Archives

  • July-December
    Vol. 11 No. 2 (2018)

    Dear readers,

    We are grateful to all JOSCM collaborators, associate editors, authors, reviewers and readers from this journal that help us, in many ways, to deliver the second edition of 2018. These eight papers illustrate from different theoretical and contextual perspectives some current topics in Operations Management and Supply Chain Management research such as risk management, international freight prices and health supply chain, among others. The last two papers are part of the Forum SIMPOI, which publishes the best papers from SIMPOI/2018 conference. I hope these papers bring relevant insights and advances for the development of our research area.

    The first paper of this edition “Modeling and optimization of multilayer aggregate production planning” is authored by Ridwan Al Aziz, Himangshu Kumar Paul, Touseef Mashrurul Karim, Imtiaz Ahmed, and Abdullahil Azeem. This paper focuses on the determination of production, inventory and workforce levels while meeting the fluctuating demands requirement. The suggested model assumes the physical resources as deterministic and constant. Once the Aggregate production planning is established, constraints are imposed on the production process and assumes the physical resources as deterministic and constant in order to apply the model to enhance productivity and profitability

    The second paper “Rudimentary causes and impacts of Supply chain risks in sub-Saharan Africa” is written by Adenike Aderonke Moradeyo. This study is exploratory and aims to highlight supply chain risks, their impacts and mitigation strategies used by manufacturing firms in Nigeria. It presents data from multiple sectors. Findings point out the main causes of supply chain risks, such as: transportation delays, variation in raw material prices and quantities, unexpected customer demands, and constant power outages.

    The third paper is called “Do analytically-oriented supply chains better manage risks?” by Murilo Zamboni Alvarenga, Marcos Paulo Valadares de Oliveira, Hélio Zanquetto Filho, and Washington Romão dos Santos. This paper verifies the impact of analytical orientation on supply chain risk management through a survey with micro, small and medium sized Brazilian companies. A structural equation modeling was carried that point out that those supply chains that are more analytical better manage their risks resulting in a lower perception of uncertainty.

    Alvarenga, Oliveira, Zanquetto Filho and dos Santos are also the authors of the fourth paper of this edition “Analytical supply chains: Are they more Resilient? A model’s proposition”. Analytical supply chains: Are they more resilient? A model’s proposition. This study is a theoretical essay that aims to present a model that include analytical orientation to recover supply chain interruptions. It proposes an expansion in supply chain resilience model to be tested.

    Daniel Dramani Kipo-Sunyehzi is the author of the fifth paper “Principal-agent problems in implementation of Ghana’s health insurance scheme”. This paper analyses principal-agent problems in implementation of National Health Insurances Scheme in Ghana. The relationships between health service providers (agents and health insurance authority) and clients as principals. Results compared private and public health service providers and bring implications for policy that can be expanded for developing countries.

    The sixth paper of this issue is called “The Brazilian ocean freight oscillation: The experts’ explanation to the USA, Europe and China trade” authored by Felipe BúrigoBathazar, Marcelo André Machado, and Guilherme Luís Roehe Vaccaro. A panel of experts in charge of pricing international freight analysed ocean freight from and to East Coast of United States, Northern Europe and China to Brazil. The relationship between supply and demand with ocean freight is the most influence for freight rates. The study also points out other variables that are relevant to explain ocean freight oscillation.

    The seventh paper “The moderate effect of analytics capabilities on the service quality” comes from the Forum Simpoi is authored by Laís Rocha Vale, Larissa Alves Sincorá and Letícia de Sousa Milhomem. The study focuses on the moderation effect of organizations capabilities in the development and service delivery processes. It contributes proposing relationships between analytics capabilities and the Service Quality model that can be expanded in further research.

    The last paper “Sustainable practices in the coffee supply chain in the cerrado mineiro region, Brazil” was also presented at Simpoi 2018 and is authored by Warley Henrique da Silva, Patrícia Guarnieri, and José Márcio Carvalho. It discusses the sustainability in coffee supply chains through sustainable practices and its effects in cerrado mineiro Region, Brazil. A case study carried out with different stakeholders from the coffee chain illustrate the empirical discussion. The paper contributes to understanding the decision-making process by the agents that operate in the coffee supply chain, mainly in the case of producers, cooperatives and development agencies.

