Cláudia Viviane Viegas

A SCOR-based model for supply chain performance measurement: application in the footwear industry

Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) is a widely employed model for SC performance assessment, regardless its generic nature. This article presents a SCOR-based model for performance measurement in supply chains (SC) and apply it in the context of Brazilian footwear industry. The model has two dimensions: SCOR processes (source, make, deliver and return) and performance standards adapted from original SCOR (cost, quality, delivery and flexibility). This structure delivers a 4 × 4 matrix, with each component assessed under analytical hierarchy process. Using focus groups, SC’s experts weighted each component of the matrix regarding their relevance. Thereafter, SC’s managers indicated respective results. The SC’s overall performance was obtained by adding the performance of all indicators. The model application embraced one focal footwear manufacturer, four suppliers, three distribution channels and a return channel, with 85 indicators assessed. The achieved performance for the whole SC is 75.29%.The main gaps were found in deliver process (12.78 percentual points of difference between relevance and achieved proportions) and in flexibility performance (9.82). Further application is recommended in order to find consolidated results.

Strategic Orientation Towards Sustainable Innovation: a Case Study in a Brazilian University

This article discusses Organizational Capabilities as the basic components of business models that emerged under the New Product Development Process and Technological Management. In the context of the new Technology Based Companies Development, it adopts a qualitative research in order to identify, analyze and underpin the organizational capability deployment in a process of technology conversion into product and service. The analysis was carried out considering concepts from literature review, in a technology based enterprise started by an academic spin-off company. The analysis enabled the elicitation of a Business Model and the discussion of their components, and correspondent evolution hypothesis. The paper provides an example of capability deployment accordingly the established theory illustrated by a case study. The study not just enumerate the needed partners, resources, customer channels, it enabled the description of their connection, representing the logic behind the decision made to develop the conceptual model. This detailed representation of the model allows better addressed discussions.

Ecodesign Practices in a Furniture Industrial Cluster of Southern Brazil: From Incipient Practices to Improvement

Eco-design practices are still incipient in Brazilian furniture industries, although some improvement can be identified in recent years. This paper describes the performance of an industrial furniture cluster located in Southern Brazil regarding such practices. An embedded case study involving four companies — two manufacturers and two suppliers — was carried out using in-depth interviews. It enabled to depict particularities of how these companies deal with sustainable aspects of design in their respective business. Critical issues identified as obstacles for eco-design implementation in these industries were: control of both, productive process and product durability; product distribution; rational use of space for transportation and storage. Minor difficulties were identified regarding the lack of renewable energy sources and the scarcity of knowledge dissemination. Such hurdles could provide opportunities and support future eco-design strategy implementation, improving the competitiveness and contributing for the eco-efficiency of the Brazilian furniture industry.

El Conocimiento, Propulsor de los Ciclos Largos de Kondratieff y sus Efectos en la Configuración Mundial

This article discusses Organizational Capabilities as the basic components of business models that emerged under the New Product Development Process and Technological Management. In the context of the new Technology Based Companies Development, it adopts a qualitative research in order to identify, analyze and underpin the organizational capability deployment in a process of technology conversion into product and service. The analysis was carried out considering concepts from literature review, in a technology based enterprise started by an academic spin-off company. The analysis enabled the elicitation of a Business Model and the discussion of their components, and correspondent evolution hypothesis. The paper provides an example of capability deployment accordingly the established theory illustrated by a case study. The study not just enumerate the needed partners, resources, customer channels, it enabled the description of their connection, representing the logic behind the decision made to develop the conceptual model. This detailed representation of the model allows better addressed discussions.

TQM at car dealerships with better sales performance: a multiple case study

The aim of this research is to analyse what practices concerning sales elements have been applied by the dealerships with better performance in new-car sales processes to support the TQM principles and how they do that. A multiple case study was performed with ten dealerships that represent the top ten branded cars in terms of market share. The TQM principles Strategic Plan and Partnership, Leadership and Employee Involvement, Customer Focus, and Continuous Improvement were considered as well as sales elements such as Structure, People, Process, and Performance. All dealerships believe that their practices support the TQM principles. However, the four dealerships that represent Asiatic brands have better sales indicators performance in comparison with European and American brands. How these dealerships deploy their goals to the managerial and operational levels, how they introduced kaizen leaders to support sales elements, how their car companies support the standards application and emphasise customer focus are the main points that contribute to reinforce the TQM principles at these dealerships. This research contributes with the academic literature unveiling how TQM permeates each sales element at dealerships with better sales performance. Managerial implications are presented through the practices identification performed by the dealerships with better performance.

