framework for strategic sustainable development to identify some of their strengths and weaknesses. A general set of criteria for sustainable supply chain management devices that employs a strategic, whole-systems perspective was then developed.

Master's thesis is focused on the utilization of artificial intelligence in decisionmaking (process) of company AMD Netolický Ltd. Within this thesis are defined problems and proposed possible measures that will in the future lead to improvement of actual situation of company in the selection of suitable supplier. Among the principal elements, which are used in the thesis belongs fuzzy logic, analysis and expert systems.

M. Com. (Logistics Management) / The opening of the first dedicated Supplier Park by Seat adjacent to its Abrera assembly facility in 1992, in many ways, marked the beginning of a global trend. Since then, more than forty parks in various configurations have been established around the world. Initially, this trend was mostly confined to Europe but the Supplier Park concept quickly gained momentum in newly industrialised countries like Brazil and, more recently, the USA and South Africa (Reichhart & Holweg, 2007: 52). The world’s automotive industry is a vital part of the workings of the global economy and the wellbeing of the world’s citizens (OICA, n.d.). According to the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA, n.d.), the world’s automotive industry manufactured over 66 million cars, vans, trucks and buses in 2005 which is equivalent to a global turnover of close to € 2 trillion. If vehicle manufacturing were a country, it would be the sixth largest economy in the world requiring the direct employment of nearly eight million people in manufacturing the vehicles and the parts that go into them. This is more than 5% of the world’s total manufacturing employment. In addition to these direct employees, many more people are employed indirectly in related manufacturing and service provision industries (OICA, n.d.).

