Fábio Müller Guerrini

Performance measurement in collaborative networks: a proposal of performance indicators for the manufacturing industry

Collaborative networks are believed to bring benefits to its participants once they share risks, knowledge and profits. However, in order to obtain successful outcomes, a network must be properly designed and managed, which comprises controlling network performance. Thus, this paper puts forward a series of measurement themes and performance metrics to measure collaboration among manufacturing organisations in a network characterised by subcontracts. So as to achieve this objective, literature on collaborative networked organisations (CNOs) and performance metrics for collaboration is reviewed. Afterwards, a field study is carried out in a Brazilian network of firms that produce capital goods. A description is given on how this network is formed, managed and how its elements relate with each other. Then, a set of performance measures is suggested for each measurement theme. Finally, considerations are made on the research findings and limitations.

Reference model for implementing an MRP system in a highly diverse component and seasonal lean production environment

Companies are currently choosing to integrate logics and systems to achieve better solutions. These combinations also include companies striving to join the logic of material requirement planning (MRP) system with the systems of lean production. The purpose of this article was to design an MRP as part of the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) in a company that produces agricultural implements, which has used the lean production system since 1998. This proposal is based on the innovation theory, theory networks, lean production systems, ERP systems and the hybrid production systems, which use both components and MRP systems, as concepts of lean production systems. The analytical approach of innovation networks enables verification of the links and relationships among the companies and departments of the same corporation. The analysis begins with the MRP implementation project carried out in a Brazilian metallurgical company and follows through the operationalisation of the MRP project, until its production stabilisation. The main point is that the MRP system should help the companys operations with regard to its effective agility to respond in time to demand fluctuations, facilitating the creation process and controlling the branch offices in other countries that use components produced in the matrix, hence ensuring more accurate estimates of stockpiles. Consequently, it presents the enterprise knowledge development organisational modelling methodology in order to represent further models (goals, actors and resources, business rules, business process and concepts) that should be included in this MRP implementation process for the new configuration of the production system.

Análise da relação entre estrutura e desempenho de redes interorganizacionais colaborativas

Increasingly, companies have realized the benefits of establishing alliances with other companies forming networks. These benefits or advantages can be related to a variety of goals, which are monitored by different performance indicators. This study aimed to determine the most appropriate structural features considering a range of possible performance indicators of an inter-organizational collaborative network. Therefore, an exploratory literature review was conducted using two databases and a qualitative approach to systematize the information found. The main result obtained was the creation of a theoretical framework that systematizes the relationship between network structure and performance. It is believed that this study can contribute to a yet little-explored area of research.

Capital social em um consórcio de pesquisa

We discuss social capital within the scope of the Brazilian Consortium for Research and Development of Coffee. The goal is to test the hypothesis that researchers’ social capital may be taken as a variable for the resources of the consortium that these researchers were able to secure in their research projects. It was necessary to develop a social capital metric, apply it, and verify the correlation between the volume of captured resources and the volume of social capital. The application of the network analysis in view of the researchers’ preferential choice and the quantification of the participation of these scientists in projects of the consortium enabled an estimation of a magnitude - the social capital - which could explain half the amount of variation obtained by each of the scientists responsible for research projects in the network.

Modelo de requisitos e componentes técnicos para a formação e gerência de redes de cooperação entre empresas da construção civil

The operational method of civil construction can be analyzed by the outlook of virtual organizations, however not yet structuralized, hence not providing competitive advantages. Thus, this article considers a Technical Components and Requirements Model, based on EKD methodology (Enterprise Knowledge Development), to assist in the formation and management of networks in civil construction companies. For the elaboration of the considered model, an analysis of the most important international construction projects was conducted, in addition to a case study from seven construction projects in order to detect their goals and defective points, to then be reorganized and adapted to the Brazilian civil construction industry. Moreover, the considered model was also based on an adaptation of reference architecture for civil construction networks. As a result, the proposal makes possible, to the stakeholders, a clear view of the necessary requirements, exploring the necessity of intense communication and exchange of information, besides contributing to future research works regarding a future development of an information system directed for this economic segment.The operational method of civil construction can be analyzed by the outlook of virtual organizations, however not yet structuralized, hence not providing competitive advantages. Thus, this article considers a Technical Components and Requirements Model, based on EKD methodology (Enterprise Knowledge Development), to assist in the formation and management of networks in civil construction companies. For the elaboration of the considered model, an analysis of the most important international construction projects was conducted, in addition to a case study from seven construction projects in order to detect their goals and defective points, to then be reorganized and adapted to the Brazilian civil construction industry. Moreover, the considered model was also based on an adaptation of reference architecture for civil construction networks. As a result, the proposal makes possible, to the stakeholders, a clear view of the necessary requirements, exploring the necessity of intense communication and exchange of information, besides contributing to future research works regarding a future development of an information system directed for this economic segment.

