José Carlos de Toledo

Fatores críticos de sucesso no gerenciamento de projetos de desenvolvimento de produto em empresas de base tecnológica de pequeno e médio porte

Technology based companies (TBCs) are associated with technological innovation, mainly of products, what makes product development a critical process for them. This process can be evaluated using the product developed considering its success or failure. Furthermore, the degree of such success depends on managerial factors applied during the project development. The objective of this article is to identify and analyze critical success factors in the project management of new products development in small and medium size TBCs. The developed projects analyzed were carried out by medical and hospital equipment companies (MHE) or by process control automation (PCA) sectors, both located in the State of Sao Paulo. The research method was based on a mapping survey applying a structured questionnaire to some companies. The data were collected from 62 companies, namely 30 in the MHE sector and 32 in the PCA sector, which have been carrying out those projects already. The results show that new products project management in TBCs should involve actions adding more value to the pre-development activities such as the assessment of the new product market potential, effective understanding of the market needs and synergy between the new product/project, and other companys products/projects. Besides, the results also increase the importance of improving managerial skills and project managers (or leaders) interpersonal relationship. Generally, during the product development, these managers (or leaders) should overcome the companys managerial and organizational deficiencies.Technology based companies (TBCs) are associated with technological innovation, mainly of products, what makes product development a critical process for them. This process can be evaluated using the product developed considering its success or failure. Furthermore, the degree of such success depends on managerial factors applied during the project development. The objective of this article is to identify and analyze critical success factors in the project management of new products development in small and medium size TBCs. The developed projects analyzed were carried out by medical and hospital equipment companies (MHE) or by process control automation (PCA) sectors, both located in the State of Sao Paulo. The research method was based on a mapping survey applying a structured questionnaire to some companies. The data were collected from 62 companies, namely 30 in the MHE sector and 32 in the PCA sector, which have been carrying out those projects already. The results show that new products project management in TBCs should involve actions adding more value to the pre-development activities such as the assessment of the new product market potential, effective understanding of the market needs and synergy between the new product/project, and other companys products/projects. Besides, the results also increase the importance of improving managerial skills and project managers (or leaders) interpersonal relationship. Generally, during the product development, these managers (or leaders) should overcome the companys managerial and organizational deficiencies.

Analyzing the knowledge management through the product development process

The aim of this paper is to present a model for the analysis to the knowledge management on the organizational processes. Knowledge can be considered an input, an element of transformation, and an output of these processes. In order to maximize the competitive advantage of these processes, it is necessary to manage knowledge in a more structured way. The proposed model is composed of the following elements: contents, processes, infrastructure and knowledge management principles. In this paper the model was applied – through two case studies – in the product development process (PDP) of automotive parts manufacturers. The results showed the lack of awareness about the presence of these knowledge management elements in the everyday activities of PDP and the importance of the integration of these elements to the success of this management.

Total quality management programs: a framework proposal

The paper proposes a framework to help quality practitioners involved with the task of quality planning. The proposed framework utilises both external and internal information (such as a market diagnosis and the organization’s strategic plans) which are filtered through the methodologies and techniques of quality management to deliver a time phased plan consisting of the main actions required to implement total quality management in either a manufacturing or service company.

Managing knowledge in a service provider: a network structure-based model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze aspects of a network structure that promotes the practice of the knowledge management (KM) process in a service organization. The idea that knowledge is the main organizational resource has established itself in recent years, and knowledge has become more valuable in service organizations. Managing knowledge is therefore a central activity for organizations, and organizational structure must assist in this process. Design/methodology/approach – The research strategy used is the simple case study, applied in a large multinational company in its unit established in Brazil. Findings – The paper points out that the network structure has more flexible characteristics regarding formalization, centralization and integration. In the case study, this structure encourages the flow of knowledge through the interaction between individuals, and also across sectors of the organization, with the aid of a department coordinating the KM process, responsible for the storage...

Qualidade na indústria agroalimentar: situação atual e perspectivas

This paper aims to discuss quality management in six Brazilian agrifood chains: beverages (beer and soft drinks), biscuit, meat, chocolate, processed tomato and dairy. This work is a multi-case exploratory study among 34 firms in those agrifood chains. In a general sense, the firms studied are very different in terms of quality management. The control of the products or raw material for inspection, with special attention to satisfy the governmental health rules, is the most common situation. However, there are strong evidences that this general situation is changing. Several firms are going to employ more advanced systems in quality management (total quality management and quality assurance system).

