Brazilian Automotive Industry Research Articles

Application of Fuzzy Topsis for Prioritizing Barriers to Circular Economy Adoption in the Automotive Sector: A Study in an Emerging Country

Acknowledging the substantial economic, social, and environmental impacts of sustainability and circular economy (CE) practices, their imperative role in the automotive industry cannot be overstated. Despite this significance, there is a lack of studies addressing these critical themes within the automotive sector. This paper aims to bridge this gap by providing an examination of the barriers hindering the adoption of CE principles, with a specific focus on the Brazilian automotive industry. A survey, involving 41 experts comprising 21 academics specializing in sustainability and CE, 16 experienced managers, and 4 directors with substantial automotive industry expertise, was conducted. The study identified and evaluated 12 barriers to CE adoption in the automotive sector based on the experts’ assessment using Fuzzy TOPSIS. The study's findings underscore the scarcity of professionals with sufficient knowledge and expertise), the absence of supportive public policies, and the inadequate commitment from leadership as the top three priority barriers. The research recommends targeted actions for companies, policymakers, and universities to collaboratively contribute towards overcoming these identified barriers and fostering a sustainable and circular trajectory for the automotive industry.

The role of public policies in the development of the brazilian automotive industry

Since the 1950s, the Brazilian automotive sector has been supported by different public policies until the present day. Despite the importance of the Brazilian automotive industry in the national and global scene, there is no concrete empirical research that correlates with the different public policies have shaped the progress of this sector in the country. Thus, this paper aims to evaluate how the different public policies contributed to the development of the Brazilian automotive sector. To capture those impacts, it is necessary to develop a methodological approach supported by a systematic review of the literature and research some specific indicators that will allow measuring the results. The results indicate that each of the public policies contributed different mechanisms for the redefinition of local strategies for the development of products, investments in technologies and innovation and the installation of new automakers in Brazil. The main limitations of the research are a large volume of fragmented information and the results of public policies not always easily measurable and available to allow a more concrete analysis of their effectiveness or provide elements that support the reformulation of new public strategies.

Presenteeism and noise perception at work: a cross-sectional study using association analysis.

Presenteeism refers to the presence of a worker at work with reduced performance due to illness, and it is a common public health problem. Exposure to noise during production processes brings risk to workers' health. To analyze the health profile of workers in the automotive industry and identify the association between noise perception and presenteeism among workers in the Brazilian automotive industry. This was a cross-sectional study utilizing a case study design analyzing the automotive industry in the interior of São Paulo state, Brazil. This study included 306 workers using the Presenteeism Work Limitations Questionnaire protocol. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. Male workers with reports of headache, tension, and limited well-being at work, having perceived that noise exposure interferes with productivity, showed a positive association with the occurrence of presenteeism. Physical demand had the highest score in terms of interfering with the presenteeism index. Workers' perceptions of noise were associated with presenteeism.

The Role of Public Policies in the Development of the Brazilian Automotive Industry

Since the 1950s, the Brazilian automotive sector has been supported by different public policies. Despite the importance of the industry, there are no recent studies that analyze how the different public policies have shaped the progress of this sector since the beginning of the public policy phases. This paper evaluates how public policies contributed to the development of the Brazilian automotive sector. To capture those impacts, it is necessary to develop a methodological approach supported by a systematic review of the literature and research specific indicators that will allow measuring the results. The results indicate that each of the public policies contributed different mechanisms for the redefinition of local strategies for the development of products, investments in technologies and innovation, and the installation of new automakers in Brazil. The main limitations of the research are a large volume of fragmented information and the results of public policies are not always easily measurable and available in order to allow a more concrete analysis of their effectiveness or provide elements that support the reformulation of new public strategies.

A multi-start local search heuristic for the multi-period auto-carrier loading and transportation problem in Brazil

This paper deals with a variation of the Dynamic Multi-Period Auto-Carrier Transportation Problem (DMPACTP) applied to real-world problems in the automotive industry in Brazil. The problem consists in finding the set of vehicles to be loaded into auto-carriers over a planning horizon of multiple days while minimizing the total transportation cost and fulfilling the loading constraints and meeting the delivery deadlines. Our study considers that the loading sequence policy at each stop is not required, and a minimum cost of auto-carriers is calculated on a per trip basis. We propose a Multi-Start Local Search Heuristic (MSLSH) to solve large-scale instances that arise in practice. Computational experiments compare the solutions obtained by means of our heuristic with the exact solutions for four medium size instances faced by a major Brazilian 3PL as well as with the manual allocation for two larger instances comprising 3,865 and 3,809 vehicles that could not be solved using the exact model. The results show that the proposed heuristic is able to obtain the optimal solutions for all the tested medium-sized instances. For large-sized instances that cannot be solved to optimality, we could obtain significant total transportation cost reductions (up to 15.40%) and lower number of vehicles delivered after the promised due date compared to the 3PL manual allocation. The 3PL was satisfied with the results and intends to deploy it into production environment as the MSLSH is robust, does not require extensive parameter calibration and it is easy to implement.

