Work as management in an environment governed by standards: a study of situations in the steel industry

This article aims to analyze the renormalization processes in work situations of technicians working in a testing laboratory of a steel company in Southeastern Brazil, explaining the contributions of the analytical perspective of Ergology when investigating how workers are organized to manage their activities in order to meet their production and quality goals, their personal as well as customer satisfaction, and protect themselves from work accidents. The qualitative research was carried out based on the analytical approach of Ergology, and the instruments used for data production were documentary investigation within the organization, direct observation of the activities, and semi-structured interviews with the participating workers. The data were treated using content analysis. It was found that these workers value standard operating procedures as tools to aid in the execution of their duties, but criticize them for being extensive, making consultation tiresome, and request more condensed, practical, and attractive procedures for handling. Research showed that certain unforeseen events in the process are only remedied by oneself and the other, demonstrating that the more complete a prescription is, collective experience fills any gaps, since the activity is more complex than anticipated by the standards. This study may contribute to a better understanding of situations common to the steel industry, as well as to academic progress, demarcating the importance of renormalizations not yet explored in this field of study – Ergology in the –Brazilian steel industry.

The influence of risk management on the project portfolio success – proposal of a risk intensity matrix

This article aims to understand how the risk management influences the project portfolio success. Two methodological approaches were selected in this research: a bibliometric survey followed by a case study. The object of study was the new products project portfolio of an organization from the industrial sector, manufacturer of durable goods. The findings revealed a low intensity of project portfolio risk management. This is aligned with the bibliometric survey results and with the evidence from the investigation performed on the case study unit. In order to evaluate the risk management influence over the portfolio success, this article proposes a matrix which suggests the risk management intensity associated with the project portfolio management processes. The proposed matrix application can be considered a contribution element to deepen the knowledge of the risk management influence on the project portfolio success.

Comparative analysis of the main business process modeling methods: a bibliometric study

The offer of business process modeling methodologies is quite extensive, making it difficult for scholars in the BPM area to choose properly. In this context, this paper has the objective to present the main modeling methodologies, with applications, examples and comparisons. A systematic bibliographic survey and the comparative analysis of these notations used in the implementation of BPM projects have been carried out. According to the bibliometric analysis, the modeling notations of the business process most portrayed in the works surveyed are: BPMN, UML, EPC and IDEF. From the construction of a consistent overview that allows the comparative analysis of the methodologies, in order to select the one that suits better its specificities it can be verified that, although they share the same objective, each notation has its specific characteristics. This study has the main purpose of providing a basis for the adequate indication of the application of studies in the field, especially those destined for papers, dissertations and theses.

Critical factors of pedagogical management that influence the evasion in higher education distance learning courses: a case study

Society is currently experiencing scientific, technical and social progress, requiring constant renewal with higher quality dedicated to higher education. Distance education (EAD) allows the raise of new learning forms. EAD uses new technologies and the internet to raise the population education level, creating a higher professional qualification and providing training for specialists in several areas of knowledge. Despite the existing facilities and technologies, EAD has evasion rates that are around twenty-five percent. The question that raises from this data is; what are the critical factors associated to pedagogical management that led to this high evasion rate? The objective of the research was to determine the critical factors of pedagogical management, which have an impact on the evasion in undergraduate courses in the EAD. The research place was a higher education center in the north of Santa Catarina state. The identification of the critical factors and main variables that can cause evasion makes use of a method developed for this analysis, with data confronted with the literature, considering the main authors dealing with this topic. The tool chosen for the results analysis was the statistical correlation. Among the critical factors related to pedagogical management, it is possible to mention the adaptation to distance education, and support and feedback as fundamental questions to reduce evasion.

From enthusiasts to systematic innovation: the journey of building the innovation function in a large industrial organization

The creation of a management system to systematically promote innovation is a great challenge for large companies. Some authors argue for the creation of a dedicated organizational function (the Innovation Function – IF) to guide this system. This paper aims to understand how a large company builds an Innovation Function from a longitudinal and retrospective case study. Some aspects regarding the emergence of the IF, its organizational structure evolution, and changes on its team’s scope of action are discussed. The main results highlight the importance of key actors for IF’s recognition by the organization, serving as connecting mediators to other functions and external agents. Besides that, specific competence accumulation, gradual legitimacy acquisition, and project intermediary results enabled the team to deal with radical innovation projects over time.

