ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The fragility of healthcare systems worldwide had not been exposed by any pandemic until now. The lack of integrated methods for bed capacity planning compromises the effectiveness of public and private hospitals’ services. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of intensive care unit and clinical beds for Brazilian states, using an integrated model. DESIGN AND SETTING: Experimental study applying healthcare informatics to data on COVID-19 cases from the official electronic platform of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: A predictive model based on the historical records of Brazilian states was developed to estimate the need for hospital beds during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The proposed model projected in advance that there was a lack of 22,771 hospital beds for Brazilian states, of which 38.95% were ICU beds, and 61.05% were clinical beds. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed approach provides valuable information to help hospital managers anticipate actions for improving healthcare system capacity.

ABSTRACT Industries conduct the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to balance demand and supply aligned to business targets. This study aims at proposing a model and an algorithm for the tactical supply chain planning admitting uncertainty and reflecting the peculiar S&OP aspect of rolling horizon planning. Therefore, a two-stage stochastic programming model is developed and solved via a multi-cut Benders decomposition algorithm. The model and the solution method are evaluated by numerical experiments and a case study. Results show that the optimal supply chain profit is not proportional to demand, in fact, an increase in demand can even decrease the optimal profit due to capacity constraints along the supply chain. Such findings reinforce that profitability and service level are increased with the synergy of the sales team with production, distribution and procurement team on establishing which demand should be satisfied - or not - in each period. The stochastic solution is compared to deterministic approaches.

Abstract Paper aims To set the locations of new medical centers to meet the population’s secondary care needs, the additional number of specialists, equipment, and an installation sequence at municipalities. Originality We developed descriptive cost functions models and adopted aggregate data from official sources to set parameters of an integrated MILP model. Research method A case study at the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Main findings For every scenario, the recommended locations set centers dispersed over the state area, in cities with the minimum required infrastructure. We also propose a scenario of secondary care network re-design and demonstrate the reduced cost of such a strategy. Implications for theory and practice To automate the decision process, we developed a web-based system, providing flexibility and scientific-based results. Finally, we propose a sequence for installing 43 new medical centers and improving the capacity of 27 existing infrastructure based on equality principles.

In this work, a mixed integer nonlinear programming model combining direct service links, demand uncertainty and congestion effects is proposed. This model is efficiently solved by Generalized Benders Decomposition, for instances of moderate sizes and reasonable number of scenarios. The deployed algorithms are further used for re-designing the Brazilian air transportation network, enabling the analysis of future demand scenarios and providing decision support about the optimal investment policy for Brazil.

Neste trabalho se propõe um novo problema envolvendo linhas de montagem. Nele se considera a necessidade de reconfiguração devido à mudança no tempo de ciclo requerido. Para tratá-lo, foram propostos quatro modelos de programação inteira mista, sendo três deles baseados em um horizonte de planejamento discretizado em períodos, o que dá ao problema um caráter dinâmico. Simultaneamente, força-se a suavização da carga de trabalho entre as estações, limitando-a com valores mínimos e máximos. Os modelos foram implementados em um pacote comercial de programação matemática e os resultados de alguns testes preliminares são reportados. Comparações entre o uso sucessivo de abordagens clássicas (tipo SALBP) e a modelagem dinâmica demonstram a superioridade da abordagem proposta.

In this paper we present a new problem involving assembly lines. It arises when successive variations in the cycle time force line re-configuration. We propose four mixed integer programming formulations for the problem, three of them using a time horizon divided in periods. Such assumption gives the problem a dynamic character. The models try to smooth the workload among the stations by forcing it to fall between minimum and maximum values predefined by the user. They were implemented in a commercial package for mathematical programming and some results are reported. Comparisons were made against the repetitive use of classical models (SALBP like) to demonstrate the superiority of this new approach.

