Jonas Lucio Maia

Pressupostos da gestão da cadeia de suprimentos: evidências de estudos sobre a indústria automobilística

The development of approaches for research on supply chains is fairly recent, since they only began to be studied systematically in the late 1980s. This paper begins with an overview of the main assumptions of the Supply Chain Management (SCM) approach. Based on a partial review of the empirical literature on the automotive industry, the paper then examines whether these assumptions can be confirmed in practice. Since the reviewed literature does not indicate that the aforementioned SCM assumptions have been concretized in the automotive industry, we propose that an initial methodological step be developed to help researchers identify the structural and relational characteristics of the supply chain in question. To contribute to the development of this initial methodological step, a brief summary is made of three schools of thought that may provide the basis for analyzing the structural and relational characteristics of the supply chain: Network Theory, Resource Dependence Theory and Transaction Cost Economics. This analysis of structural and relational characteristics helps evaluate the context in which SCM principles and techniques can be proposed and implemented and, thus evaluate the results that may be achieved through the implementation of SCM.O desenvolvimento de abordagens para estudo de cadeias de suprimentos e relativamente recente e vem sendo tratado em periodicos cientificos, de modo sistematico, apenas a partir do final dos anos 80. Neste artigo, sao apresentados, inicialmente, os principais pressupostos da abordagem que ficou conhecida como Gestao da Cadeia de Suprimentos (GCS). Em seguida, procura-se ilustrar, a partir de uma revisao parcial de trabalhos realizados sobre a industria automobilistica, em que medida tais pressupostos podem, ou nao, ser verificados. Constatando que apenas em alguns casos o conjunto de pressupostos tende a se tornar realidade, sugere-se que seja desenvolvida uma etapa metodologica inicial para a verificacao de tais pressupostos ou para a avaliacao das caracteristicas estruturais e relacionais da cadeia de suprimentos a ser estudada. Procurando contribuir para o desenvolvimento dessa primeira etapa metodologica, faz-se uma breve sintese de algumas correntes teoricas que podem oferecer subsidios para a analise das caracteristicas estruturais e relacionais principais da cadeia de suprimentos. Tal analise auxilia a avaliar o contexto em que principios e tecnicas da GCS poderao ser propostos e implementados e, tambem, pelo menos parcialmente, os resultados que poderao ser alcancados.

Inter-relações entre Estratégia de Operações e Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos: estudos de caso no segmento de motores para automóveis

The worldwide automotive industry has undergone major changes in recent years. In Brazil, the establishment of new automakers, the consolidation and denationalization of autoparts, and the introduction of low displacement engines and bi-fuelled engines have important strategic implications for these companies and for their supply chains. Based on these implications, this paper attempts to shed light on the interrelationship between Operations Strategy (OSs) and Supply Chain Management (SCM), analyzing case studies conducted at two engine manufacturers in Brazil and at two of their suppliers. The findings of these case studies indicate strong interrelationships between competitive priorities and decisions involving structural and infrastructural issues, and between the structural and relational aspects of the productive chains to which these companies belong. The automakers studied here have similar OSs, but their priorities and actions take place within the contexts of different supply chain structures and, hence, are governed by distinct forms of relationships. Given the mutual influence of OS and SCM factors and the dependence on previous strategic choices, the decisions made in these two areas are even more complex and strategically relevant.

Exploring variables of transaction costs in Brazilian automotive supply chains

– The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the “automaker‐supplier” relationships that exist in a supply chain of the Brazilian automotive sector, based on assumptions and variables of transaction cost economics (TCE)., – The paper explored case studies carried out at an automotive engine manufacturer and six of its suppliers, applying semistructured interviews., – The findings indicate that automakers seek to utilize a form of hybrid relationship with their suppliers, which sometimes resembles competition and at other times cooperation; asset specificity tends to be greater in the first‐tier of the supply chain; and asset specificity seems to be mediated by aspects such as the amount of production destined to the manufacturer, the objective of maximizing return on previous investments, and the configuration of higher value‐added supply operations., – The results corroborate that close, long‐lasting, and trustful relationships tend to reduce transaction costs and improve performance, but in some cases, “latent competition” may also lead to reduced costs; managers should not undervalue the self‐reinforcing effects of asset specificity in a context of shared investments; and business strategy should guide every decision made inside supply chains in order to align supply and operations priorities., – Considering the deep restructuring process that Brazilian automotive industry has experienced, this paper brings its contribution in using TCE tools to analyze relationships inside an engine‐producing supply chain, dealing with the links between TCE and supply chain management.

Aspectos estratégicos, estruturais e relacionais de três cadeias de suprimentos automotivas

Abstract The aim of this paper is to identify structural, relational and strategic differences among Brazilian engine assem-bling chains, as well as suggesting factors originating from or responsible for such differences. Thus, the structures of three chains are studied and compared, as well as the relationships that take place. A case study was carried out and it consists of eight suppliers positioned in the first and/or second tiers of their chains, as well as the three engine manufacturers. Although the engine manufacturers belong to chains with distinct structural configurations and adopt different relationship patterns, their decisions regarding supply chain management are strategically aligned. Thus, although some overlapping among the chains occurred, the automakers succeeded in effectively using them to improve competitiveness. The work also indicates some general trends that were observed, such as the increase in the outsourc-ing level, and the existence of few hierarchical levels, consisting of, in the second tier, suppliers of less technologically sophisticated products.

Desenvolvimento de produtos no contexto das cadeias de suprimentos do setor automobilístico

In the Brazilian Automotive Industry, the Product Development activities have been influenced by changes on supply chains resulting from the investments made...