Logistical challenges and distribution restrictions: analysis based in Niterói retailers perspective

Intensive cargo movement in urban areas generates many vehicles in city centers. As a result, there are congestions increase and intensification of freight transport distribution system challenges. To overcome the difficulties, local traffic rules and restrictions for heavy vehicles are established, but they have an impact on carriers and shopkeepers activities, parcel little heard by surveys. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the difficulties in the receipt of goods in Niterói center, under the view of retailers. The data collected by survey in the study were evaluated trough descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis. The major impasses found were the lack of available places for unloading and intense traffic, and for logistical challenges non-opening to overnight delivery and security level in the receiving periods, due to the urban violence.

Maturity and level of knowledge management in the company: an application of Nonaka and Takeuchi model and Fuzzy Logic

This paper aims to understand how the interconnection between the tacit and explicit dimensions of knowledge impacts knowledge management and its degree of maturity. Knowledge management maturity is understood as the ability firms are expected to have in order to exercise (to some degree) the skills required to manage knowledge internally. Nonaka and Takeuchi (N&T) model of organizational knowledge management was applied to a sample of companies (segmented by size) from the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro, by using the logic of fuzzy sets. The results have shown that small and medium companies have lower levels of knowledge management maturity when compared to large companies. However, in large companies, knowledge management is at medium levels. In this context, this paper suggests, as management guidelines, that companies measure their professionals' perception regarding the company level of knowledge management, pursuing to identify which of their components should be developed.

Planning the use of helicopters in the last mile distribution process in catastrophes

The shortage of funding, the challenging assessment of aid needs, and the lack of transportation systems for the rescue and care of victims represent major constraints to disaster response operations. In order to improve logistical performance in these conditions, including remote and large areas, this paper proposes a formal mathematical model to assist air transport planning, using helicopters, for large-scale disasters, considering multiple deposit systems, multiples vehicles and multiple products, implemented in AIMMS to evaluate its performance. To achieve the objectives, a literature review is conducted to understand the ways in which helicopters are used in aid operations and to identify key steps in decision making and modeling processes. In the end, a hypothetical scenario is created with similar characteristics from the records of earthquake response operations that hit Haiti in 2010 for consolidation and validation of the procedure.

Monitoring multinomial processes based on a weighted chi-square control chart

Interpreting an out-of-control signal is a crucial step in monitoring categorical processes. For the Chi-Square Control Chart (CSCC), an out-of control situation does not specify if it was a process deterioration or a process improvement. For this reason, a weighted chi-square statistical control chart WSCC is proposed with different weighting categories in order to enable an accelerated disclosure of a control situation after a shift due to a deterioration of quality and on the other hand, decelerate an out of control situation after a shift due to a quality improvement. Furthermore, in comparison with Marcucci’s method, the new procedure provides an accurate and easier way to interpret several signals. In other words, the WSCC allows a faster detection of an out-of control situation in the case of a quality deterioration, however, an out-of control situation is not quickly detected in the case of a quality improvement. Indeed, comparative studies have been performed to find the best control chart for each combination. Concluding remarks with comments and recommendations are given based on Average Run Length (ARL) and standard deviation run length (SDRL).

Difficulties observed when implementing Total Productive Maintenance (TPM): empirical evidences from the manufacturing sector

This article analyses the difficulties observed in adopting the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program in production systems. The research strategies used for this purpose consisted of a literature review, a panel of experts and a survey with professionals working in manufacturing companies. Altogether, 69 market professionals took part in the survey and the collected data was analyzed through the PLS-SEM technique. Results indicate that there is a causal relationship between difficulties associated with the planning phase of a TPM program and issues associated with its implementation. This is an original research and the results are valuable to business professionals desiring to properly implement TPM, as well for researchers interested in the mechanics of total productive maintenance system’s adoption.