Independent Journal of Management and Production

8

Authors: Felichesmi Selestine Lyakurwa, Michael Shadrack Mangula

Environmental information systems are essential platforms for the provision of adequate and relevant information necessary for the planning and decision making for greener production. Corporate use of Environmental Information Systems gained several benefits in the global and local markets. Nevertheless, there was no documentation to explain the extent to which corporate organizations utilize available Environmental Information Systems in Tanzania. This study used purposive sampling with informants being workers from the strategic, tactical and control functions of the corporate organization. Moreover, data collection involved survey of 50 corporate organizations in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi and Morogoro councils, with 71 respondents. The collected data includes exploration of the extent to which corporate management functions utilize available Environmental Information Systems in Tanzania. The study identified various corporate environmental management functions performed at all levels of the corporate organization, in which workers spends less than one hour on the environmental information systems available. The results also revealed that, there is adequate utilization of available Environmental Information Systems for environmental management. Therefore, the research outcomes provides inputs to corporate organization unit managers, corporate owners and other environmental stakeholders on the extent of the systems’ use as well as sharing experience on different environmental management systems used worldwide.

12

Authors: Eduardo Biagi Almeida Santos, Otávio Bandeira De Lamônica Freire

This present paper shows the influence of music used in a retail environment in relation to consumer behavior. For obtaining the information, we based this research on a literature review in national and international journals, by 4 databases including: Proquest, EBSCO Host, CAPES periódicos and Mendeley, in the period of 2008 and 2012, by the keywords: music behavior, music in retail environment, background music, music consumer, environmental music, music and consumer behavior and music in purchase decision. The use of music has been applied in traditional areas such as psychology, trough the discipline of environmental psychology (DONOVAN & ROSSITER, 1982).; marketers use this tool as a motivator in a purchase decision in different shopping environments. This paper shows that there is an influence of background music in purchase decision but it’s still needs an explanations of some variables. At the end this paper will present some suggestions for future research.

14

Authors: João Almeida Santos, Getulio Kazue Akabane, Eduardo Biagi Almeida Santos

This paper discusses the development process and the influence of globalization on culture and behavior of society seen on reflexes in the consumer market and how they participate or interfere in sustainability. Whereas globalization as a process of interaction between people in general originated in trade and political relations, reflections on the culture and behavior of society are inevitable from the point of view of consumption of products that are offered for new consumers in these markets that are in the process of globalization. Considering this necessity, it is important to consider the sustainable use of resources and by-products. This article is a reflection on sustainability, globalization, culture and work, and can be summarized in: a) identifying the consequences of globalization on employment from the use of technology, b) the consequences of globalization on culture are positive or negative for both involved, c) benefits globalization and society have with new, better and cheaper products to meet the population needs and d) how sustainability is in this consuming-producing context.

16

Authors: Aline Marian Callegaro, Henrique Simonetti, Fernando Gonçalves Amaral, Carlos Fernando Jung, Carla Schwengber ten Caten

This paper aims to presentthe results after conducting an Ergonomic Work Analysis (EWA) in a smallbusiness located in Porto Alegre. The ergonomic intervention was performed basedon Guérin et al. (2001) and aimed to analyze the process organization and thelayout of the shoemaker workstations to provide improvements to these areas.The starting point was the account of the small shoe business owner’s need hadto hire one more shoemaker without increasing the company physical space. The EWAwas used focusing the work organization, how the flow of information ran fromthe entry of an order to the final stage of the product repairing. Thediagnosis showed the company main problems were related to the shop assistantsdependence on the shoemakers to provide budget information and delivery time tocustomers and the layout organization. Among the results, a temporal analysisof two company recurrent tasks was performed in order to ascertain possiblelosses related to the displacement and the search for material. A new layoutscheme was also proposed, aiming to organize the work stations, making easierthe stock, tools and equipment removal, providing a free space to make possiblethe hiring of the new shoemakers within the current company boundaries.

