Ricardo Augusto Cassel

Service process analysis using process engineering and the theory of constraints thinking process

Purpose – The paper aims to present a case of integration between process engineering and the thinking process of the theory of constraints (TP‐TOC) through the analysis of an organizations processes, pointing out the complementary aspects between the two theories and their benefits for the organization.Design/methodology/approach – The paper has used an Institution of Higher Education as its case study. The research has started by identifying the processes of the institution and choosing one to model according to the process engineering approach. The process was then analyzed through the elaboration of the current reality tree technique. After the analysis, the evaporating clouds technique was applied in order to breach the assumptions that were avoiding the problems to be solved. Finally, the process has been redesigned based on the results of the previous steps.Findings – The analysis of this case contributes towards understanding and identifying the causes of the current problems in the studied proce...

Distributed discrete event simulation using the three-phase approach and Java

Abstract The recent rapid growth in the Internet and the use of this technology for corporate intranets presents new opportunities for parallel discrete event simulation. Previously, this was the province of specialist groups with dedicated computer facilities, whereas it is now feasible to use small PCs that communicate via TCP/IP. This paper describes research in distributed discrete event simulation using the three-phase approach and implemented in Java using standard Internet technologies. Two specific implementations are described, one for client/server work and the other a distributed, parallel simulator using conservative synchronisation protocols. The problem of managing shared states with competing resources is specifically discussed. They demonstrate proof of concept and contain important aspects of detailed implementation, but have not been used for experimentation to estimate aspects such as speed or message loads.

Maximização da lucratividade em produção conjunta: um caso na indústria frigorífica

This paper discusses the problem related to the costing in joint product industries. Traditional approaches to this subject present limitations regarding the analysis of the individual profitability of each final product. This problem is discussed and an alternative approach based on the Theory of Constraints, and supported by the Operational Research, is proposed. To demonstrate the differences between this new approach and the traditional one, a case study in a poultry company is presented, and the results are discussed.

Avaliação de fornecedores sob a perspectiva da logística

Este artigo foi desenvolvido em uma empresa montadora de aparelhos condicionadores de ar e tem como objetivo propor uma ferramenta para avaliacao de fornecedores sob a perspectiva da logistica. Para tanto, foi necessario definir os criterios logisticos relevantes para a avaliacao, ponderar os criterios de forma a refletir sua importância no sistema e simular uma avaliacao real na empresa. Foram utilizados metodos conhecidos no âmbito da Engenharia de Producao, como o benchmarking, brainstorming e Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). O resultado principal deste estudo e um grafico que posiciona os fornecedores avaliados de acordo com a sua criticidade para o negocio da empresa sob o ponto de vista da logistica.

Longitudinal evaluation of efficiency in a petrochemical company

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to longitudinally assess the technical efficiency and productivity, considering investment projects and technological change, in a second-generation petrochemical company. Design/methodology/approach The study uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) together with the Malmquist index to measure efficiency during the analysis periods. The working method consists of four main phases, namely development of the conceptual model, construction of the mathematical model, application of model to the case, and analysis of the results. The study utilizes a quantitative approach with descriptive goals seeking to evaluate the impacts of technical changes on the operational efficiency and productivity of the production process. Findings The use of DEA associated with the Malmquist index proved to be viable for analyzing a single company and identifying efficiency improvements, as well as the impacts of the learning process and the implementation of improvement projects. However, the results of the improvement projects and learning process were not representative and had no statistical significance on the actual change in efficiency of the company during the periods analyzed. For the case in question, the learning process and continuous improvement were not observed during all study periods. Practical implications The proposition that the improvement projects and investments implemented increased the efficiency of the company was rejected. Hence, with this work, it was possible to determine that the company unnecessarily invested resources in projects to increase efficiency. Furthermore, the company could have explored more internal resources before making significant investments in increased efficiency. Originality/value As for the value of this research in the theoretical and academic scope, this paper advances knowledge on the application of DEA because it proposes to establish an internal reference benchmarking for comparison. The literature contains few studies that analyze organizations using continuous processes, such as petrochemical processes, in longitudinal studies as a function of time, especially with the use of DEA.

Application of Monte Carlo Simulation as a tool for capacity planning strategy in a multi-level global Supply Chain focused to reduce the bullwhip effect

Supply Chain Management efforts are continuously seeking for improvements to better manage inventory levels and fulfill customer orders in a cost effective manner. However, defining system capacity by reacting to sales orders levels and inventory availability may create a bullwhip effect along the supply chain. This review is dedicated to compare two different manufacturing capacity planning strategies in a multi-level global organization by applying the Monte Carlo Simulation as a tool in order to mitigate production variation and its impacts in the overall business.

