Abstract Adequate preparation, learning, and training is required for Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to aid organizations in achieving the full expected benefits from its implementation. This paper presents a case method for S&OP and the learning experience of its application at the University of Münster (Germany). The “constructive alignment principle” was applied with a “team teaching” approach, involving an executive from the case company. Students improved their knowledge on S&OP and their analytical skills by understanding the conceptual S&OP building blocks and by learning how to deal with them to provide a solution for a case based on a real-life situation. The learning results were evaluated positively during the discipline’s student evaluation of teaching (SET). The applied case method enhanced the student’s motivation and engagement (e.g., higher preparation effort and class attendance), which were considered higher than in other disciplines with the traditional lecture-based education.

Abstract The academic literature presents a research-practice gap on the application of decision support tools to address tactical planning problems in real-world organisations. This paper addresses this gap and extends a previous action research relative to an optimisation model applied for tactical capacity planning in an engineer-to-order industrial setting. The issues discussed herein raise new insights to better understand the practical results that can be achieved through the proposed model. The topics presented include the modelling of objectives, the representation of the production process and the costing approach, as well as findings regarding managerial decisions and the scope of action considered. These insights may inspire ideas to academics and practitioners when developing tools for capacity planning problems in similar contexts.

Resiliência na cadeia de suprimentos e flexibilidade são temas de pesquisa que tem tido crescente atenção. Entretanto, a literatura acadêmica necessita de estudos empíricos sobre resiliência em cadeias de suprimentos capazes de investigar os componentes interorganizacionais de flexibilidade ao longo de seus diferentes elos. Assim, este artigo analisa a falta de flexibilidades em três cadeias de suprimentos da indústria automobilística brasileira que limitam sua resiliência e, portanto, sua capacidade de atender às mudanças de demanda no mercado. Uma abordagem multi-elos é adotada. Os resultados da pesquisa identificaram falta de flexibilidade em diferentes elos das cadeias de suprimentos que inibem sua resiliência. Os resultados também apontam que uma mesma cadeia pode ter flexibilidade para ser resiliente para um de seus produtos, mas não para outro, o que sugere novas frentes de pesquisa. Finalmente, cadeias de suprimentos flexíveis devem ser concebidas provendo resiliência para lidar com entraves como mudanças significativas de demanda.

Supply chain (SC) resilience and flexibility are important research topics receiving growing attention. However, the academic literature needs empirical studies on SC resilience capable of investigating the inter-organizational components of flexibility along different tiers. Therefore, this paper analyzes the main lack of flexibilities in three Brazilian automotive SCs that limit their resilience and therefore their capacity to better support and meet the demand changes in the marketplace. A multi-tier case study approach is adopted. Research findings identify lack of flexibilities in different tiers that inhibit the SC resilience as well as manufacturing and SC flexibilities that build SC resilience. The findings also highlight that the same SC may have the flexibility to be resilient for one of its products but not for another product, what sheds new lights on the academic literature. Finally, flexible SCs should be designed to increase SC resilience to cope with mishaps as significant demand changes.

Resiliencia en la cadena de suministros y flexibilidad son temas de estudio que han tenido una creciente atención. Sin embargo, la literatura académica necesita estudios empíricos sobre resiliencia en las cadenas de suministros capaces de investigar los componentes interorganizacionales de flexibilidad a lo largo de sus diferentes eslabones. De esta manera, este artículo analiza la falta de flexibilidades en tres cadenas de suministros de la industria automovilística brasileña que limitan su resiliencia y, por lo tanto, su capacidad de atender a los cambios de demanda en el mercado. Para este fin se adopta un abordaje multieslabones. Los resultados del estudio identificaron la falta de flexibilidad en diferentes eslabones de las cadenas de suministros que inhiben su resiliencia. Los resultados también señalan que una misma cadena puede tener flexibilidad para ser resiliente en uno de sus productos, pero no para otro, lo que sugiere nuevos frentes de investigación. Finalmente, se deben ser concebir cadenas de suministros flexibles proveyendo resiliencia para tratar con obstáculos como cambios significativos de demanda.

The theories of transaction cost economics (TCE) and the resource-based view (RBV) have been applied in studies of outsourcing. The research presented in this study was conducted to gain an understanding of why firms outsource their value chain activities, using a combined TCE and RBV perspective. The research assesses how six instant coffee firms in Brazil perceive the rationale for their outsourcing processes. The authors conclude that the two theories should be used together to determine a firm's frontiers, and they offer a mechanism for combining them. The results, relevant to both academics and practitioners, reveal that outsourcing should be defined at two stages: an initial strategic stage in which the activities that should be performed internally are identified, based on RBV, and a second stage in which the activities that can be performed externally are examined and those that should be outsourced are identified on the basis of both TCE and RBV. Insights relevant to practitioners include the importance of the executive leadership role in defining a firm's outsourcing strategy and the need for constant vigilance to prevent opportunism in relationships with trading partners.