The government as an inducer of the automotive industry: propositions for Brazilian automotive sector

Paper aims This paper aims to create propositions that would be a guide the future construction of an industrial policy capable of rebuilding the Brazilian automotive industry (IAB) through the creation of demand by scrappage policy. Originality This paper is based on more than 470 IAB representatives’ answers, C-Level/Senior Executives, converting experience and empiric perspectives in scientific knowledge. Research method Hypothetical-Deductive research were conducted applying survey as procedure and Delphi Method as technique, using electronic tools to collect data, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches in statistical data analysis. Main findings Were identified a consensus among IAB representatives and literature evidences about scrappage policy as an engine regarding sustenance of automotive industry and the need for rules that guide national competitiveness key factors. Implications for theory and practice The paper theoretical and practice implications are provide subsidies to future sectorial policies based on empirical experience of more than 470 IAB representatives.

Evaluating the eco-efficiency of loading transport vehicles: A Brazilian case study

In today's world, the transportation industry is globally known for its high energy consumption and intensive use of fossil fuels. However, the search for more sustainable, less resource-carrying, and environmentally friendly transportation alternatives is growing. In this sense, this paper aims to analyze the eco-efficiency of transports using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in the Brazilian automotive industry and so to propose a method to measure the performance of transports from the perspective of sustainable development. In this case study, there were considered eleven alternatives and four variables: load capacity, fuel efficiency, total emissions, and energetic consumption. As a reference, it was used data provided by the Brazilian program for the rationalization of the use of petroleum derivatives and natural gas, Inmetro and Petrobras, and by the automobile manufacturers of the vehicles analyzed. Findings indicate that the use of DEA provided evidence of a closer view of operational reality, and proved to be an adequate and complementary tool, allowing greater discrimination for eco-efficiency analysis of vehicles. Thus, the proposed approach can bring important insights to improve the Government evaluation regarding the energy efficiency of vehicles and is up to enrich the body of knowledge in organizational sustainability management and its performance measurement in the transports sector. Finally, the main contributions of this study include: (i) it is an extension of previous DEA works that assesses the efficiency of the road transport sector, considering also undesirable variables; and it (ii) allows a comparative assessment of car eco-efficiency using DEA model, combining desirable and undesirable results, and provides the unified efficiency of the Brazilian transportation industry.

Innovation Ecosystems in the Automotive Industry between Opportunities and Limitations

The creation of effective innovation ecosystems (IES) at the national or sectoral level remains a difficult and not always feasible task. Basing on evidence from the Brazilian automotive industry, a case of unused opportunities for building a strong IES is considered. This is due to the insensitivity of such ecosystems to new complicated configurations and the formats of non-traditional interaction that they suggest - a “new ecology of competition”, etc. The internal context of companies in relation to the practice of open innovation has been studied. Despite joint projects with close value chain partners, carmakers are showing a closed attitude to external collaboration, unlike players in industries such as aerospace or information and communications technology that gained growth and major transformation by building a broader IES. Only a high demand from the government for creating a strong IES can change the situation.

Supply chain resilience and industry 4.0: a evaluation of the Brazilian northeast automotive OEM scenario post COVID-19

COVID-19 outbreak has heavily impacted the manufacturing industry, including Brazilian Automotive Industry. The effects of COVID-19 created restrictions in several industry processes as supply chain. On the other hand, several industry 4.0 technologies is able to support the industry supply chain activities in the COVID 19 scenarios, as well it may contributed for the automotive industry recovery and it will define the next steps of this industry. A supply chain is a network between a company and its suppliers to produce and distribute a specific product to the final buyer. Industry 4.0 is related to the technology development and the digitalization process that improve significantly productivity. Considering the automotive process, an important reference model is described in Advanced Product Quality Planning and Control Plan, that is a manual that communicate the guidelines of the product quality planning and control plan for internal and external suppliers. In this scenario, this paper evaluated the current situation and the future outlook for the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in the automotive OEM post-pandemic scenario on the point of view of automotive specialists. The results of this research provide an overview of the current situation and the future outlook for the usage of Industry 4.0 technologies by the Brazilian Northeast automotive OEM, from the perspective of manufacturing engineering experts on APQP.

