Práticas Lean Manufacturing e métricas de desempenho em empresas do setor automotivo da Serra Gaúcha

Abstract

The automotive sector is characterized by the search for cost reduction and waste in their production processes. Thus, it becomes necessary to use best practices to stay competitive in the market. Among these practices, there is the Lean Manufacturing (LM), from the Toyota Production System, which proposes process improvements through the elimination of waste. Even if studies are in progress and that eventually, their tools are employed in isolation in business world, there is no consensus on the subject and the main metrics used to verify its benefits when deploying and full use of lean practices. In this regard, this dissertation aimed at understanding, through an exploratory multiple case study with a qualitative approach, how the contextual factors influencing the use of Lean practices and its evaluation metrics in five companies belonging to the automotive sector in south region of Brazil. Based on the literature about the subject and applied research tools, was obtained as a central result, the understandings of which were the contextual factors that influenced or influence the use of Lean practices, besides a survey of the key metrics used in these companies to strengthen and enhance its production system.