Mauro Zilbovicius

A comprehensive study of the transformation of the Brazilian automotive industry

This paper presents and discusses findings of a research study on the automobile sector in Brazil that is being conducted by a group of researchers in the Production Engineering Department of the University of Sao Paulo. The research is sponsored by the Brazilian Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES, a Brazilian state bank). It analyses the new configuration of this sector focusing on the technological and managerial competencies remaining in the country and the bottlenecks along the value added chain. Data presented here refers to phase one of the research, collected from 224 firms from tiers one, two and three of the automotive chain in Brazil. More information on the research that has originated this article can be found at http//www.prd.usp.br/cadeia-automotiva.

Knowledge transfer through the supply system: does modularity make it easier?

The study compares the supply systems in two plants of a single car assembler: one is modular and the other is conventional, both producing subcompact cars. The modular plant has the highest level of outsourcing. Modular supply demands more interaction between assembler and systemist (also called module supplier) whenever the logic of outsourcing is present. As long as the assembler transfers more responsibilities for design, purchasing and production to the systemists, the flow of information has to be very efficient. The volume and intensity of knowledge transferred from assembler to systemist also depends on the systemist role: a full integrator assumes design and manufacturing, sharing engineering expertise with the assembler; a manufacturer just makes the pre-assembly. No evidence of outsourcing and modularity was found in the lower tiers and therefore it is improbable that the modular system becomes a favorable environment for them to increase knowledge and expertise.

Fordismo e novos paradigmas de produção: questões sobre a transição no Brasil

This article is an exploratory essay on the possibility of changind the fordist may of organising production processes towards greater flexibility. Some changes in Brazil are illustrated through cases in the footwear and automobile industries. It seems that the modernisation wave is taking place mostly in externally oriented sectors. Further, there is little evidence of a radical shift towards flexibility in any sector. Instead, firms are changing in a slow step-by-step pattern.

The MNC subsidiaries of Brazilian multinational companies

This paper discusses the different ways of obtaining technology for the development of products made by companies in developing countries that have production units abroad. As the literature, companies hold FDI for several reasons, but there are few studies on the foreign direct investment of firms from developing countries. We believe that the acquisition of technology and make partnerships with large firms are reasons that encourage the companies to conduct FDI. We will analyze Brazilian companies which have subsidiaries and are important in their markets. These firms have made their internationalization strategies a way to obtain technology. Then strategies challenges faced and the process of product development are discussed in this article. The theoretical approach mixing elements of the theory of internationalization and management of MNC companies and the development of product, looking relates them to the better understanding of the strategies used by firms. Secondary data were collected and empirical data was obtained from case study. Our findings show that the decision of FDI is a strategy that helps firms to stay technologically updated, to maintain the internal market, enabling the gain market abroad, allowing to support the expenditures in R&D and to obtain the necessary technological capacity.