A Proposal for Supply-Chain Improvements in a Luxury Company

The fashion market is becoming more competitive in the luxury industry, mainly because of the appearance and strengthening of other industries that provide new products more consistently to its customers. This sector, marked by its two annual collections and its unique items, must become more flexible and provide a faster response to its consumer base. In this context, supply chain management is an important factor in determining the degree of competitiveness of a company. This paper proposes tools to assist in the production scheduling of a luxury industry through making its supply chain more flexible by reducing the number of items delivered before the release, thus allowing the company to react according to the sales. To achieve that, an approach to the calculation of orders based on sales forecasts and on the lead time between stores and distribution centers was developed, in addition to a tool to control the delivery of the items through better integration with the suppliers. The proposed approach reduced the number of items in the first two orders by 17 and 12%, and several delays were avoided through the utilization of the order-control tool.

Aplicação do método de custeio TDABC em uma empresa de prestação de serviços para a análise da rentabilidade por cliente

Com o objetivo de maximizar seus resultados, as empresas passaram a ter como foco a retencao e rentabilidade de seus clientes. Neste contexto, uma informacao importante a ser identificada e o comportamento dos clientes e como este incorre em custos na prestacao do servico. A analise da rentabilidade dos clientes (CPA) apoia nao apenas a preservacao de clientes rentaveis, como a tomada de decisoes que determinam a competitividade empresarial. O Time-driven Activity-Based costing (TDABC) e um metodo de custeio que permite destacar esta rentabilidade de clientes de diferentes perfis de comportamento. Este trabalho propoe a aplicacao do TDABC para a identificacao da rentabilidade do Servico de Terceirizacao da Manutencao (SGM) de uma empresa de gestao de frotas. Atraves da curva de rentabilidade cumulativa foi possivel identificar um baixo grau de vulnerabilidade e dependencia da base de clientes de SGM. Identificou-se tambem um alto custo de excesso de capacidade e algumas oportunidades para aumentar a rentabilidade atraves de uma precificacao que varie de acordo com o perfil do cliente.

Diagnóstico de um sistema de indicadores de desempenho na área logística de uma empresa de bens de consumo

A logistica tem se tornado um ponto estrategico de fundamental importância para o aumento da competitividade da grande maioria das empresas. Portanto, o objetivo deste artigo foi realizar um diagnostico de um sistema de indicadores na area logistica, propondo melhorias para que o mesmo fosse capaz de proporcionar maiores vantagens competitivas para a empresa. A partir de uma revisao da literatura, procedeu-se um estudo de caso em uma grande empresa produtora de bens de consumo. Como resultados, foi proposto um novo sistema de avaliacao de desempenho da logistica da empresa, melhorando-se alguns indicadores e incorporando-se outros. Tambem foi evidenciada uma maior aderencia a estrategia de atuacao da empresa com o novo sistema, uma vez que este passou a considerar pontos importantes na avaliacao do desempenho logistico da empresa, os quais encontravam-se negligenciados.

Adequação de Arquétipos da Dinâmica de Sistemas para o Estudo de Riscos na Gestão de Cadeias de Suprimentos

O aumento da complexidade na gestao da cadeia de suprimentos (GCS) traz a necessidade do controle e gerenciamento de um conjunto cada vez maior de incertezas. Assim, tem aumentado o numero de riscos com os quais os gestores devem se preocupar, sem contudo uma fundamentacao causal sobre os mecanismos geradores de riscos. Este trabalho se propoe a demonstrar a compatibilidade dos arquetipos de Dinâmica de Sistemas com o estudo de riscos na Gestao de Cadeias de Suprimentos para identificacao de comportamentos geradores dos mesmos. Desta forma, realiza-se: (i) a classificacao de riscos em GCS atraves de uma revisao de literatura; (ii) identificacao de riscos na classificacao construida para representacao nos arquetipos de Dinâmica de Sistemas; (iii) aplicacao de 12 arquetipos da Dinâmica de Sistemas a riscos de GCS. Conclui-se que os arquetipos facilitam a representacao e analise dos riscos de GCS, possibilitando o estudo de seus mecanismos, comportamentos e variaveis, bem como da natureza eventual de diversos desses riscos.