Um modelo de atores e recursos para redes de cooperação entre empresas em obras de edificações

The cooperation networks among companies have a strategic position to enable access to technologies, information, markets and resources, in order to increase knowledge, experiences and to get scale and scope economy. Using the theoretical referential on cooperation networks, this paper addresses a multiple exploratory case study in different execution stages, in order to provide potential network managers the comprehension about the relationship and responsibilities among actors in the execution process. The organizational modeling uses the Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD) methodology, to represent the relationship between actors and resources and the network life cycle. The results present a model of actors and resources for cooperation networks among companies in building projects.

A Practical Management Model for Supporting Virtual Organizations Creation within Their Breeding Environments

Among the various manifestations of collaborative networks in the literature, the Virtual Breeding Environment (VBE) has highlighted in the economic scenario since its implementation can provide the creation of Virtual Organizations (VO). The objective of this paper is to propose a practical model for supporting virtual organizations within their breeding environments, under the analytical approach of networks. The research method used is the study of multiple cases, involving eight VBEs of the manufacturing sector. The methodology that will support the creation of the proposed model is called Enterprise Knowledge Development (EKD), comprised of models of goals, concepts, business rules, actors and resources, processes and requirements and technical components. It is hoped that this model can enable the generation of concrete possibilities of facilitating the operation of the network as a whole. Additional topics will be presented in further work.

A percepção e as estratégias de ação do pesquisador de café em sua rede colaborativa

Abstract This study examined the role of perception, its grounds and effects on the logic of the action of researchers when forming partnerships in their underlying Brazilian Consortium network for Coffee Research and Development. Supported by the institutional theory and the network theory, it started out with the assumption that the perception of agents (regarding the structural position/location, the network resources and the dynamics of resource appropriation) is relevant as it would be a determining factor when it came to inserting researchers in their collaborative network. The study resorted to: (a) the content analysis of interviews with researchers; (b) the sociometric analysis of co-authorship; (c) the sociometric analysis of the preferential choice among coffee researchers; and (d) the multivariate analysis of a database of the consortium sub-projects and responses to a survey of those responsible for subprojects. The results point out that the structural position of the agent in its network, though significant, does not determine the perception of these agents and this may have implications for their strategies. Along with this statement, it was possible to identify a group of regularities as well as a set of logical actions on the part of the scientists under study. It would be in this field that the researcher would practice his agency, where he monitors and perceives the resources and limitations of the network in which he and his colleagues are included and form partnerships.

ARQUITETURAS DE REFERÊNCIA PARA REDES DE COOPERAÇÃO EM SISTEMAS PRODUTIVOS DINÂMICOS SEGUNDO A ABORDAGEM EKD (ENTERPRISE KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT)

A pressao por menores ciclos produtivos, menores tempos de lancamentos de produtos, maior variedade do mix de produtos e inovacoes tecnologicas, entre outros, tornou imperativo a busca ou desenvolvimento de novas configuracoes organizacionais que pudessem suportar o atual ambiente complexo e dinâmico. As redes de cooperacao, principalmente de pequenas e medias empresas, tornaram-se entao uma alternativa viavel para estas se manterem competitivas no mercado. Nesse sentido, uma arquitetura de referencia pode fornecer elementos para a integracao e coordenacao entre empresas. Este trabalho pretende apresentar os conceitos relativos a arquitetura de referencia para redes entre empresas constituidas em sistemas produtivos dinâmicos como forma para coordenar recursos, capacidades e competencias. Pretende-se tambem propor um modelo generico e conceitual de arquitetura de referencia e relaciona-lo a abordagem EKD (Enterprise Knowledge Development). Como conclusao geral, observa-se a grande aplicabilidade da metodologia EKD como uma Arquitetura de Referencia ou ate mesmo suportando outra arquitetura comercial existente.

Projeto Seis Sigma para a implementação de software de programação

The article aims to analyze the organizational effectiveness of the Six Sigma methodology for project management to reduce delays and to reduce inventory in manufacture, by the implementation of software with Theory of Constraints algorithms. Initially, the article presents a bibliographic revision on project management and its impact on the organizational change management for improving business processes. Then, the article revises the concepts about the Six Sigma methodology for project management and about the Theory of Constraints algorithms. It follows, the case studies descriptions on two implementation projects of the Theory of Constraints software, in which only one of these implementations adopted the Six Sigma methodology in the project management. In the results analyzes, the article discusses the reasons why the project with the Six Sigma methodology was three times faster than the other project.