A DEA-based approach to assess manufacturing performance through operations strategy lenses

While operations strategy is critical in competitiveness, research gaps exist in applying performance frontier methodologies to identify competitive priorities in operations strategy. The concept of performance efficiency frontier can identify the competitiveness drivers specifying the maximum performance that can be achieved by a given set of inputs. This paper proposes and tests a process to measure, assess, and address improvements in manufacturing performance by operations strategy. A five-step procedure, based on the super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA), supports the improvement recommendations. Secondary data of the fourth round of the High-Performance Manufacturing (HPM) survey grounds the benchmarking analysis and assessment. The proposed framework is tested using the in-depth case of a company from the Brazilian automotive industry. The results identified the main gaps of the company to become a market leader through the enhancement of its operations strategic positioning. Improvement recommendations are developed based on a gap analysis of the input variables. By integrating the operations strategy definition within the performance frontier analysis, we guided the competitiveness improvement of the case company.

Global and Local Corrosion of Welded Joints of High-Strength Low-Alloy Automotive Steel

Global and local corrosion techniques were used to study the corrosion behavior of weld joints of a high-strength low-alloy steel (LNE500) typically used in the automotive industry in Brazil. The welded joints were prepared by gas metal arc welding. Two welding transfer modes were used to obtain different heat inputs: pulsed (PUL) and cold metal transfer (CMT). Local and global corrosion analysis techniques presented complementary information. While the local in situ analysis (scanning vibrating electrode technique) revealed the weld metal (WM) as the region where corrosion started, conventional electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic polarization [PP] and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy [EIS]) revealed a higher corrosion rate in the coarse-grained heat affected zone, which was preferentially corroded. A superior corrosion resistance of the WM obtained using CMT over the PUL transfer mode was revealed by EIS and PP. In addition, the results from CMT and PUL samples show that the austenite grain size affects the propagation of the corrosion process. The results are discussed based on microstructural and compositional aspects of the different regions that characterize the welded joints.

Relational resources, tacit knowledge integration capability, and business performance

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how relational resources, such as the buyer’s trust in its suppliers and the level of supplier involvement, affect the level of tacit knowledge integration capabilities (TKICs) of the firm, which, in turn, is hypothesized to affect business performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on the dynamic capabilities theory and the relational view, this paper examines how TKIC, a special case of dynamic capability, influences business performance. The research context is the Brazilian automobile industry, in which firms are currently experimenting with modular production and increasing their interactions with suppliers. Using a sample of automobile suppliers, this investigates how relational resources, such as the buyer’s trust in its suppliers and the level of supplier involvement, affect the level of TKIC, which, in turn, is hypothesized to affect business performance. In addition, this paper examines the moderating effect of various communication media on the TKIC-business performance relationship. The findings confirm the importance of relational resources and TKIC on business performance. Finally, this paper explores various theoretical and managerial implications to encourage future research.FindingsThe results suggested that the two relational resources (supplier involvement and buyer’s trust) are important drivers of TKICs and that the level of supplier involvement in the production process mediates the relationship between buyer’s trust and TKIC. Moreover, this study found that TKIC leads to superior firm performance, but the degree of media naturalness does not seem to facilitate knowledge transfer. The results confirm that supplier involvement is a pivotal process in that the buying firm’s internal resources and the major suppliers’ resources and capabilities are combined to achieve a competitive advantage – TKIC.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is subject to the typical limitations inherent in cross-sectional research designs using subjective measures. That said, this still has some important implications indicating that relational resources, such as buyer’s trust and supplier involvement, are critical in developing TKIC that “seize” opportunities from interfirm relationships and integrate knowledge across and within firm boundaries. Moreover, while knowledge management tools can resemble face-to-face interactions to the largest extent, the research suggested that it cannot substitute face-to-face communications in transferring tacit knowledge.Practical implicationsManagers deal with complex interactions and linkages due to tacit knowledge from components, systems and modules, which are critical in developing organizational capabilities. Relational resources are important strategic assets facilitating resource combination and coordination. Managers must coordinate among multiple sources of learning and partner with their suppliers at an earlier stage to develop the relational capabilities and efficiently steer the process of boundary redefinition. Finally, managers must have the ability to manage tacit knowledge within the interface with suppliers using organizational mechanisms (i.e. TKIC) to help them absorb external knowledge from their supplier network and integrate it with specific internal competences.Social implicationsRecent disruptive technological developments pressure organizations to become more flexible by requiring firms to adapt quickly to constantly changing markets and to have the ability to apply different resources and capabilities to specific unique situations. All this with a huge impact on the firm’s employees and society in general. Thus, interfirm relationships and the role of knowledge integration is especially crucial, given the current industry trend in favor of experimenting with innovative production methods (e.g. flexible manufacturing and modular production) that can help managers to rethink work conditions in a more meaningful and flexible for society.Originality/valueWhile prior research treats integrative capability mainly as a mechanism that explains superior firms’ performance in an interfirm relationship, few research efforts have explicated what shapes TKICs. By examining the relationship between relational resources, TKIC and performance, this study fills this research gap and develops and tests a theoretical framework.