19

Authors: Pedro Reyes, Jianghong Man, Patrick Jaska

This research study is an effort to shed light on how transshipment may help improve the management of inventory in a disaster relief system. System dynamics simulation was used to compare inventory control and costs in a humanitarian supply chain without transshipment vs. one with transshipment. A framework for this approach is given along with the results of simulations on a system consisting of two warehouses where transshipment is allowed compared to the alternative where transshipment is not allowed. The preliminary results of this study indicate that transshipment can reduce costs and improve service to disaster victims based on inventory levels maintained in the warehouses. In some cases, transshipment may be more expensive, but this assumes the cost of replenishing inventory as a result of emergency purchase costs.

21

Authors: David John Patrishkoff

Pictorial Process Analysis (PPA) was created by the author in 2004. PPA is a unique methodology which offers ten layers of additional analysis when compared to standard process mapping techniques. The goal of PPA is to identify and eliminate waste, inefficiencies and risk in manufacturing or transactional business processes at 5 levels in an organization. The highest level being assessed is the process management, followed by the process work environment, detailed work habits, process performance metrics and general attitudes towards the process. This detailed process assessment and analysis is carried out during process improvement brainstorming efforts and Kaizen events. PPA creates a detailed visual efficiency rating for each step of the process under review. A selection of 54 pictorial Inefficiency Icons (cards) are available for use to highlight major inefficiencies and risks that are present in the business process under review. These inefficiency icons were identified during the author's independent research on the topic of why things go wrong in business. This paper will highlight how PPA was developed and show the steps required to conduct Pictorial Process Analysis on a sample manufacturing process. The author has successfully used PPA to dramatically improve business processes in over 55 different industries since 2004.

25

Authors: Hector Ricardo Formento, Franco Javier Chiodi, Fernando Juan Cusolito, Lucas Ariel Altube, Sebastian Pablo Gatti

The goal of this work was to examine the content of continuous improvement strategies, taking into account the important role they play in building competitiveness. This paper argues that several specific issues must be taken into account in order to reach successful outcomes. This work starts with a literature review on the matter. On this basis, we designed a survey administered to a group of 30 large companies, each of which is renowned leader in Argentina. Finally, we compared the development of continuous improvement process in companies with very effective results and with scarce results. Differences that emerged from this comparison enabled us to identify critical factors for achieving a successful improvement process. As there are no recent researches on continuous improvement programs in Argentina, this paper contributes to recognizing and systematizing what has been done, comparing it with theoretical framework and uncovering research gaps for future studies. However, further research must confirm these findings and move forward on the analysis of intangible factors, like: internal communications, climate, culture, self reflexion, consensus, etc.

10

Authors: Harlan D. Whatley

The foundations, principles and dimensions of Market-Based Management® (MBM), a management system that allows organizations to be successful by applying the principles that enable free societies to become prosperous, is analyzed and reviewed. Pioneered and trademarked by Charles G. Koch, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Koch Industries, MBM seeks to adapt the principles of a free society and market economy to improve management practice in organizations.

14

Authors: Fabio Luiz Peres Krykhtine, Carlos Alberto Nunes Cosenza, Francisco Antônio Dória

The paper aims at showing how a textile industry can select from a mix of products, the best products to be produced by using the customer’s point of view. The Fuzzy Algorithm for fashion industry is a tool developed to optimise the production and reduce losses and storage costs in the textile industry environment. As the textile industry has an expressive position as an employment intensive industry around the world, its health can be perceived by the ability of their managers in restricting the production to low costs limits, thus acquiring better sales and value to the products. The supply chain management must apply innovations and tools that can deal with these paradigms with dexterity. In a global source operation, the information that one product will be very well accepted by a group of customers with a given price is very welcome. In a sustainability scenario, the algorithm can promote savings in many factors such as: labour, electric energy, water and many other resources spent by the textile industries that have significant impact in economy and environment. Finally, this paper shows a different view to understand the customer's desire through linguistic variable processed in a Fuzzy Logic algorithm. The tool yields an index to the product and find out in a mix of products, which of them will be better accepted by the final customer.

