Abstract The temperature of refrigerated products along the cold chain must be kept within pre-defined limits to ensure adequate safety levels and high product quality. Because temperature largely influences microbial activities, the continuous monitoring of the time-temperature history over the distribution process usually allows for the adequate control of the product quality along both short- and medium-distance distribution routes. Time-Temperature Indicators (TTI) are composed of temperature measurements taken at various time intervals and are used to feed analytic models that monitor the impacts of temperature on product quality. Process Capability Indices (PCI), however, are calculated using TTI series to evaluate whether the thermal characteristics of the process are within the specified range. In this application, a refrigerated food delivery route is investigated using a simulated annealing algorithm that considers alternative delivery schemes. The objective of this investigation is to minimize the distance traveled while maintaining the vehicle temperature within the prescribed capability level.

A plena satisfação dos clientes/usuários tornou-se um paradigma da moderna Logística. No entanto, entidades portuárias não têm procurado avaliar de forma sistematizada as opiniões dos usuários em relação aos serviços a eles oferecidos. Neste trabalho é discutida a aplicação de técnicas de preferência declarada ou de análise conjunta para quantificar os pesos associados aos diferentes fatores que regem o nível de serviço no processo de exportação de produtos manufaturados. A metodologia é aplicada às indústrias catarinenses que vêm exportando em contêineres através dos portos do estado.

The export of manufatured products by Brazilian industries is burdenned by heavy land transportation costs and port expenses, in association with unsatisfactory logistics service levels when compared with similar conditions abroad. Costumers' full satisfaction has become a paradigm of modern Logistics. However, Brazilian port authorities have not tried to evaluate in a systematic way the users' opinions with respect to the services offered to them. In this paper we discuss the application of stated preference or conjoint analysis techniques to quantify the weights associated with the different factors that make up the service level in the exporting process of manufactured goods. The methodology is applied to the industries of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, which export products in containers through local ports.

Os programas de pós -graduação em engenharia têm formado, no país, quantidade apreciável de mestrês nos últimos anos. Parcela muito pequena desses, no entanto, tem sido constituída por empregados de empresas que efetivamente os tenham enviado à Universidade para a obtenção de títulos pós-graduados. Por outro lado, em razão da recessão por que passamos, muitos dos candidatos a programas de mestrado em engenharia são jovens que não conseguiram emprego na indústria. Muitos desses jovens continuarão rondando as universidades e os órgãos de fomento, tentando prosseguir seus estudos (doutorado), pleiteando uma bolsa no exterior, etc. Na América do Norte e na Europa tem-se lançado mão, em larga escala, do ensino à distância de nível superior, visando suprir as necessidades do sistema produtivo e da sociedade. Neste artigo discutem-se os aspectos conceituais e técnicos ligados ao ensino à distância na Europa e na América do Norte, apresentando-se uma bibliografia atualizada sobre a questão. Em seguida é feita uma análise das perspectivas e condições para sua implantação no Brasil.

The post-graduate Engineering programmes in Brazil have produced quite a number of new masters during the past few years. Only a small part of them, however, are employees specifically sent by their employers to obtain an advanced degree at the University. On the other hand, due to the economic recession, a good part of the master's candidates are young people that were not able to get a position in the job market. Most of them will be still wandering around the university after getting their master's diploma. Some will try a further doctor's programme. Others will seek a scholarship to study abroad, etc. This means that the impact of the Brazilian post-graduation programmes on the country’s developing process has been not too significant. In North America and in Europe distance education has been used extensively, even at the post-graduate level, with the clear objective of responding to the needs of the industry and society, and improving the skills of the labor force. This paper brings out, to the Brazilian audience, some conceptual and technical aspects related to distance education in Europe and North America. An updated bibliography will help the reader to further investigate the subject in more detail. An analysis of the perpectives and conditions to successfully introduce distance education in Brazil is presented.