Incentivos fiscais para comercialização de veículos no Brasil Programa ROTA 2030

O objetivo deste artigo foi demonstrar o impacto do programa de incentivos fiscais no desenvolvimento das organizações, enfatizando indicadores de empregabilidade e produtividade. Mediante metodologia pesquisa descritiva e qualitativa, foram utilizados dados bibliográficos coletados de publicações como Anuário da Indústria Automobilística Brasileira dos anos de 2010 a 2018, com todas as informações do setor, onde se busca dar ênfase nos indicadores eleitos para este processo de análise. O resultado esperado procurou verificar se há impacto positivo ou negativo nos indicadores analisados baseados nos incentivos, uma vez que o investimento governamental precisa ser mensurado dentro dos retornos previstos no programa e na sua publicação como força de Lei. O setor automobilístico com toda a sua pujança, recebe frequentes incentivos, contudo, nem todos têm resultados satisfatórios e alcançam suas metas e objetivos. Este novo programa, busca de uma forma mais abrangente, alimentar toda a cadeia de valores do setor automobilístico, define metas obrigatórias de eficiência energética, segurança veicular, investimentos em pesquisa e desenvolvimento, recuperação da base de fornecedores, desenvolvimento tecnológico, relações trabalhistas, de eficiência energética, inspeção veicular, logística e sistema tributário. Como contribuição, este artigo procurou demonstrar se as renúncias fiscais promovidas pelo Estado atingem seus objetivos, promovem contribuições no número de empregos e, também no aumento do processo produtivo. Como conclusão final, foi possível perceber após a análise dos dados, que as variações dos indicadores de empregabilidade e produtividade estavam de acordo com os incentivos fiscais oferecidos, mesmo considerando-se as sazonalidades

Green supply chain management in the automotive industry: A study in Brazil

AbstractThe auto industry is experiencing a time of restlessness, which stems from several elements that currently threaten the stability and status quo of its supply chains. Among these elements are autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification, and trip sharing that has led to new forms of mobility. In this context, this article presents the results of a research, which had three main objectives: (1) to identify the green supply chain management (GSCM) practices most commonly implemented in all industrial sectors worldwide, (2) to evaluate how these practices are considered by professionals in the automotive industry and by researchers working on the subject in Brazil, and (3) to identify and evaluate which practices are most widely adopted within these companies and/or supply chains and influence their environmental performance. The research method combined a qualitative research step (Delphi) with another quantitative one (survey). The results show that most of the reality of the automotive industry in Brazil is in line with studies on GSCM practices worldwide, but some specific findings have also been identified and discussed.

Evolution and maturity of Brazilian automotive and aeronautic industry innovation systems: a comparative study

ABSTRACT The Brazilian Automotive and Aeronautic Industries are both important sectors for the National Innovation System. Through this research, we aim to understand the Innovation System of both sectors in order to collect lessons learned for the Automotive Industry Innovation Policy called Inovar-Auto (Innovate-Auto), which was effective from the beginning of 2013 until the end of 2017. This study was conducted based on the quantitative analysis of sectoral investment in R&D and the number of patents as well as on the qualitative analysis of some critical projects performed by companies in both industry sectors, the Automotive and the Aeronautic. All data were collected via interviews with the agents of the sectoral innovation system. This article aims to contribute to the analysis of a sectoral innovation system based on an analytical tool to measure the maturity level on specific key variables.