16

Authors: Tatiane Sartori, Andreas Dittmar Weise

The Total Quality Management seeks constant improvement and a gradual introduction of new processes both as existing in order to achieve greater excellence in quality organizations as a whole. The intensity of global competition has required companies to rethink their strategies in order to increase competitiveness, profitability and at the same time, thrive on the market that work. To have a management development it is necessary to supplement with quality tools, and management tools, which help in the overview of the organization and also the processes and services. This paper uses the Excellence Management Model (MEG) as a tool to analysis of quality, innovation, productivity and competitiveness in a micro services company located in the central region of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The paper will analyze how the company works with the criteria of the tool used focusing the process of innovation and competitiveness. The study is quantitative and descriptive character type. The bibliographic search is used to build the base of analysis and data collection was accomplished by using a questionnaire with open questions.

17

Authors: Cristina Saraiva Pereira, Fernando Carlos Cabrita Romero

Innovationcan be considered to be a complex phenomenon including technical andnon-technical aspects. A remarkable increase in the interdisciplinary attention devoted to innovation has been noticed over the recent decades but the formal technological and economic aspects of innovation have received much more attention and have been taken into account in a far greater number of analyses, despite the great importance of the non-technological dimension of innovation.This paper attempts a review on the important subject of non-technological innovation. The main ideas on the non-technological dimension of innovation research will be highlighted, followed by an attempt to integrate diverse and disparate perspectives on the subject, to present evidence on possible generalizations and to discuss eventual research gaps and opportunities for further studies. The relationship between technological and non-technological innovation is complex and not fully understood. Among several aspects that will be covered in this paper, two specific ones will receive special attention in this brief analysis: the evidence on the impacts of non-technological innovation, and the measurements efforts that have been made concerning this phenomenon.

18

Authors: Silvia Mara Bortoloto Damasceno Barcelos, Leila Mendes Luz, Ronaldo Salvador Vasques, Cassiano Moro Piekarski, Antonio Carlos Francisco

The main goal of this study is to provide an introductory background to development of the Life Cycle Assessment studies of pure silk fabric. There are not studies available on the life cycle of pure silk fabric. In this sense, was developed a scenario model for LCA application, following the methodology established by the Standard BNR ISO 14040:2009, which establishes principles and framework for an LCA study. It was considered one of the first steps in ISO, being the definition of the purpose and scope. The limits considered for the system had as a starting point the wiring step within the company, and as a final limit the stage of the finishing of the fabric, where you get the finished product. The information used in this study was collected directly from the company entitled 'Fio de Seda', a Brazilian industry. In order to construct the scenario proposed, was used the software Umberto® 5.6 v. Acad and through it, it was possible to generate the scenario model for the production of the silk fabric. Based on this scenario, the accomplishment of the later stages is possible, as outlined in ISO 14040, thus obtaining the inventory of the LCA for the pure silk fabric, as well as its life cycle inventory assessment.

20

Authors: Janine Fleith de Medeiros, José Luis Duarte Ribeiro

This article investigates dimensions and factors that according to the perception of business managers drive the market success of environmentally sustainable products. Initially, publications related to new products introduced to the market (with or without environmental focus) were evaluated. Four complementary dimensions were identified as responsible for proper performance: (i) Market Knowledge, (ii) Interfunctional Collaboration, (iii) Knowledge Integration Mechanisms, and (iv) Generative Learning. Considering the above, an exploratory study following a qualitative approach was conducted with managers that work in the Brazilian market. For the choice of the respondents, some characteristics were considered, such as growth in the sector of activity where the organization works, and the area that they manage. Results lead to the validation and ranking of the factors and dimensions mentioned in the literature. They also allowed the identification of new factors as: technological domain, competitive price, quality, company's brand, and payback. Moreover, considering the variables described and the relationships established among them, it was inferred that technological domain can be considered as a dimension. This suggestion is based on the respondents' perception concerning "technological domain", such as: specialized people, research budget, and also budget for facilities and equipment. The study also shows deeper difference among practice areas than among sectors. Based on the list of factors that was generated, new studies are recommended to measure the impact of the factors and dimensions on the success of green products.