Este artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de redução do tempo de preparação de máquina (tempo de changeover) para ambientes voláteis de manufatura contratada do setor eletroeletrônico e de informática.. As empresas desse setor fabricam uma grande variedade de produtos caracterizados por um alto valor agregado, curto ciclo de vida e instabilidade da demanda, exigindo flexibilidade das empresas para acompanhar o dinamismo do mercado. Com isso, a produção enxuta surge como uma alternativa, já que tem como características fluxo contínuo de produção, altos níveis de qualidade, redução de custos e agilidade na introdução de mudanças, fatores primordiais para se atingir a flexibilidade. O presente artigo tem como foco a redução do tempo de troca de ferramentas em uma linha de produção que utiliza a tecnologia de montagem em superfície conhecida como SMT (Surface Mount Technology). A diminuição desse tempo é relevante, pois possibilita a redução da necessidade de estoques intermediários; aumento da flexibilidade de produção com lotes e lead times menores; aumento de produtividade; respostas rápidas a mudanças de volume; e velocidade na programação da produção. A metodologia utilizada foi a pesquisa ação. O artigo traz contribuições teóricas e práticas além da aplicação da metodologia desenvolvida no setor de manufatura contratada. O método desenvolvido possibilitou ganhos importantes de flexibilidade de resposta a alterações de variedade e volume, traduzidos em ganhos de flexibilidade, produtividade e financeiros.

This paper presents the development of a methodology to reduce the machine preparation time (changeover time) in volatile environments of the informatics and electronic contract manufacturing. The companies of this sector produce a large product variety characterized for a high aggregate value, short life cycle, and demand instability requiring flexibility to follow the dynamism of the market. Thus, the lean manufacturing seems to be a good alternative since its main characteristics are: continuous production flow, high quality level, low costs, and fast changes' introduction. The focus of this study is to reduce tool change time in a production line that uses the SMT (Surface Mount Technology). Time reduction is extremely important because it leads to the reduction of intermediate inventor, increases production flexibility with short lots and lead times, productivity increase, fast responses to improvements of the amount and production programming. The methodology used was the Action Research. The paper brings theoretical and practical contributions besides the application of the developed methodology in the contract manufacturing sector. The method developed allowed flexibility to respond to variety and volume changes resulting in considerable financial, productivity, and flexibility gains.

Nas indústrias cujo sistema de produção é caracterizado pelo sistema job shop, os fluxos de fabricação são complexos e as máquinas são agrupadas por processo, oferecendo um alto grau de flexibilidade em termos de variedade de produtos. Entretanto, essa flexibilidade é acompanhada de elevados tempos de setup, alto volume de estoque de produtos em processo e baixo volume de produção. Este artigo evidencia como a manufatura celular, particularmente a Análise do Fluxo de Fabricação (AFF), pode ser utilizada para otimizar o fluxo de materiais. A aplicação da metodologia AFF em uma pequena empresa do setor moveleiro possibilitou a formação de grupo de máquinas em células, com a obtenção de um novo fluxo de materiais, mais simplificado, com um layout melhor, um melhor reordenamento das operações-chave de produção e ganhos de produtividade.

Machine layout in a job shop production system is basically a process where machines performing similar processes are grouped together. By physically grouping identical machines together, this production systems offers a high degree of flexibility. However, this flexibility entails many problems, such as high setup costs, inefficient material flow, high inventory cost and low productivity. To circumvent the above mentioned problems, this paper presents a methodology based on production flow analysis. The experimental study took place in a corporation of the furniture industry. The results on cellular manufacturing and production flow analysis show that this methodology was able to reduce material handling time, setup time and throughput time. In addition, a new cellular layout was achieved.

Esse artigo tem como objetivo avaliar o desempenho logístico de quatro elos da cadeia brasileira de suprimentos de refrigerantes (fornecedores de embalagem para refrigerantes, indústria de refrigerantes, atacado e supermercado), adotando como metodologia o survey eletrônico. As repostas foram analisadas utilizando-se os testes estatísticos Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis, além de uma análise descritiva dos dados e da realização dos testes de hipótese. As empresas avaliaram o desempenho logístico da cadeia, por meio de indicadores da logística interna e externa, e identificaram a percentagem de uso desses indicadores. A taxa média de respostas foi de 40%. A pesquisa mostrou que os elos da cadeia de refrigerantes utilizam mais os indicadores de desempenho, que avaliam a logística interna, do que os que avaliam a logística externa.

An evaluation was made of the logistics performance of four links in Brazil's soft drink supply chain (soft drink packaging suppliers, soft drink industry, wholesalers and supermarkets), based on an electronic survey of 54 companies, from which a 40% response rate was obtained. The answers were analyzed based on the supply chain management theory, using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests and a descriptive analysis of the data. The surveyed companies evaluated the logistic performance of the chain based on indicators selected from a literature review, and identified the percentage of use of these indicators. It was found that the links in the soft drink chain preferentially use internal logistics performance indicators more than external logistics indicators.