The objective of this study was to apply simulation and genetic algorithms for the economic and environmental optimization of the reverse network (manufacturers, waste managers, and recyclers in Sao Paulo, Brazil) of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) to promote the circular economy. For the economic evaluation, the reduction in fuel, drivers, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, and charges was considered. For the environmental evaluation, the impact of abiotic, biotic, water, land, air, and greenhouse gases was measured. It was concluded that the optimized structure of the WEEE reverse chains for Sao Paulo, Brazil provided a reduction in the number of collections, thus making the most of cubage. It also generated economic and environmental gains, contributing to the strategic actions of the circular economy. Therefore, the proposed approach is replicable in organizational practice, which is mainly required to meet the 2030 agenda of reducing the carbon footprint generated by transport in large cities. Thus, this study can guide companies in structuring the reverse WEEE chains in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and other states and countries for economic and environmental optimization, which is an aspect of great relevance considering the exponential generation of WEEE.

The continuous improvement programs and innovation have been stimulated and widely deployed due to the importance to the competitiveness of the organisations, being subjects of interest in several studies. However, there are few researches on the relationship between continuous improvement programs, such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, and the innovation performance. The objective of the paper is to analyse the relationship between continuous improvement on the performance of product and process innovation, both incremental and radical, aiming at comparing the results of these relationships considering the use of the different continuous improvement programs mentioned above. To improve the analysis, the continuous improvement practices were divided into four subconstructs – culture, people, strategy and top management. A web survey was applied in Brazilian manufacturing companies that carry out product or process innovations and have continuous improvement initiatives implemented. The results demonstrate that continuous improvement has positive and statistically significant relationships with the four types of innovation performance and the results remain independent of the continuous improvement program that the company applies. Besides, the use of continuous improvement practices is more relevant to innovation performance than specific programs of improvement such as Lean, Six Sigma or lean Six Sigma.

This paper describes a study of the effectiveness of Lean and Six-Sigma improvement projects. The purpose of this study is to analyse and compare improvement projects in Lean and Six-Sigma contexts based on two groups of variables – resources and results of projects. The variables related to the resources are financial investment, time, complexity of the team, complexity of the method, complexity of the tools and techniques and complexity of the training. The variables related to the results are performance impact and level of change. We developed a multiple case study on 18 Lean and Six-Sigma projects. We found a positive association between the variables of team complexity and level of change, as well as between the variables of training and complexity of the method, tools and techniques. These results highlight the importance of resource decisions for improvement projects, especially the team’s composition and level of training. The comparison between Lean and Six-Sigma projects showed that no significant differences were identified in the variables of the results (performance impact and change level). There were differences in time, complexity of tools and techniques and complexity of training. Practically, the analysis allows for more effective resource management in Six-Sigma and Lean projects.

Remaining competitive and profitable in addition to meet environmental and social demands, mandated by regulation and valued by the stakeholders, is a current challenge for companies. This scenario has awakened the interest of academics in the association of sustainability with organizational performance, creating models such as SEM (Sustainability Evaluation Model). This article aims to validate the practical application of SEM as useful to managerial decision-making process in a multi-case study in the factories of a Brazilian food and beverage manufacturer. Based on the TBL X BSC matrix, integrating sustainability and performance concepts, SEM has provided managers with a clear view of business units performance, naming their gaps to improve performance and enabling a classification among them. In addition, the correlation analysis allowed the company to clearly identify its differentials from competitors, which in this study was its focus on people as the basis for a competitive operation.

Integration mechanisms for different types of innovation: case study in innovative companies

Purpose: This study identifies and analyzes practices related to declarative knowledge of organizational learning in the product development process (PDP) that uses the Stage-Gate (SG) system.Design/methodology/approach: The field research was conducted with a qualitative approach through a case study. The study object was a multinational company in the automotive sector that is highly competent in truck chassis design with a PDP based on the SG system.Findings: The authors identified PDPs associated with the elements of declarative knowledge of organizational learning in intra- and inter-development teams. Rather than merely being a checklist, each gate in the SG system has the potential to become a more effective and robust intra-team learning practice and promote inputs for continuous improvement in the process through its use as a checkpoint of the five elements of declarative knowledge during the development activities.Research limitations/implications: The case study was conducted in a multinational company in the automotive sector, whose business units are divided by competencies. The unit studied is a reference in truck chassis and is located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.Practical implications: The research model presented can be used to evaluate how companies exploit their activities and practices to leverage organizational learning in PDP. That is, the model can be used as a diagnostic reference for declarative knowledge in companies that apply the SG system to manage PDP.Originality/value: The study focuses on a model of PDP analysis, aspects of organizational learning and declarative knowledge, in that the model it assists in the collection, distribution and use of information to the development team members with a view for products with greater innovation potential.