    I hope you enjoy reading this new JOSCM issue.

    Luciana Vieira
    Editor-in-chief
    Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management

     

  • January - June
    Vol. 11 No. 1 (2018)

    Dear readers,

    I am glad to present the first issue of Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM) in 2018. I am grateful for our Associate Editors and Reviewers that participate actively in the process of suggesting improvements to these papers. This task is voluntary and time consuming but it should be recognized that editing and peer reviewing is important parts of the academic world. Big thanks to them!

    The first four papers are part of our ongoing process of publishing research papers in topics related to supply chain management and logistics that raise new research insights. In addition, JOSCM also presents three best papers award nominated in the XX Simpósio de Administração da Produção, Logística e Operações Internacionais (SIMPOI 2017), which occurs annually in Sao Paulo bringing together academic and practitioners in the Operations Management field.

    The first paper of this issue talks about the blood supply chain and is written by Jung-Joo Maeng, Kayla Sabharwal, and M. Ali Ülkü. The authors recognize blood as a scarce resource, using secondary data to propose a model illustrated by a case study from Canada.

    The second paper also focused on a perishable product, dairy, through a structured literature review of supply chain practices by Mor, Bhardwaj, and Singh (2018).

    The third paper of this edition, authored by Decio Yoshimoto, Mauro Caetano, and Cláudio Jorge Pinto Alves, describes key economic drivers to find their efficient frontier using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA).

    In the fourth paper, Jorge Luiz Biazzi presents three approaches to support decision-making for production planning, sales and inventory problems.

    This edition has three papers from the SIMPOI Forum held in 2017. The first one by Augusto Dalmoro Costa, Guilherme Freitas Camboim, and Aurora Carneiro Zen identifies internationalization patterns and effects on company performance through a survey with 343 Brazilian companies. In the second paper, Marcelo Martins Sa, Susana Farias Pereira, and Priscila Lacsynski de Souza Miguel present a case study discussing how collaboration can bring resilience in supply chains experiencing a disaster. The third paper by Mercia Cristiley Barreto Viana, Kleber Cavalcanti Nóbrega, and Lieda Amaral Souza investigates the influences between enterprising individual orientation, strategy of services and business performance.

    I hope you enjoy reading this new JOSCM issue.

    Luciana Vieira
    Editor-in-chief
    Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management

  • July - December
    Vol. 10 No. 2 (2017)

    Dear readers,

    This issue of Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM) is my first one as the Editor-in-chief.  I am glad to succeed the brilliant work done by my colleague Juliana Bonomi Santos and her editorial team in the last two years. Juliana created the call for papers on Supply Chain and Operations Strategies for Problem-Solving in Latin American Countries that I am proudly present the Special Issue in this edition. This relevant topic is edited by Cristiane Biazzin (FGV EAESP, Brazil), Elyn L. Solano-Charris (Escuela Internacional de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas – EICEA, Colombia), and Jairo Alberto Jarrín Quintero (Escuela Internacional de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas – EICEA, Colombia). In the introduction of the Special Issue, our Guest Editors describe the current challenges for Operations in Latin American and present the contributions selected for this debate.   

    Additionally to the six papers of the Special Issue, JOSCM also presents two papers on sustainability and global operations. In the first paper, Francisco Sperotto Flores, Iuri Gavronski, Vinicius Nardi, and Roselei Haag use the triple bottom line perspective to analyze how the international operations literature integrates economic, social, and environmental issues. Yuri da Cunha Ferreira, Cristiano Morini, and Luis Antonio de Santa-Eulalia, in the second paper, assess the impact of trade facilitation measures on import flows through an experimental study in the largest cargo airport in South America.

    I hope you enjoy the reading.

    Luciana Marques Vieira
    Editor-in-chief from July 2017
    Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management

  • January - June
    Vol. 10 No. 1 (2017)

    Dear readers,

    In this issue of Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM), we bring to you the outcomes of our special issue on Advances in Supply Chain and Logistics Management for a more Sustainable Society. This special issue is edited by Ernesto DR Santibanez Gonzalez (Universidad de Talca, Chile), and Charbel José Chiappetta Jabbour (University of Stirling, UK). In the introduction of the special issue, the editors describe the importance of the theme and the topics covered.   