ESTRATÉGIAS DE OPERAÇÕES E TECNOLÓGICAS DE EMPRESAS DO SETOR DE LINHA BRANCA

O objetivo do trabalho e estudar as Estrategias de Operacoes (EOs) e Estrategias Tecnologicas (ETs) de duas montadoras do setor de linha branca, comparando-as, para em um segundo momento discutir a conexao entre ambas as estrategias no setor mencionado. Para atingir os objetivos do trabalho, sao realizados estudos nas duas montadoras, fundamentados em entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os resultados mostram que, para alcancar prioridades competitivas semelhantes, essas montadoras implementam mudancas semelhantes nas areas de decisao, apesar de algumas diferencas tambem terem sido identificadas. Alem disso, adotam ETs semelhantes, no que se refere as Capacidades Tecnologicas por elas priorizadas. No entanto, apesar de despenderem esforcos para as mesmas capacidades (Inovacao, Investimento (Aquisicao) e Producao e Adaptacao), os esforcos que cada uma delas direciona a cada uma delas sao distintos.

Estratégias tecnológicas de montadoras dos setores automobilístico e de linha branca - uma análise comparativa por meio de estudos de caso

RESUMO Neste artigo, tem-se como objetivos identificar e analisar as estrategias tecnologicas de tres montadoras de motores para automoveis e de tres montadoras do setor de linha branca para, em um segundo momento, comparar os conjuntos de estrategias tecnologicas desses dois setores. Os resultados mostram que as estrategias tecnologicas adotadas pelas empresas estudadas nos dois setores sao bastante semelhantes no que diz respeito as capacidades tecnologicas enfatizadas, havendo diferencas entre empresas do mesmo setor e entre setores quanto aos esforcos que cada empresa despende em cada tipo de capacidade. As experiencias recentes (mesmo que distintas) de reestruturacao dos setores, as alteracoes no grau de autonomia das empresas em relacao as respectivas matrizes e a priorizacao de objetivos estrategicos com alguma semelhanca podem explicar a similaridade identificada. Contudo, a propria trajetoria de desenvolvimento dos setores, alem de aspectos intrinsecos a eles, justificam os diferentes esforcos despendidos para as capacidades tecnologicas (semelhantes). Foram identificados como os principais fatores que influenciam e diferenciam as estrategias tecnologicas: complexidade tecnologica dos produtos; politica de produtos globais e estrutura de pesquisa e desenvolvimento adotadas pelas matrizes das empresas; prioridades competitivas e aspectos estruturais e relacionais das cadeias de suprimentos.

INTERRELATION BETWEEN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT AND LOGISTICS: A CASE STUDY IN THE BRAZILIAN PLANT OF A MULTINATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY

Brazilian automotive industry has suffered structural changes, like lean manufacturing adoption, the set up of new productive chains, changes in product design, etc. In such context, this paper aims at introducing a case study carried out in an engine assembler located in Brazil, and analyzing aspects concerning Logistics and Supply Chain Management taking place in this company, in order to describe how these concepts are actually implemented in the company, and illustrate the relationship and mutual influence that exists between these areas. The case studied makes its contribution in the sense of highlighting the strong inter-relationship taking place between aspects that compose Supply Chain Management, here included logistics (location, inventory, and transportation, among others) and the characteristics of structure, relationship and alignment pertaining to Supply Chain Management. In the case studied, given the strong mutual influence among its factors, as well as the dependence on previous strategic choices, decisions made in the Supply Chain Management sphere, and thus in the logistics one, are assigned even more complexity and strategic relevance.

Technological strategies of automakers and white goods manufacturers: a comparative analysis based on case studies

Neste artigo, tem-se como objetivos identificar e analisar as estrategias tecnologicas de tres montadoras de motores para automoveis e de tres montadoras do setor de linha branca para, em um segundo momento, comparar os conjuntos de estrategias tecnologicas desses dois setores. Os resultados mostram que as estrategias tecnologicas adotadas pelas empresas estudadas nos dois setores sao bastante semelhantes no que diz respeito as capacidades tecnologicas enfatizadas, havendo diferencas entre empresas do mesmo setor e entre setores quanto aos esforcos que cada empresa despende em cada tipo de capacidade. As experiencias recentes (mesmo que distintas) de reestruturacao dos setores, as alteracoes no grau de autonomia das empresas em relacao as respectivas matrizes e a priorizacao de objetivos estrategicos com alguma semelhanca podem explicar a similaridade identificada. Contudo, a propria trajetoria de desenvolvimento dos setores, alem de aspectos intrinsecos a eles, justificam os diferentes esforcos despendidos para as capacidades tecnologicas (semelhantes). Foram identificados como os principais fatores que influenciam e diferenciam as estrategias tecnologicas: complexidade tecnologica dos produtos; politica de produtos globais e estrutura de pesquisa e desenvolvimento adotadas pelas matrizes das empresas; prioridades competitivas e aspectos estruturais e relacionais das cadeias de suprimentos.

GENERIC STRATEGIES IN ANALYZING OPERATIONS ALIGNMENT: THEORETICAL CONJECTURES AND THE NEED FOR EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

This paper revisits previously-proposed generic strategies for each level of the strategic hierarchy found in companies, as a manner to support discussion about operations (manufacturing) strategic alignment. Based on this literature review, some initial theoretical conjectures are made, considering more advisable combinations of generic patterns for each strategic level. Those initial conjectures aim at being a theoretical basis for further empirical research in order to identify the degree to which generic strategies are found in practice and if they allow consistent analysis of strategic alignment.