Purpose – This paper aims to presents a conceptual comparative analysis of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma, highlighting 18 critical aspects between such approaches and their respective implications for management decision-making. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative approach based on the results obtained from literature review about Lean and Six Sigma. Findings – The main points of divergence between Lean and Six Sigma have been highlighted based on 18 criteria. Seventeen criteria are proposed as a result of a review of the literature and one criterion, and “quality control”, is suggested by the authors. Research limitations/implications – This article mitigates the literature gap regarding whether and how Lean and Six Sigma are synergistic approaches. Practical implications – This study enables decision-makers to evaluate the Lean and Six Sigma practices. The results of the analysis performed originated three observations: first, both approaches are predominantly complementary; second, it is possible to create a single model integrating both approaches studied in this research; and third, when Lean is implemented as stand-alone approach, it falls short of specific tools to leverage its full potential according to the complexity of the problem under consideration. Originality/value – This paper analyzes which aspects from Lean and Six Sigma can be learnt from organizational change and productivity improvement efforts. The analysis includes a comparison of 18 critical aspects for practical use of Lean and Six Sigma.

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This article presents a study on the identification of a setting whose arrangement of attributes could lead to the perception of pleasantness of a bus shelter: a product that should welcome people while waiting for the bus. Two different bus shelters typologies in the city of Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were evaluated, where four attributes were under consideration. The relation between the shelters subject of the study and the surroundings was significant for defining the attributes. The setting with curve shaped cover, bench, rear wall, and surrounding vegetation was considered the most pleasant one. The seats and the rear wall were associated with the practical function of the product while the curve shaped cover and the surrounding vegetation were associated with the aesthetical function according to the participant users.

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ResumoOs aços resistentes à abrasão da classe 450 HB foram desenvolvidos para operações em ambientes onde ocorre desgaste excessivo, sendo estes aços martensiticos de elevada dureza e uma difícil soldabilidade. Este trabalho propôs-se a otimizar os parâmetros de soldagem do processo FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) através da análise do projeto de experimentos (Design of Experiments -DOE) utilizando a Metodologia de Superfície de Resposta (Response Surface Methodology -RSM). Após a determinação dos parâmetros de soldagem ideais, foi realizado a caracterização mecânica e metalúrgica de uma junta soldada com estes parâmetros a fim de certificar-se das propriedades da junta com parâmetros de soldagem otimizados. Palavras-chave: Otimização de soldagem; FCAW; Metodologia de superfície de resposta. FCAW WELDING OPTIMIZATION ABRASION RESISTANT STEELS CLASS 450 HB AbstractThe abrasion resistant steels of 450HB series are designed for operation in environments where there is excessive wear, which are martensitic steels of high hardness and difficult weldability. This work aimed to optimize the welding process parameters of FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) through the design of experiments (DOE) using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM).After determination of the optimal welding parameters, it was carried out the mechanical and metallurgical characterization of a welded joint with these parameters in order to ensure the properties of the joint with optimized welding parameters.

Proficiency Tests (PT) based on interlaboratory comparisons are activities aimed at assessing the technical competence of laboratories in carrying out specific measurements. The analyses of homogeneity and stability of prepared samples are an important step in ensuring the reliability of the comparison rounds, since improper selection of the parameter to carry out this evaluation can influence the promoted comparison. This paper proposes a method for selecting the most relevant variables aimed at improving homogeneity and stability tests in PT. For that matter, the approach relies on a variable importance index derived from Principal Components Analysis (PCA) parameters. The proposed method was applied to three different PT schemes (beverage, water and coal) in Brazil. Results indicate that the use of PCA was adequate to help the variable selection of homogeneity and stability tests in PT schemes. The selected subset of variables was corroborated by experts in the PT schemes analyzed.