THE INNOVATIVE PROCESS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE GREAT ABC REGION AUTOMOTIVE CLUSTER

This working paper describes the innovative process in the Brazilian automotive industry, taking the Great ABC region as a research object. As a reference for the contemporary industrial organization, the automotive industry stands out as a driving force behind a diversified and complex global production chain. Thus, the industry innovation process mobilizes a strategic set of agents within the industry, with repercussions on the other sectors such as the embedded technology, mobile, among others. This paper results from a qualitative approach supported by a descriptive type of research, outlined by a multiple case study and semi-structured interviews, preceded by a documentary analysis in secondary sources. Locally developed innovations involving agents from the productive chain and in partnership with competitors were identified. Results suggest the practice of open innovation, which was confirmed in field research.

Risk management in the automotive supply chain: an exploratory study in Brazil

The main objective of this study was to identify the main characteristics of risk management in the automotive supply chain in Brazil, considering companies in the first and second tiers. This objective was achieved through the proposition of three hypotheses that were tested based on a survey of 211 auto parts producers scattered throughout the country, from which 77 completed forms were received. This research enabled us to conclude that the risks perceived in tier 2 are higher than those observed in tier 1. Also, it was possible to verify that the performance of companies in tier 2 (higher risk) is lower than those in tier 1. Contrary to what was observed in the literature, this research could not find evidence to confirm that risk management tools are prioritized to reduce the risk of companies in the supply chain. Therefore, this research contributes to both theory and practice: this is the first study that performs an analysis of risk management in supply chains with tier 1 and 2 companies in the Brazilian automotive industry, becoming an important complement to recent studies on this topic. For practitioners and business executives who manage risks in automotive supply chains in Brazil, this paper shows the reality of the issue in first- and second-tier companies, which can provide them with important contexts for their decision making in the day-to-day business of the automotive sector.

Lean Six Sigma in Brazil: a literature review

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in the Brazilian context, seeking to identify its main characteristics and opportunities for future research.Design/methodology/approachThis study focuses on a literature review in the area of production engineering and operations management, where 104 relevant scientific publications were identified.FindingsThe results show that the most important critical success factor for integrating LSS in Brazil is top management support and commitment. LSS integration occurs predominantly in large industrial companies, being incipient in small and medium-sized enterprises. In general, there is no structured way of applying LSS. A standard framework for LSS is still lacking.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to a sample that only comprises Brazilian scientific studies.Practical implicationsProfessionals and practitioners can understand the evolution of LSS through practical applications and the main LSS tools used in both the industrial and services sectors. It also points out the critical success factor for the implementation of LSS. The study highlights several roadmaps for LSS implementation adopted by large and modern Brazilian automotive industries based on a robust technological base. This study also contributes to expanding the evidence base of LSS application, both in Brazil and in other countries.Originality/valueSome suggestions are proposed to clarify the structure and complexity of integrated implementation of LP and SS as well as expand the LSS application in small and medium-sized enterprises. This study is the first to discuss the current situation of LSS in Brazil and provide suggestions to expand LSS in the country. Comparisons of Brazilian LSS literature review with researches of others countries are also presented.

Taxation and Product Variety: Evidence from the Brazilian Automobile Industry

This paper empirically assesses the impact of a discontinuous tax schedule on prices, markups and product assortment in the Brazilian automobile industry. To this end, I estimate a structural, equilibrium model of demand and supply for over a hundred different models and engine sizes of automobiles. With the model estimates of price elasticities and marginal costs I quantify how market power impacts the progressivity of the discontinuous tax schedule. I also examine how firms would reposition their products to avoid the tax and quantify the impact of this repositioning on equilibrium outcomes.

Implementation of a Flexible Manufacturing System in a production cell of the automotive industry: decision and choice

Abstract Paper aims The purpose is to decide on the technology for the implementation of an FMS in a manufacturing cell that produces the coil for starting engines in a company of the Brazilian automotive industry. Originality The mixed use of structured methods to support a semi-structured decision-making problem. Research method The qualitative-quantitative modeling, relying on four competitive priorities of the manufacturing, cost, quality, flexibility, and delivery. The method considered three technological alternatives A1, a ladder-type layout, conveyor and pneumatic devices, A2, an open field layout and automatic guided vehicles, and A3, a robot-centered layout and robotic arms. Main findings Two different methods arrived at the same conclusion. The best alternative is A3, which is also better than doing nothing. Implications for theory and practice The complete description of a real-world case, embracing the decision-making process and the final choice and the difficulties faced by a decision analyst in supporting practitioners in solving a complex problem.