Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources have drawn a greater attention by EU, in particular for climate change policies as it can substantially cut down CO2 emissions to meet EU environmental obligations. It is well established that in drinking pipe systems Pressure Reducing Valves (PRV) are used as a mean for excess energy dissipation for the purpose of pressure control. This type of solution can be adopted, as a mitigation method to control the system losses, in particular, the available overload, which must have to be dissipated to avoid leakage or rupture occurrence in the pipe system. The use of micro-hydro systems seems to provide a better approach as a sustainable solution in terms of controlling the system pressure as well as to provide a non-negligible income by producing clean energy. Computational simulations, experimental research and engineering project development are carried out to analyse and compare the hydraulic system behaviour between a PRV and a pump working as a turbine (PT). This research creates an important challenge for seasonal stabilization of the energy supply by using water supply systems, due to the stochastic nature of river-hydro resources.

Changes in worldwide reality indicate the need of a responsible entrepreneurial awareness in the development process, and require socially responsible and sustainable attitudes and practices from businessmen.The current research aimed to analyze these practices and the correlation between social responsibility management, sustainability and the strategies of furniture industries. This paper is a qualitative and descriptive research of a case study with semi-structured interviews. The empiric concretization of this qualitative research happened in two furniture factories located in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The results highlighted the importance of social responsibility and sustainability once these themes are part of these company values. As internal challenges, they pointed out internal barriers for the implementation of sustainability; and also showed that sustainability and social responsibility are not part of the essential aspects of the business but are complementary ones. As external challenges, in a broader way, we verified that companies involve their suppliers, customers and their communities in some kinds of actions aiming to understand the questions about social responsibility and sustainability. The data collected and analyzed allowed us to realize that these enterprises give importance to the sustainability and to social responsibility and that their practices contribute positively for the economic and social performance of the organizations.

A busca constante em atender e suprir as necessidades dos clientes faz com que as empresas tenham que encontrar alternativas em seus processos produtivos com objetivos claros de melhoria contínua, e por consequência, de redução de custos. Ter processos de produção bem definidos é um caminho para a busca da eficiência. Os processos devem sempre estar em melhoria contínua buscando minimizar o tempo de processamento, aumentar a eficiência, e assim obter redução de custos e satisfazer as necessidades dos clientes e da empresa. O presente trabalho tratará da montagem e movimentação interna de kits de peças que são encaminhados ao processo de solda em uma empresa do ramo metal mecânico, localizada no norte do estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Tem por objetivos demonstrar a redução do tempo de espera na montagem dos kits, bem como sugerir melhorias para otimização do processo, além de demonstrar a importância da utilização das ferramentas da qualidade. Foi acompanhado o processo de montagem dos kits, feita a identificação e análise das falhas de tempo de espera, com a utilização de ferramentas da qualidade e por fim sugeridas melhorias a partir dos dados coletados. Ficou demonstrado que a partir da elaboração de um novo fluxo de trabalho e da inclusão de um sistema de gestão visual o tempo de espera foi reduzido significativamente evidenciando a importância de se utilizar metodologia adequada para solução de problemas.

Over time, agriculture has proven to be an important economic development factor for Brazil. The evolution and the need for productivity caused a large increase in the use of pesticides in agriculture and with it, the need to give proper treatment to packaging. With these agricultural activities in evidence, it is not possible to keep the crops without the use of pesticides. In 2000, it was created the 9,974 law as a decree Law 4,074/2002, which regulates the reverse logistics of empty containers of pesticides. This study intends to demonstrate that there are still producers who have difficulties in finding the correct destination to pesticide containers because of lack of knowledge of the law or because they acquire chemicals illegally, without a specific origin. The instruments for protecting the environment, such as licensing and environmental legislation stand out as high points, since it has the general objective of analyzing and demonstrating how reverse logistics helps minimize the impact and the possible environmental and health problems caused by the incorrect disposal of pesticide containers of and along with a group of farmers.

ResumoConhecer o perfil e as expectativas de jovens acadêmicos é importante tanto para a universidade como para seus docentes. Neste trabalho, objetivouse conhecer e analisar as expectativas dos acadêmicos de Engenharia de Produção de uma universidade federal e mostrar as características da atuação de um profissional dessa área. Assim, realizou-se uma pesquisa utilizando um formulário on-line por meio da plataforma do Google Drive, sendo este disponibilizado a todos os alunos matriculados no curso de Engenharia de Produção de uma universidade federal do interior do Rio Grande do Sul, totalizando 201 voluntários, e enviado por e-mail e redes sociais. Elaborouse um questionário com dez perguntas objetivas e alternativas de respostas semidirigidas, envolvendo questões de perfil e expectativas dos acadêmicos. Os resultados apontaram a importância de conhecer o perfil e as expectativas dos acadêmicos para a Universidade, que poderá em equilíbrio com o mercado encontrar soluções de constante aprimoramento do curso.Palavras chave: Acadêmicos. Engenharia de Produção. Expectativas. AbstractKnowing the profile and expectations of young students is important for both the university and its professors. In this study, the aim was to learn and analyze the expectations of production engineering students of a federal university and to show the characteristics of a professional's performance in this area. A survey was conducted using an on-line form through the 'Google Drive' platform, which was made available by email and by online social networks to all students enrolled in the production engineering program of a federal university in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul state, totaling 201 volunteers. A questionnaire was developed with ten objective questions and alternative semi-directed answers, involving questions of the students' profiles and expectations. The results highlighted the importance for the university of knowing the profile and expectations of the students, enabling the search for solutions, in balance with the marketplace, for constant improvements of the program.