Abstract Paper aims Presents a new group decision approach for circular business models (CBMs) prioritization based on circular economy (CE) principles and indicators. Originality It was not found in the literature quantitative approaches to indicate which CBMs can be prioritized towards CE implementation. Research method Fuzzy AHP is applied to calculate the weights of the CE principles. Fuzzy TOPSIS is used to rank the CBMs. A pilot application demonstrates the applicability of the proposed approach. Main findings To perform equally on all dimensions of the circularity indicators, recovery by-products have a greater impact on CE implementation. Focusing on economic indicators, Product as a Service and Recovery By-Products should receive priority. Focusing on social indicators, Product as a Service is the most recommended CBM. Implications for theory and practice It was identified the CBMs that are most suitable for performance improvement regarding CE implementation, according to the organization’s dominant CE principles.

Resumo: A concorrência acirrada entre as cadeias de suprimento tem promovido a necessidade de melhores práticas de desenvolvimento e gestão de fornecedores por parte das empresas. O presente artigo busca propor um modelo de avaliação e seleção de fornecedores de manutenção industrial, através da aplicação de uma técnica de tomada de decisão multicritério a fim de categorizar as alternativas de fornecedores. A técnica Fuzzy-TOPSIS foi aplicada para avaliar os critérios referentes às dimensões de custos e confiabilidade dentro de uma matriz de categorização proposta. Realizou-se um estudo de caso em uma indústria sucroenergética, na qual o modelo de avaliação e seleção proposto foi aplicado para verificar as alternativas de manutenção para máquinas agrícolas. O resultado obtido culminou em uma ferramenta para auxiliar o processo de tomada de decisão considerando fontes internas e externas de manutenção. O modelo proposto pôde contribuir para a seleção dos fornecedores de manutenção industrial, uma vez que a avaliação realizada fornece subsídios para uma melhor tomada de decisão.

Abstract: The stiff competition among supply chains has created the necessity of better supplier management and development practices. This paper purposes a model to evaluate and to select suppliers for industrial maintenance by applying a multi-criteria decision-making technique to categorize alternative suppliers. Fuzzy TOPSIS technique was applied to evaluate the criteria related to costs and reliability belonging to a proposed categorization matrix. A case study was carried out in a sugar-energy company, in which the proposed evaluation and selection model was applied to check the existing agricultural machinery maintenance alternatives. The results culminated in a tool to support the decision-making process, helping companies to decide whether to make their own maintenance or to outsource them. The proposed model can contribute to the selection of industrial maintenance suppliers since it provides background for better decision making.

Abstract A successful S&OP implementation can bring many benefits to organizations, and after its implementation, the S&OP process can evolve and reach higher levels of maturity. Considering that, only through a measurement system, goals and benefits can be achieved, thus, it is essential to assess S&OP maturity level. Many papers on literature adopt a quantitative perspective on S&OP, but just few of them deal with uncertainty present in S&OP decision-making, such as maturity model assessment process that carries subjectivity and uncertainty. Thus, this study proposes a decision making model based on fuzzy theory to evaluate and to categorize S&OP maturity levels and to suggest strategies to increase S&OP maturity. A pilot application was conducted in two manufacturing organizations that have implemented the S&OP process. The results, according to the performance presented, suggest different actions must be taken in terms of ensuring enablers to S&OP implementation.

Este trabalho apresenta os recentes estudos sobre clusters e redes de cooperação de pequenas e médias empresas na Europa, realizados pela Comissão Européia, bem como a descrição da atual estratégia de desenvolvimento de redes de competência na Alemanha (Kompetenznetze Deutschland), abordando especificamente o caso da região de Berlim e Brandemburgo. O objetivo principal é, por meio das análises dos programas europeus de desenvolvimento de clusters e redes de cooperação entre pequenas e médias empresas, verificar possibilidades de adaptação para a realidade brasileira no que se refere a arranjos produtivos locais e parques tecnológicos. Em linhas gerais, pequenas e médias empresas pertencentes a clusters na Europa têm demonstrado desempenho acima da média quando comparadas às demais empresas de seus respectivos setores. O aumento da competitividade de clusters e o crescimento econômico regional estão fortemente associados ao investimento em inovação. Esse é o caso da Alemanha que incentiva o desenvolvimento de inovação por meio de suas redes de competência. A região Berlim-Brandemburgo retrata o exemplo de uma estratégia coerente de desenvolvimento local. Pode-se dizer que possíveis alternativas para o Brasil seriam o apoio mais direto do poder público, foco em inovação e definição de processos para gerenciamento das redes de cooperação.

This paper presents studies on clusters and cooperation networks of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developed by the European Commission, as well as a description of the current German strategy for developing competence networks (Kompetenznetze Deutschland), focusing specifically on the case of the regions of Berlin and Brandenburg. The main goal of this work is to analyze the experience of the European and German initiatives and to verify the possibilities of adapting such initiatives to the context of local productive systems and technology parks in Brazil. In general, the SMEs in European clusters were found to perform better than other SMEs in their respective sectors. Increasing competitiveness of clusters and regional economic growth were found to be strongly tied to investments in innovation. The lessons learned from this study which could possibly be applied to Brazil are a more direct support of the public sector, a stronger focus on innovation, and the definition of management processes for cooperation networks.