Reverse logistics is responsible for the return of materials to the production process to be reused, recycled, remanufactured, or have an environmentally correct final destination. Every year, civil construction generates a large volume of waste that can be recovered through reverse logistics. The performance evaluation of these activities is necessary for managers to know the real efficiency and effectiveness of their actions and to avoid unnecessary expenses and losses. However, this activity is still not widely practiced in developing countries, such as Brazil and Colombia. This research aims to propose a model for the evaluation of LR performance in civil construction to assist the practice of return activities in developing countries. Initially, a bibliographic search was performed to find indicators for the model. The reverse flow in the civil construction was mapped based on works published in Brazil and Colombia. From this mapping, a 12 indicators model was elaborated to approach supply logistics, internal logistics operations, and the waste management of the construction companies, in order to evaluate the performance of this sector. Also, these indicators were prioritized through the AHP method. With this prioritization, it is possible to know which indicator deserves greater attention from managers when implementing improvements. As a way to demonstrate applicability, the model was applied in a Brazilian company and other Colombian companies. It was noticeable that the Brazilian company does not have much control of its operations because it was not possible to calculate five indicators of the model due to lack of information, whereas in the Colombian company, only one indicator was not calculated due to lack of information. When analyzing the results obtained, the model provides useful data for the managers when demonstrating where the company is reaching its goals and where improvements in the process are necessary. Both companies have improving their performance in the green purchasing indicator as a priority. Both sets targets that were not met for this indicator, and according to the prioritization made by AHP, this is the point that deserves special attention from both companies. Improvement points deserve special attention from both companies. Therefore they were highlighted for each one of them and also for the model so that it could be applied in other organizations in the sector.
This paper discusses a strategy for establishing an energy consumption baseline for the effects of defining and applying new strategies to improve the effectiveness of energy savings measures. Through this analysis, the energy baseline is adjusted to the dynamics of a typical operation, reducing uncertainty about operating data when it is not possible to determine that a given energy consumption level is typical. The strategy enables focusing efforts on the points in the operation with greatest impact on energy efficiency as a function of frequency of operation.
This study presents the evolution and economic development of the global market for absorption refrigeration systems. The article reviews trends in demand for high and lowpower absorption refrigeration systems. High growth potential was found in low-power absorption refrigeration systems in the global market. An important finding is that the most widely installed systems in the world are those of single effect and double effect, due to their cost/benefit ratio. It also reviews the relations and trends of companies that manufacture this technology.
Thanks to globalization, the environment in which companies operate today has changed. Whereas a few decades ago, the same government generated protectionist policies, today with the opening of markets, competition is not only national but also international, so companies, regardless of their size, must make changes in their business model, aiming at the internationalization of markets both for the acquisition of materials and goods and for the marketing of their products, being more agile in responding to their customers in terms of product quality, expected delivery time and cost. It is in this scenario where logistics plays a fundamental role as a tool for competitiveness and, therefore, the following work aims to highlight the impact of logistics on SMEs and the need to aim for continuous improvement of their logistics processes. By means of a qualitative/descriptive methodology, relevant aspects are reviewed, finding as a final result essential components that SMEs must incorporate to attend a worldclass market.
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