The evaluation of suppliers’ performance is important for organizations because of the imperative role they play in the supply chains and the importance that purchasing functions have due to the outsourcing of activities which are not part of the company’s know-how. There is a need to work on the identification of practical problems concerning the design and implementation of supplier performance measurement systems (SPMS). This paper presents the most important factors in designing and implementing such systems through an action research in a multinational media enterprise. In addition to the details of the method and results of its application, the paper presents an analysis of processes and attributes that define the design of the proposed system. The authors aim to contribute to the academic literature in providing practical issues regarding SPMS.

La evaluación de los proveedores es importante para las organizaciones debido al papel preponderante que éstos cumplen en la dinámica de las cadenas de suministros y a la importancia estratégica que las funciones de compra tienen a raíz de la tercerización de los procesos que no forman parte del know-how de la empresa. No obstante, la literatura académica carece de trabajos concernientes al diseño e implementación de sistemas de medición de desempeño de proveedores (SMDP). En ese contexto, este artículo presenta los factores más importantes del diseño de un SMDP, resaltando, a través de un caso de estudio, los cuidados y recomendaciones que deben ser considerados. Además del detalle del método y los resultados de su aplicación, el artículo presenta el análisis de los procesos y atributos que definen el diseño del SMDP propuesto.

O processo de desenvolvimento de contêineres e o desenvolvimento de redes de transporte intermodal têm provocado crescente competição no setor portuário e vêm, no mundo inteiro, interferindo nas zonas de influência dos portos (hinterlands). Essas hinterlands estão deixando de ser cativas de um determinado porto para serem de múltipla influência de dois ou mais portos. O presente trabalho apresenta um estudo cujo objetivo é caracterizar a dinâmica portuária à luz da desenvolvimento de contêineres, mapear a discussão acerca do conceito de hinterlands e apresentar metodologias para sua delimitação. Essa contextualização conceitual e metodológica encontra-se ilustrada com sua aplicação ao caso do terminal de contêineres do porto de Rio Grande com apoio de Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG). Como resultado, os autores concluem que a delimitação de hinterlands é essencial para auxiliar o planejamento do desenvolvimento portuário por parte de Autoridades Portuárias e Terminais Privativos num cenário de crescente competição.

The containerization process and the development of intermodal transport networks have lead to a competitive scenario in the port sector and have modified their hinterlands all over the world. Those hinterlands are no longer captive areas of one port but competitive areas among two or more ports. The objectives of the present study are to characterize the port development due to the containerization process, to map the discussion on the concept of ports' hinterlands, and to present methodologies for their delimitation. Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS), this conceptual and methodological context allows the application of a methodology in a case study that embraces the container terminal of the port of Rio Grande. As a result, the authors conclude that the delimitation of hinterlands, in a growing competitive scenario, is essential to assist the port planning and development by Port Authorities or by private terminals.

A indústria automotiva está passando por transformações que vêm provocando a diversificação e segmentação do mercado, a redução do ciclo de vida de modelos de veículos e a oferta de variedades de atributos desses modelos para os clientes. Este artigo tem por objetivos analisar essas tendências e avaliar as principais estratégias desenvolvidas e implementadas pelas montadoras de veículos nos mercados brasileiro e europeu, para fazer face a estas tendências. Os resultados obtidos no Brasil pelos autores deste artigo foram analisados tendo como base a metodologia científica adotada em uma pesquisa similar desenvolvida na Europa. Os resultados mostram como as estratégias de plataformas, de configuração tardia e de pacotes de opcionais estão sendo implementadas pelas montadoras, permitindo uma comparação entre os dois mercados examinados.

The automotive industry is undergoing transformations that have led to the segmentation and diversification of its market, reductions in the life cycle of vehicle models, and the offer of a variety of features of these models to consumers. Within this context, this paper analyzes these trends and evaluates the key strategies developed and implemented by Brazilian and European automakers in face of these trends. Our findings, which are analyzed using the same methodology adopted in a similar survey conducted in Europe, indicate how platform, late configuration and option bundling strategies have been implemented by automakers, allowing for a comparison of the two markets in question.

Nos últimos anos a Gestão da Cadeia de Suprimentos (Supply Chain Management - SCM) tem criado oportunidades e desafios para a competição no mundo dos negócios. Por sua vez, a análise das configurações das cadeias é um tema que tem se tornado importante porque permite identificar potenciais oportunidades de melhorias na gestão e na tomada de decisão dos diversos elos das cadeias. Nesse contexto, este artigo apresenta um modelo com o intuito de analisar Cadeias de Suprimento baseado em dimensões-chave. O modelo foi validado através de um estudo de caso conduzido em diferentes Cadeias de Suprimento de um grande fabricante nacional de cilindros de armazenamento de Gás Natural Veicular (GNV).

In recent years, Supply Chain Management has created opportunities and challenges for competition in the world of business. As a result, chain configuration analysis has become an increasingly important theme which allows one to identify potential opportunities for improved management and decision-making in the various links in supply chains. In this context, this article presents a model which is used here to analyze supply chains based on key dimensions. The model was validated through a case study conducted in different supply chains of a large Brazilian Compressed Natural Gas cylinder manufacturer.