Manoel Fernando Martins

Mapping the organizational factors that support knowledge management in the Brazilian automotive industry

Purpose – The latest models on knowledge management (KM) recognize four phases for its practice: acquisition, storage, distribution, and knowledge utilization. The KM is characterized as a multidisciplinary discipline, involving both technical and social aspects. Therefore, the purpose of this research is both social and of coordination, aiming to identify contextual factors, internally developed in the organizations, which support the KM process in the Brazilian companies in the automotive sector. Design/methodology/approach – To achieve the research purpose, a quantitative research method was employed, based on a survey research in the automotive sector. Findings – The results point to the existence of eight contextual factors that support the KM process in the organizations. These factors are mainly related to the human being, responsible for the retention and transformation of primary knowledge, and the development of an organizational context that encourages the learning process through the culture a...

Modelo de referência para estruturar o Seis Sigma nas organizações

Este artigo apresenta o modelo de referencia para estruturar o Seis Sigma, o qual e resultante da incorporacao de teorias que contribuem para aumentar o potencial estrategico do Seis Sigma no sentido de incrementar o desempenho organizacional. Em sua proposta, o modelo de referencia engloba um direcionamento sobre certos requisitos primordiais para o sucesso do programa Seis Sigma. A base teorica de sustentacao do modelo de referencia foi construida a partir de estudos sobre a influencia dos seguintes fatores: orientacao estrategica e alinhamento estrategico; medicao e gerenciamento do desempenho organizacional; uso de estatistica (pensamento estatistico); capacitacao/especializacao de pessoas; implementacao e gerenciamento de projetos; e uso de tecnologia de informacao. Complementando a proposicao do modelo, o artigo traz evidencias empiricas acerca da contribuicao dos fatores identificados na formulacao do modelo de referencia, expondo resultados decorrentes de estudos de caso realizados em quatro subsidiarias brasileiras de multinacionais de grande porte. A analise dos dados forneceu evidencias positivas de que os fatores mencionados influenciam de forma efetiva o sucesso e a consolidacao do Seis Sigma nas empresas estudadas.

Melhoria contínua no ambiente ISO 9001:2000: estudo de caso em duas empresas do setor automobilístico

This article evaluate how two companies certified by the norm ISO 9001:2000, supplier of the automotive sector, accomplish continuous improvement activities in its productive processes. It is obvious that the different industrials environments, presented by the companies in particular, shows differences in relation to the conduction of the continuous improvement programs, and also, the stimulus to get the certification in this quality system which also inspires in the amplitude and constancy of the processes improvement. At this way, the article analyses how the researched organizations develop and organize internally the continuous improvement, emphasizing the production organization, improvement management model and programs and techniques used to these activities.

Contribuições do Seis Sigma: estudos de caso em multinacionais

Abstract The literature suggests that Six Sigma has made many contributions to quality and strategic management. However, there is a certain lack of information about this subject in the Brazilian organizational scene. This paper aims to reduce this lack by means of a practical vision of the contributions that came from the investment of Brazilian companies in Six Sigma implementation. The relevance of essentials requirements, such as: quality concept; combination of statistical and strategic approaches; methodological systemizing; belt training; and project management is discussed from both the theoretical and practical aspects. Case study method was applied to obtain an empirical basis for the research. The investment in Six Sigma undertaken by two Brazilian branches of large multinationals (one a Manufacturing Company and the other a Service Company) are described and analyzed, underlining the relevance of these requirements. Keywords Six Sigma. Quality management. Six Sigma projects. Automotive industry. Credit cards.

Mensuração da qualidade de serviço em empresas de fast food

The most important theories about service state that the consumer is satisfied if he considers the service meets or exceeds his expectations. A comparison of the consumers perception of the performance and his expectations regarding each aspect of the service indicates the satisfaction gap. The greater the gap the higher the consumers dissatisfaction with the service. Based on this assumption, this paper aims to identify the factors that determine the quality of services rendered by fast food companies. To this end, a quality-measuring instrument - SERVQUAL - was adapted to this business sector and a survey was carried out involving 120 customers of a specific fast food company. The results indicated that the company satisfied its customers in two quality dimensions but was negatively evaluated in four others, indicating the need for actions aimed at improving its service in order to effectively satisfy its customers.

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...

Utilização do método FMEA para avaliação do risco ambiental

The objective of this article is to present a method to evaluate environmental impacts during the productive process of small companies. A survey was conducted concerning the inputs and outputs of each stage of the productive process. The outputs which showed environmental impacts were analyzed using the FMEA method. Case studies were done in six small companies in Sao Carlos- SP. The companies, where the research was done, belong to the following sectors: mechanical-metal, food, textile, plastics, a company of diagnosis kits for clinical analyses laboratories and a company which sells marble.

Knowledge Management: an Analysis From the Organizational Development

This research develops a theoretical framework on the implications of the organizational characteristics on the knowledge management (KM). The organizational characteristics are handled in this work as constructs, as they are complex concepts. This paper is based on a theoretical research, considering original and classic articles on KM. From a broad theoretical-conceptual research, the paper presents as a result five organizational constructs that support the KM process: human resources, team work, organizational culture, organizational structure and development and absorption of knowledge. The article presents the implications of these constructs in relation to the four phases of the KM process (acquisition, storage, distribution and use of knowledge).

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.