La montée en puissance des enjeux environnementaux incite les industriels de la mécanique à intégrer la dimension environnementale dans le processus de conception de leurs produits. Un nouveau contexte de conception émerge : les fournisseurs sont de plus en plus fortement impliqués dans les processus de leurs clients. Ils atteignent, de ce fait, un niveau de responsabilité élevé et peuvent, par leurs actions, fortement influencer la performance environnementale d’un système final. Il devient ainsi nécessaire de favoriser l’intégration de la dimension environnementale au sein des relations entre clients et fournisseurs. Cette intégration se confronte à trois verrous majeurs : (1) un verrou organisationnel qui est lié le déficit d’intégration de l’environnement au sein des différents niveaux hiérarchiques d’une organisation, (2) un verrou opérationnel qui concerne le manque d’expertise environnemental, limitant la pérennité de l’intégration la dimension environnementale dans le processus de conception des entreprises, (3) un verrou relationnel qui est lié à une relation déséquilibrée entre clients et fournisseurs. Nos travaux aboutissent au développement de la méthode GECO (Gestion de L’Environnement dans la relation Client/fOurnisseur). Elle se destine à l’accompagnement des entreprises de la mécanique dans une gestion cohérente, pro-active et sur-mesure de la dimension environnementale avec leurs clients et fournisseurs. D’abord, elle permet d’établir le diagnostic des enjeux environnementaux clients devant être pris en compte à court et à long terme. Le but est de faire apparaître les enjeux nécessitant une montée en compétence rapide afin d’anticiper les futures évolutions sectorielles. La méthode propose, dans un seconde temps, un ensemble d’actions et d’outils d’éco-conception à mette en place afin d’accompagner cette montée en compétence. Enfin, la méthode GECO assiste la formalisation d’une stratégie environnementale adaptée aux profils de maturité des fournisseurs. La méthode a été expérimentée en milieu industriel au cours de deux cas d’étude réalisées, pour l’un, chez un grand systémier du secteur ferroviaire et, pour l’autre, avec le concours d’une petite entreprise du secteur de la défense. La pertinence de la méthode a ainsi été confirmée, notamment en ce qui concerne la partie diagnostic. / The increase of the environmental issues drives to the integration of the environmental dimension in the product design process of companies of the mechanical industry. This process has widely evolved for the last decades, since suppliers are more deeply involved into their clients' process. As they reach a high level of responsibility, they may heavily influence the product environmental performance of a final system. Hence it is required to improve the integration of the environment in the client/supplier relationship. This integration is however limited due to three main issues : (1) an organizational issue linked the low integration of the environment in corporate hierarchical levels, (2) an operational issue which refers to the reduced environmental expertise which limits the long-term integration of the environment in the product design process, (3) a relational issue which concerns the unbalanced relationship between clients and suppliers. Our research work leads to the method GECO (Management of the Environment in the Client/Supplier relationship). It supports mechanical companies though a consistent, pro-active and tailor made approach within the management of the environment with clients and suppliers. First, the method allows companies to visualize the growing clients’ environmental issues they would potentially have to face up in short and long term. Thus it provides strategic information to focus the efforts on the relevant environmental issues. Second, the method provides a roadmap which guides companies with the choice of the relevant methods and tools to respond to the clients’ requirements. Finally, the method GECO supports the elaboration of an environmental strategy adapted to the suppliers' maturity. The method was experimented though two study cases with a large company from the railway industry and a small company of the defense sector. The relevance of the method has been confirmed, especially the diagnosis part.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The 1996 Singapore Ministerial Declaration refocused attention in the international community on the idea of non-reciprocal system of trade preferences as a means of development assistance. Authors of the initiative had hoped that such policy would among others, help promote industrial exports and facilitate sustainable development in developing countries. However, this happened against the background that previous schemes could not be particularly associated with any form of sustainable export successes that were usually contemplated and expected from beneficiaries. In view of the developmental implications of this renewed focus, the imperativeness of an reconsideration of the economics of the programme cannot be overemphasized. While extant trade preference studies have made important contributions to our understanding of their effectiveness, the limited focus of research on direct impact like, static increases in exports, foreign direct investment (FDI) and employments does not seem to provide satisfactory assessment. Very often, the expected indirect or dynamic impact on productivity improvements needed to strengthen competitive capacities and make gains (export performance) sustainable is neglected. In this study an attempt is made to address this issue. The main objective of the research is therefore to analyse the relationship between nonreciprocal system of trade preferences and industrial export performance sustainability in beneficiary countries. This is accomplished by utilising a new analytical insight from the global production network literature. The advantages of this analytical departure lie not just in the fact that it allows us to accommodate the dynamic dimension of impact assessment into the study framework, but also helps reflect the concerns of globalisation advocates in the contemporary analysis of development issues. These advocates argue that research on economic development in general and industrial development in particular in the new era of global capitalism must as a matter of necessity, be informed by the literature on globalisation. After conceptualising an analytical model which has both static and dynamic dimension, it is then applied and tested for the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Trade Initiative of 2000. Lesotho’s apparel export under the scheme serves as the case study for this investigation. Results of the econometric estimation for the static impact assessment reveal that AGOA has been effective in stimulating Lesotho apparel exports to the US market. The dynamic impact assessment dimension is carried out within the context of the debate on economic growth and convergence. Specifically, it is argued that the conditions necessary for export performance to be sustainable require that national social-capability in a beneficiary economy be adequate and sufficient. The estimated regression confirms this hypothesis for the reference case study. Overall, the dissertation has shown that research in economics can benefit from analytical insights borrowed from other disciplines. More important however, is the study’s contribution to the trade policy debate on the impact of trade preferences on export development. On one hand, the static impact analysis addresses a key gap in existing works which seems to place so much emphasis on aggregated national level data and cross-country regression as bases for empirical evidence. By utilising disaggregated firm level data for a specific country, analysis here finds relevance in the continuing policy debate on trade preference impact assessment. On the other hand, the dynamic aspect of the analytical model has not only helped us to shift the frontier of knowledge beyond its current static boundary, but also to inform the debate on economic growth and convergence. As efforts to unravel the puzzle over the non-convergence of cross-country growth performances continue to flourish, findings here lend credence to the hypothesis that social capability matters for economic performance of nations.

This master thesis describes and proves how companies can improve their operational performance and supplier relationships by using modern collaborative and planning practices, specifically the Collaborative Planning Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) concept. The theoretical part depicts main developments in supply chain planning over time, shows common challenges in the world of supply chain and offers possible solutions in terms of collaborative supply chain planning practices. The practical part analyzes the CPFR process between one of the leading providers of telecommunications services T-Mobile and its major mobile handset supplier Nokia. The concluding part defines gaps between an ideal to-be process of supply chain collaboration and the status quo process. Status quo benefits of current CPFR processes are described as well.