22

Authors: Ricardo Costa da Cruz, Francisco C. T. Starke-Rodrigues

The automotive business in Brazil achieved 10% of the industry revenue and 6% of the formal employment by 2008. The commercial vehicle segment concentrated so far eight truck makers that experienced their best market figures in 2008, the economy crisis in 2009, and an extraordinary recovery in 2010. Government tax reduction programs as well as special financing incentives were undoubtedly decisive to re-stimulate the business during the crisis. Positive Brazilian perspectives with the boom in the agricultural, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure activities plus the coming sports events call the attention of new players that are quickly implementing different business strategies to become part of the game. New emission regulations starting from 2012 also bring uncertainties, challenges and opportunities. With the growing globalization and market concentration it's critical for any industry understand and minimize the forces of competitive pressures. The main goal of this paper, therefore, is to contribute to the academy with an alternative approach of strategic and behavioral analysis of rivalry and competition different than the five forces model of Porter. Ford, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo were assessed from 2008 to 2010 within three main performance indicators – unit sales, gross revenues and operating profits – supporting the elaboration of the competitive pressure systems mapping model of D'aveni, including a hypothetical future scenario with a new entrant and the potential impacts in the system. Main findings and results portray the asymmetrical strategic behavior of competitors and the temporary dynamic stability in the Brazilian truck industry.

23

Authors: Marcos William Kaspchak Machado, Pedro Paulo Andrade Júnior

The present work has as an objective to evaluate the impacts of production seasonality in seasonality periods in the Brazilian construction industry. The adopted methodology was based on the qualitative and quantitative approaches of the aspects inherent to the seasonality factors in the construction industry and its possible causes. Besides that, literature data were collected in year report books and devices provided by institutions of the sector. The results demonstrated the importance of production management mechanisms to optimize the use of productive factors through cost analysis, which are fundamental to understand the operational flux of resources used in the operational media. Obtaining this information, connected to market indicators helped in the decision making process related to the development of prospective scenarios which will give support to the decision making strategy aiming to stabilize the production levels.

25

Authors: Paulo Cesar Chagas Rodrigues

Many are the possibilities of intervention in the organizations so that they rationalize their process of production, and satisfy the necessities of their customers. Among these possibilities to be treated in this article it is the stocks management optimization, that is one of the great generators of waste, also, when badly managed, occults the majority of the management problems. Simple elements as tools for predicting demand, stocks control and classification systems, evaluation physicist-financier system, layout, amongst other instruments, if correctly implanted and managed bring considerable benefits for the organization, increasing productivity and competitiveness. This research, has tried to restrict its focus, by studying the stocks management of a small of the computer science company located in the city of Bauru, State of Sao Paulo, which has an estimated population of 305.753 inhabitants, with approximately 1.338 industries, 7.094 commerce and 5.371 rendered company service.

30

Authors: Joseph Joseph Sungau, Philibert C. Ndunguru, Joseph Kimeme

Problem statement: Delivering speed is very critical in today’s business environment. In most cases, service organizations and customers are sensitive to time spent at delivering or receiving a service. Therefore, service organizations must change in order to meet this challenge. Overtime, service organizations have worked hard to identify techniques that enhance service delivering speed for improved performance. Business process re-engineering is one of such techniques that improves business processes; including delivering speed. However, despite documented advantages, most organizations are reluctant to adopt the technique. Purpose: The paper aims at determining the effect of business process re-engineering on delivering speed; enabling organizations to appreciate the performance improvement that is associated with the technique. Methodology: The study used cross-sectional survey design to investigate the effect of BPR on delivering speed. In order to undertake the study, intensive literature review was undertaken to operationalize the constructs and to formulate the hypothesis which was tested after the field work. In total ninety five (95) service organizations participated in the study. Results: From the study, it is revealed that BPR significantly and positively improves delivering speed of service organizations. Conclusion: For improved delivering speed, service organizations should adopt BPR technique to improve business processes for provision of delighting services to customers.