    In addition to the papers of the special issue, JOSCM also presents two papers on logistics and purchasing from our continuous flow. May, Atkison, and Ferrer (2017) explore the application of the weighted non-linear optimization inventory prioritization technique in a maritime wholesale supply chain in the military sector. Campos and Mello (2017), in their turn, use case studies to understand the transaction costs associated with sustainable purchasing.

    I would also like to announce that this is my last issue as Editor-in-chief. During the two years I spent in this role, we published four issues that covered a wide range of subjects in supply and operations management. Researchers from all the continents have submitted manuscripts to our review process and the issues counted with authors from different nationalities and affiliations. As part of our administrative efforts, we have upgraded our IT system, invited section editors, obtained several indexes and invested in marketing actions to keep JOSCM an international journal.

    Professor Luciana Vieira (FGV EAESP) will be the new Editor-in-chief. I am sure the JOSCM community can expect great achievements over the next years.

    Juliana Bonomi Santos
    Editor-in-chief from June/2015 to June/2017
    Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management

     

  • July - December
    Vol. 9 No. 2 (2016)

    Dear readers,

    In this issue of Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management we present to you five papers that cover different areas of our field. Shashi et al. (2016) explore the key success factors to manage sustainable cold supply chains. Still in the SCM field, Handayati et al. (2016) use agent-based simulation to understand contracting issues. Martins et al. (2016), in their turn, analyze intermodal terminals in Brazil and point interesting ways of improving them, considering shippers’ points of view. Devangan (2016) also explores logistic issues by look for ways to optimize the allocation of warehouses, taking into account production and distribution aspects. Finally, Rajashekharaiah (2016) recoups a recurrent and important theme in the operations management field – the use of six sigma techniques to improve process capability.

    I wish you a pleasant reading.

    Juliana Bonomi Santos
    Editor-in-chief

     

  • January - June
    Vol. 9 No. 1 (2016)

    Dear readers,

    In this issue of Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management you will be able to read and enjoy the outcomes of our special issue on Crisis Management and Humanitarian Operations edited by Maria Besiou, from Kuehne Logistics University (Germany) and Susana Pereira, from FGV/EAESP (Brazil).

    The guest editors selected for us five papers that cover different dimensions of this important topic, which is increasingly attracting attention of the operations and supply chain management community. Three papers cover logistics aspects of humanitarian logistics and crisis management. Naor and Bernardes (2016) focus on self-sufficient healthcare logistic systems and their responsiveness, while de Leeuw (2016) offers an empirical analysis of humanitarian warehouse locations. Sokat, Zhao, Dolinskaya, Smilowitz, and Chan (2016), on their turn, explored how to capture real-time data in disaster response logistics. The other two papers turn their attention softer aspects of humanitarian logistics and crisis management. De Oliveira, Fontainha, and Leiras (2016) study the role of private stakeholders in disaster operations and Santos (2016) brings important insights on the leadership process during an organizational crisis.

    Besides the papers of the special issue, this semester, JOSCM also presents to you two papers from our continuous flow, which tackle different aspects of supply chain management. Widyarini, Simatuoang, and Engelseth (2016) point out the role of social interactions for price transmission in multi-tier food supply chains. Finally, Ferragi (2016) uses the Ethanol industry to develop a SCMap and integrate the supply and production chain concepts.

    I wish you a pleasant reading.

    Juliana Bonomi Santos
    Editor-in-chief

     

  • July - December
    Vol. 8 No. 2 (2015)

    Dear readers,

    This issue of Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management counts with eight papers that focus on strategic, tactical and operational aspects of supply chain management.

    The paper from Nyaoga, Magutu and Aduda (2015) explores the link between supply chain strategies and firm performance. Based on data from 627 companies, the authors show that supply chain strategies account for a significant share of firms´ performance; reinforcing that companies should investments in supply chain practices. Radanliev (2015), in its turn, develops a framework based on the supply chain architecture, design, and engineering literature that offers guidelines on how practitioners can decompose and build a green-field (new and non-existent) supply chain. We also have three papers on specific supply chain strategies. Pereira and Silva (2015) and Bradaschia and Pereira (2015), for instance, explore the concept of supply chain resilience and its antecedents. With the use of case studies, the former shows how the management of buyer and supplier interfaces, of risk, and of knowledge can enhance resilience in a supply chain while the latter adds that flexibility is also a vital enabler of supply chain resilience. Ferreira, Bertan and Pimenta (2015) then show the importance of inter-organizational integration to achieve the outcomes expected by companies.