Práticas de gestão no desenvolvimento de produtos em empresas de autopeças

This paper presents the empirical findings of survey on practices and management trends of product development process management in the Brazilian auto-parts industry. Thirty two companies, from 120 companies which carry out product development activities, answered the questionnaire, each of theses 32 companies was visited and the interviews were conduced with the managers of PDP, by members of the group of researchers. The final sample consisted of 23 responses since 9 questionnaires were incomplete. Some of the main findings on the practices are: widespread dissemination and use of reference models for PDP partially implemented; methods and techniques for PDP Management are applied with weak inter functional integration; development team carries out the PDP activities; functional structure is still widely used; the follow-source projects are the most common type, while platform projects were also identified (average of 25% of carry out projects); and the first tier suppliers are the ones that more use practices of international pattern of PDP management. Regarding the trends, the reduction of the innovation cycle will require more resources to increase product development speed, and local units expect to reach more autonomy in product development activities which they are capable in order to take part effectively of co-development with the automakers.

Gestão do conhecimento em uma estrutura organizacional em rede

As relacoes de parceria sao cada vez mais comunsentre as organizacoes, criando estruturas de relacoesem rede. E uma importante tarefa que emerge nasempresas prestadoras de servico e a gestao doconhecimento, visando a melhorar seus processos.O objetivo deste artigo e analisar como os aspectosorganizacionais, de ordem tecnica e social, de umaestrutura organizacional em rede facilitam a gestao doconhecimento a fim de promover atividades demelhoria continua. A empresa pesquisada, umaprestadora de servicos industriais, implementou umaestrutura de sites full service, responsaveis poratividades de rotina e de melhoria, em tempo integral,nos clientes, alem de centros de excelencia, quepromovem o processo de gestao do conhecimento(GC). Para alcancar este objetivo, foi realizada umapesquisa qualitativa, baseada em estudo de casoexploratorio. O resultado da pesquisa aponta que ofluxo de conhecimento entre os individuos e entre osdiversos sites e intensificado devido as interacoes emrede, aumentando o potencial da organizacao empromover melhorias.

Critical success factors on product development management in Brazilian technological based companies

In order to minimize the proportion of unsuccessful projects in new products development (NPD), managers have become concerned in understanding which factors have an impact on the success of new products. The aim of this paper is to identify and analyze the critical success factors (CSF) when developing new products in technological based companies (TBCs). The data was obtained through a survey in 62 small TBCs of two sectors: the medical and hospital equipment and the process control automation, in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. This has resulted in a sample of 62 new product projects considered successful and 42 unsuccessful, from the firms’ point of view, developed in the last five years. The questionnaire was structured based on eleven management factors, deployed in 64 variables. The association of these variables with the project result (successful or unsuccessful) was measured through their respective contingency coefficients. Thus, we sought to determine which variables, considered in isolation, could explain new product’s success. We also tried to reduce the individual variables by using factorial analysis techniques, where three main components were associated to new product success: target-market characteristics, execution quality of NPD activities and integration between the areas involved in NPD.

Custos da qualidade: diagnóstico nas empresas com certificação ISO 9000

This paper describes and analyses how Brazilian companies, whose quality systems are certificated according to international standards, are using Quality Costs as a management tool. It also analyses the main characteristics of Quality Cost Systems and their implementation. Research was carried out in 919 companies whose quality systems are certificated in accordance with ISO 9001, 9002 or 9003 standards. Questionnaires were mailed to the quality managers of these companies. In total, 300 companies responded to the questionnaire, representing a 33 percent response rate, of which 39% had implemented or were implementing a Quality Cost System. The main observed difficulties were the lack of understanding of the tool and the view that the accounting information system was inadequate.

Organizational characteristics in concurrent engineering: Evidence from Brazilian small and medium enterprises in the medical device industry:

The success of a new product is more probable in a concurrent engineering context for product development. Concurrent engineering creates a dynamic environment based on four interconnected dimensions: the organization of managers and employees involved in product development; their means of communicating; their unwavering focus on the requirements of all clients within the product life cycle, from concept through disposal; and the integration of the development process. This article analyzes impacts of some organizational practices of these dimensions in product success in Brazilian small and medium enterprises from the medical device industry. The data were collected from a survey in a sample of Brazilian small and medium enterprises and from four case studies. The results highlight the importance for these small and medium enterprises of practices such as cross-functional integration, the role of top management in projects, and the social capital of the project leader. The results will assist companies in adopting an evidence-based approach for improving their new product success.The success of a new product is more probable in a concurrent engineering context for product development. Concurrent engineering creates a dynamic environment based on four interconnected dimensions: the organization of managers and employees involved in product development; their means of communicating; their unwavering focus on the requirements of all clients within the product life cycle, from concept through disposal; and the integration of the development process. This article analyzes impacts of some organizational practices of these dimensions in product success in Brazilian small and medium enterprises from the medical device industry. The data were collected from a survey in a sample of Brazilian small and medium enterprises and from four case studies. The results highlight the importance for these small and medium enterprises of practices such as cross-functional integration, the role of top management in projects, and the social capital of the project leader. The results will assist companies ...