<b>Small and Medium Sized Manufacturing Companies in Brazil: Is Innovativeness a Key Competitive Capability to Develop?

Matthias Thí¼rer; Moacir Godinho Filho; Mark Stevenson; Lawrence Fredendall

doi:10.4025/actascitechnol.v37i3.26531

Authors

Matthias Thí¼rer Jinan University
Moacir Godinho Filho Lancaster University
Mark Stevenson Lancaster University
Lawrence Fredendall Clemson University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascitechnol.v37i3.26531

Keywords:

small and medium sized manufacturing companies, Brazil, innovativeness, competitive capabilities, survey

Abstract

Small and medium sized manufacturing companies are important both to economic growth and to supply chains. Yet only limited research has focused on this type of organization - this includes in the area of manufacturing strategy. Using a large scale survey of 149 firms across three States in Brazil, this paper examines the competitive capabilities of small and medium sized manufacturing companies; and the link between their capabilities and performance. Our results show that the best-performing firms are those that lead on capabilities like quality and innovativeness rather than on cost. Much of the available literature on manufacturing strategy emphasizes only four key competitive priorities: cost, flexibility, quality and delivery. Consequently, our results confirm innovativeness as an important, fifth capability for small and medium sized firms in Brazil to maintain or develop. The findings are of relevance both to small and medium sized manufacturing companies in emerging economies and to international firms looking to relocate or outsource to Brazil.

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Author Biographies

Matthias Thí¼rer, Jinan University

Matthias Thurer has PhD for Coimbra University. He has authored more than 12 papers in journals with selective editorial policy in the last 5 years. His areas of interests are: production planning and control, make to order manufacturing companies, workload control and manufacturing strategy. In 2012 and 2013 Dr. Thurer has been invited researcher at Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil.Â

Moacir Godinho Filho, Lancaster University

Department of Industrial Engineering

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federal University of São Carlos

Mark Stevenson, Lancaster University

Dr. Mark Stevenson is a senior lecturer at Lancaster University. A core research focus is on Production Planning and Control (PPC) in low-volume/high-variety contexts, with a particular focus on the Workload Control (WLC) concept for Make-To-Order (MTO) companies. This includes action research through which the concept has recently been implemented in practice. Current research is also investigating how planning and control in job shops is affected by recent challenges, such as: engineering skill shortages, material shortages, offshoring, and a focus on both sustainability and traceability. Other interests include: behavioral operations management - behavioral influences and explanations for operational phenomena; supply chain flexibility; ethical supply chain management and sourcing practices; and, the resilience of supply chains to product counterfeiting.

Lawrence Fredendall, Clemson University

Lawrence D. Fredendall is currently conducting research that is concerned with the implementation of lean operations and quality management in both health-services and manufacturing. One book published by The St. Lucie Press/APICS Series is titled Basics of Supply Chain Management. In addition he has written five chapters for text books published by McGraw-Hill-Irwin on topics such as Theory of Constraints, Just-in-Time, and Total Quality Management. He has published research articles in Decision Sciences, Production and Inventory Management Journal, Journal of Operations Management, International Journal of Production Research, European Journal of Operational Research, Production and Operations Management, Journal of Managerial Issues, Decision Sciences and the Organization Development Journal. Lawrence Fredendall has obtained funding and served as co-principle investigator of a study of the applications of Industrial Engineering and Management tools to health care. This is an on-going project and is sponsored by Health Sciences of South Carolina (HSSC).