    This volume also counts with papers focused on logistic services, transportation, and inventory management - key decision areas in supply chain management.  Liane Okdinawati, Simatupang and Sunitiyoso (2015) review the literature on collaborative transportation management and suggest areas for future research in the field and Yang (2015) provides an overview of the third-party logistics providers in the United States for investigating how the industry has evolved to meets customers' needs in an environment marked by global supply chains. Finally, this issue has a technical note on a stochastic two-echelon model to solve the petrol station replenishment problem. This model offers insights on how firms can devise a replenishment policy to minimize inventory costs, in the long run, given the demand pattern.

    This issue of JOSCM, therefore, covers new and exciting topics in supply chain management that I hope will provide you an informative and pleasant reading.

     

    Luiz Artur Ledur Brito

    Editor-in-chief

    http://bibliotecadigital.fgv.br/ojs/index.php/joscm/about/editorialPolicies#custom1

  • January - June
    Vol. 8 No. 1 (2015)

    This issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management has seven papers that cover new and exciting topics in our field. Three of the papers cover the new and growing field of sustainable and socially responsible operations. Firstly, the paper shows how sustainable practices are making their ways into manufacturing.  Sannö, Deleryd and Fundin (2015) show in their work the forces driving environmental change in 27 manufacturing European and American plants.  Biazzin, Paiva, Di Serio and Andrade (2015), in their turn, provide insights on how even Sugar-Alcohol producing firms, which operate in a sector marked by many environmentally unfriendly practices, can mitigate their environmental impacts and improve local social conditions. Silva, Neutzling, Alves, Dias         and Santos (2015) then provide an overview of the state of the art of the Brazilian literature on Sustainable Supply Chain Management and point out avenues for future research.

     This issue also explores aspects of risk and project management as well as international R&D partnerships and critical operations management. Díaz and Tachizawa (2015), for instance, show how the Red Cross organized itself to operate during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and identified the key factors enabling a successful operation.  Battistuzzo and Piscopo (2015) explore how capital goods manufacturing MNEs manage projects aimed at developing Complex Products and Systems (CoPS) and Guedes, Bittar, Di Serio and Oliveira (2015) make a comprehensive assessment of the risk management practices in the Brazilian automotive industry. Finally, Zarpelon and Gavronski (2015) explore the literature on international R&D partnerships to identify best practices and research gaps.

    I wish our readers an informative and pleasant reading!

    Luiz Artur Ledur Brito

    Editor-in-chief

     

  • July - December
    Vol. 7 No. 2 (2014)

    In this issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, we have ten articles that cover relevant areas of our field. 

    This issue starts with the paper of Ascef, Ferrer and Mullins (2014), which uses Kuhnian analysis to explain the evolution of Supply Chain Management (SCM) from its origins. The following papers then focus on different SCM aspects. 

    The paper  of Rocha, Souza and Filho (2014) presents the results of a case study conducted to understand how the lean principles can be used during new product development to improve product design and customization. The paper of Aljunaidi and Ankrah (2014) also further explores the aplications of lean concepts. The authors show, through case-based research, the extent to which lean ideals are applicable in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods industry. Brito & Carvalho (2014) analyze supply chain governance in a footwear cluster. The work of Miguel & Reis (2014) offers a new perspective on supply chain coordination, by showing role played by institutional and historical factors. These insights result from qualitative data collected at the Brazilian Pharmaceutical Supply Chain. The next paper “Operations in the context of urban mobility: Evaluating the Performance of the Deliveries to Small Retailers” uses Stated Preference Technique to identify the logistic performance attributes that customers see as relevant in distribution process in urban areas. We also have the technical note of Negi (2014) that describes the fruit and vegetables supply chain in India analyzing its efficiency.