Internal elements that hinder a better industrial service offering

Purpose This study investigates the internal elements that influence the service offering. A better understanding of these elements could improve the interaction between organizational structure, corporate culture and human resource management, as well as to leverage the interdepartmental collaboration. Design/methodology/approach Twelve global manufacturers that sell products and services to the automotive or to the chemical supply chains were investigated on multiple case studies. Findings The absence of interdepartmental processes and indicators may induce other departments to not prioritize the demands of the service department, which lowers the service level. Service professionals that do not combine technical and commercial skills may hinder the sales increase (product + service). The isolation of the service professionals prevents the knowledge dissemination among the departments, thus reducing the manufacturers innovativeness. Research limitations/implications Further research must focus on how t...

ANÁLISE DAS PRÁTICAS DE REUSO DE ÁGUA RESIDUAL: ESTUDO DE CASOS EM LAVANDERIAS INDUSTRIAIS

Water is an abundantly used input in industrial laundry processes. The reuse of water in effluent treatment plant reduces costs and brings environmental benefits, that is, an eco-efficiency factor. This study aims to analyze the practices of water reuse in industrial laundries on its effluent treatment plants. In this regard it was studied two medium-sized companies in the field of industrial laundries located in southern Brazil. The research method used was multiple case study. The results show the decrease in the polluting load with the water recycling process with consequent cost reduction. The application of technologies and substances used without harming the environment with the use of wet washing and dry cleaning has been observed. From the results, a vision of best practices is proposed found in water reuse benefits associated with the management of cleaner production in terms of eco-efficiency.Agua e um insumo de uso abundante em processos de lavanderias industriais. O reuso da agua em Estacao de Tratamento de Efluente reduz custos e traz beneficios ambientais, ou seja, e um fator de ecoeficiencia. Esta pesquisa analisa duas empresas do ramo de lavanderias industriais, de medio porte, localizadas na regiao Sul do Brasil, e identifica melhorias quanto ao reuso da agua. O metodo de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso multiplo. Os resultados obtidos identificaram a diminuicao da carga poluidora com o processo de reuso da agua, com consequente reducao de custos. Verificou-se a aplicacao de tecnologias e substâncias utilizadas sem prejudicar o meio ambiente com a utilizacao de lavagem umida e a seco. A partir dos resultados, propoe-se uma visao das melhores praticas encontradas no reuso da agua associada aos beneficios da gestao da producao mais limpa em termos de ecoeficiencia.Agua e um insumo de uso abundante em processos de lavanderias industriais. O reuso da agua em Estacao de Tratamento de Efluente reduz custos e traz beneficios ambientais, ou seja, e um fator de ecoeficiencia. Esta pesquisa analisa duas empresas do ramo de lavanderias industriais, de medio porte, localizadas na regiao Sul do Brasil, e identifica melhorias quanto ao reuso da agua. O metodo de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso multiplo. Os resultados obtidos identificaram a diminuicao da carga poluidora com o processo de reuso da agua, com consequente reducao de custos. Verificou-se a aplicacao de tecnologias e substâncias utilizadas sem prejudicar o meio ambiente com a utilizacao de lavagem umida e a seco. A partir dos resultados, propoe-se uma visao das melhores praticas encontradas no reuso da agua associada aos beneficios da gestao da producao mais limpa em termos de ecoeficiencia.

Strategic benchmarking of service pricing based on the value added

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate opportunities to move benchmarking studies toward a strategic level. The authors benchmarked how service prices are defined based on the value added for the customer. Design/methodology/approach – A multi-case research investigated how manufacturers can increase their service revenues; how corporate reputation can be analyzed to enhance financial and market performance; how customer satisfaction and price acceptance are related; and how benchmark studies can move to a more strategic level based on a conjoint analysis of value and price. Findings – Price’s benchmarking studies must combine the customers’ value demands; the customer expectations associated to each value demand; the competitor prices; and the revenue alternatives that a supplier can explore (e.g. sale of new goods, services for new goods, services for non-new goods, and repair parts). The combination of these elements reveals several opportunities for revenue generation. This combination ...