     

    The issue then presents three contributions on a growing area within the SCM field: sustainable supply chains.  The paper of Abdala and Barbieri (2014) uses data from a survey and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to identify the pressures and environmental practices involved int he management of sustainable supply chains. Then, the paper “An Integrated Decision Model for Selection of Third Party Recovery Facilitator (3PRF) for Product Recovery Operations” dedicates attention to a new trend in sustainable supply chain management: the outsourcing of recovery operations to Third Party Recovery Facilitators (3PRF). To make a contribution in this sense, it combines the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and ELECTRE III methodologies to develop a model on how to choose Third Party Recovery Facilitators. The last paper of this issue focuses on the Brazilian National Policy for Solid Waste, passed in 2010, and its implications to the management of technological waste through Reverse Logistics. Migliano, Demajarovic and Xavier (2014) build on several interviews with different stakeholders to propose model covering the interrelationships among all the agents involved in the implementation of reverse logistics of electrical and electronic consumer goods in Brazil.

    This issue also has the contribution of Prof. Juliana Bonomi Santos who joined JOSCM as executive editor in the second half of 2014.

    I wish our readers an informative and pleasant reading! 

    Luiz Artur Ledur Brito
    Editor-in-chief

  • January - June
    Vol. 7 No. 1 (2014)

    EDITORIAL

    In this issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, we have five articles that cover relevant areas of our field, with a strong focus on the Brazilian economic setting.

    Two of our articles look at innovation from different perspectives.

    The article "Institutional barriers for food innovation: A study of the Brazilian functional food industry", by Guilherme Oliveira, Luciana Vieira, Márcia de Barcellos e Alexia Hoppe, explores the challenge of innovation within the supply chain of a specific industry: functional ingredients. It highlights a possible negative impact of the regulatory agency in Brazil and the relevance of institutional factors and partnerships on innovation.

    The article "Determinants of consolidation of interorganizational cooperation network: a case study of Brazilian Wine Industry", by Cláudio Zancan, Paulo da Cruz Freire dos Santos and Nicholas Joseph Tavares da Cruz takes the perspective of innovation networks. It identifies the main conditioning factors that promoted the consolidation of the association of wine producers of a wine-growing region in the south of Brazil.

    The other three articles look at supply chain management at three different levels of analysis from its most fundamental unit, the dyad, through the agglomeration of related companies, to the global supply chain phenomenon.

    At the micro level, the article "Dyad buyer-supplier and its relation to financial performance" by Luis Mondini, Denise del Prá Netto Machado and Márcia Scarpin, looks at the effect of three supply chain practices within a dyad (strategic sourcing; supplier evaluation system; and buyer-supplier relationship) on financial performance. Their sample of 174 Brazilian companies offers a good picture of the impact of these practices on performance in an emerging country setting.

    The meso level is covered by the article "Logistic service providers in Brazil: a study of geographical clustering from the perspective of logistics chain integration", by Dimária Silva e Meirelles, Mário Fernandes da Costa and José Carlos Thomaz, looking at the supply chain aspects within a cluster. It provides a map of the 922 spatial concentration of logistics service providers in Brazil.

    The article "Brazil moving up in the semiconductor global chain", by Marco Antônio Viana Borges and Luciana Vieira, looks at the supply chain from the broader perspective of global chains. It describes the configuration of this important global chain and how Brazilian companies are part of this configuration.  Although some Brazilian companies already operate in high-value added activities others are limited to less attractive sectors. The institutional barriers like infrastructure, education, and the lack of a proper industrial policy are identified and described.

    I wish our readers an informative and pleasant reading!

    Luiz Artur Ledur Brito

    Editor-in-chief

  • July - December
    Vol. 6 No. 2 (2013)

    EDITORIAL

    This issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM) is my last one as Editor-in-chief. JOSCM published since 2008, has been a forum for OM studies related but not exclusively to the emerging economies.  I was for 5 years as Editor-in-chief and during this time JOSCM has published 10 ordinary issues and one Special Issue on sustainability.  With authors from countries such as Brazil, India, Norway, Spain and United States, JOSCM is really an international OM journal with qualified studies. Prof. Luiz Brito will be the new Editor-in-chief and already has participated in this issue. I am sure that the JOSCM will have a prestigious and competent editor for the next years.

    The articles present in this issue follow the usual JOSCM’s proposal: diversity in methodology, OM related themes and countries. The authors are from Brazil, Iran, Malaysia and United States. The methods utilized are diverse including case studies, simulation, Data Envelopment Analysis and modeling. The themes are present in the titles below.

    Supply Chain Performance Models: A Literature Review on Approaches, Techniques, and Criteria

    Benefits of CPFR and VMI Collaboration Strategies: A Simulation Study

    Selecting Maritime Disaster Response Capabilities

    The Trajectory of Brazilian Semiconductor Industry and its Supply Chain:  An Economic, Governmental, and Technological Perspectives

    The Adoption of Global Sourcing by a Brazilian Company

    Technical Efficiency Of Container Terminal Operations: A DEA Approach

    Quantitative Modeling in Practice:  Applying Optimization Techniques to a Brazilian CPG Company Distribution Network Design (Technical note)

     

    Ely Laureano Paiva

    JOSCM

    Editor-in-chief 2009 to 2013

     

    MESSAGE FROM THE INCOMING EDITOR

    My first point is to congratulate Ely Paiva for bringing the JOSCM practically from birth to its current status and making it truly an international journal. It will not be an easy task to match his contribution. The JOSCM is a unique forum for the Operations Management field to interact and grow. It is up to us, the Operations Management scholarly community, to support and develop it.

    I would like to encourage authors, reviewers and readers of the JOSCM to engage in an open conversation and would welcome questions and suggestions. Journal publishing is experiencing a period of change and reflection and the JOSCM could take a leading and innovative role.

     

    Luiz Artur Ledur Brito

    Editor-in-chief for 2014

  • January - June
    Vol. 6 No. 1 (2013)

    I am pleased to share with our readers the new issue of the JOSCM. This issue has three major topics that are relevant for OM research and practice: sustainable operations, operations strategy and supply chain management.

    The approaches followed in all the articles bring new insights in these topics. Articles on operations strategy have explored topics that are relatively rare such as international operations and governance. Also the articles on services sought different theoretical lens like sustainability and strategic positioning. The same comment is valid for the article "Understanding the Impact of Extrinsic and Intrinsic SCM Career Choice Factors on Career Satisfaction" that discusses human resources issues in the context of SCM. The usual array of proposals and research methods is present in the articles published: case studies, surveys and theoretical articles. 

    We invite you to read the  new issue!

    Ely Paiva

    Editor-in-Chief

    Renata Oliveira

    Executive Editor

  • July/December
    Vol. 5 No. 2 (2012)

    Dear JOSCM Readers, 

    It gives us great pleasure to announce the engaging contents of the new issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management. This issue features a considerable range of topics, from understanding supply chain in service organizations to cooperation between suppliers and buyers in agribusiness industries. 

    Also we are very excited about the release of our Special Issue in Sustainable Operations, released simultaneously with this regular issue. 

    The guest editors Iuri Gavronski, Geraldo Ferrer and Stephan Vachon are recognized scholars in this topic. 

    We expect that this discussion of sustainable operations has strengthened the fundamental themes of such a "hot topic" for all the industries today. 

    Finally, we hope that you find both the issues interesting and thought-provoking. 

    Ely Paiva 
    Editor-in-Chief 

    Priscila Miguel 
    Associate Editor

     

  • January/June
    Vol. 5 No. 1 (2012)

    Dear JOSCM Readers, 

    The new issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM) is now available. 

    This is the first issue of JOSCM after the new Brazilian ranking of QUALIS/CAPES was publicized. We are very pleased to announce that JOSCM is now ranked as B3. This is a very important achievement for us and we would like to thank everyone that collaborated with JOSCM since our first issue: authors, reviewers and the JOSCM team. We will keep our efforts for maintain the quality of the articles published by JOSCM. 

    The current issue brings six original papers. The first article, An evaluation of the variables and terminologies employed in the constructs of SCM practices, Silva, Sacomano and Pires discussed the different concepts used to represent the SCM practices. As SCM encompasses a broad range of activities and processes, this paper contributes by analyzing the concepts used in different areas. 

    The following three articles are empirical researches related to SCM. Martins, Souza Filho, Pereira and Di Serio (2012) used mixed research methods to evaluate the strategic alignment of supply practices in the automobile supply chain. Carvalho and Malaquias (2012) evaluated the impact of communication, information processing and internal logistics on the financial control of SMEs located in Brazil. Finally, Mishra (2012) used DEA to evaluate the SCM efficiency in a case of the Indian pharmaceutical industry. 

    As in the previous issue, we present one invited paper: Organizational Structure, Integration and Manufacturing Performance: a Conceptual Model and Propositions. In this paper, Teixeira, Koufteros and Peng (2012) proposed a conceptual model for the relationship between organizational structure and integration. The last paper is one of the best papers presented in SIMPOI annual meeting in 2011: Perceptions of Quality and Expectations of Hotel Services. In the paper, Campos and Marodin (2012) analyzed the level of the customer's satisfaction when compared to the hotel's attributes and perceptions. 


    We hope you enjoy your reading 
    Ely Laureano Paiva 
    Priscila Miguel 
    JOSCM Editors     

     

  • Special Issue on Sustainability
    2012

    Special Issue on Sustainable Operations: Introduction 

    Iuri Gavronski 
    Stephan Vachon 
    Geraldo Ferrer 

    ABSTRACT 

    Sustainable operations is the application of sustainability concepts to the operations management (OM) field. In this Special Issue, we are particularly concerned with the implications of sustainable operations for operations strategy. 

    In this introduction, we discuss the five articles in this issue and their contribution to our increased understanding of their field. 

    They help us understand the general question of how companies can become more sustainable while implementing their operations strategy. 

    Keywords: 
    Sustainable operations; Operations strategy; Special issue. 

    Sustainable operations management is the application of sustainability concepts to the operations management (OM) field. In this Special Issue, we are particularly concerned with the implications of sustainable operations for operations strategy. 

    The Call for Papers for this Special Issue invited submissions on a broad range of topics and using varied methodologies, with an emphasis on practical implications for managers: 

    There is an increasing interest in Sustainability in recent years. However, operations and supply chain managers still need tools to implement sustainable operations. Therefore we invite manuscripts that have clear implications for practitioners that manage process and product design, operations and supply chain management based on one or more of a variety of rigorous research methodologies and are original. We are looking for high-quality papers that make relevant and significant contribution to the field. 
    [...] 
    In this special issue, the guest editors seek to publish empirical, conceptual, and analytical papers. However, papers with analytical models and conceptual papers should include exploratory analysis or cases examples of real life applications.     

    We would like to thank all those who submitted papers to the Special Issue. We were delighted with the response, and we appreciate the patience of authors, in particular those whose papers could not be included in the Special Issue. 

    We also want to thank the many scholars who volunteered to review the manuscripts. We understand that reviewing is a time and energy consuming task, particularly in this topic. Finally, we are also grateful with JOSCM editors, Ely L. Paiva and Priscila L.S. Miguel, the assistant Flavia Canella, and all JOSCM editorial team, who were very supportive during the editing process. 

    The Special Issue includes five articles. Each of them contributes in a different way to our understanding of sustainable operations' theory and practice. Two papers are conceptual, and three are empirical studies. The empirical papers cover a wide range of methods, units of analysis, and theoretical perspectives. 

    The paper by Gavronski (2012) proposes a framework for sustainable operations consisting of five related dimensions: external context, competitive dimensions, strategic decisions, operations value chain activities, and organizational learning and knowledge. Drawing from the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the author identifies three main groups of capabilities for sustainable operations: environmental capabilities, social capabilities, and economic capabilities. These capabilities for sustainable operations are then developed along all activities in the Operations Value Chain (OVC), and supported by various tools (resources), such as Environmental Management Systems (EMS), life-cycle analysis (LCA), worker health and safety, among others. 

    Vachon (2012) explores the linkages between the technology capacity of corporations and environmental performance. Using country-level data as a proxy for corporate data, he combined archival data from varied sources to test his hypotheses. He found that technological capacity is positively related to eco-efficiency, but negatively related to aggregate environmental performance. In other words, at the margin, the more corporations invest in technological capacity, the less pollution per unit produced is generated. However, since total production volume is increased, total pollution is also increased. He reasons that corporations are driving their R&D efforts to improve resource productivity, including eco-efficiency, but this does not reduce total waste in the value chain. 

    The paper by Nelson, Marsilac, and Rao (2012) provides a comprehensive review of green supply chain management. According to these authors, supply chain design driver shifted from technology to market complexity and competitive pressure in the past, and is currently shifting again due to the Environmental Movement. The delicate balance between environmental, economic, and societal needs with customer requirements poses new challenges to managers involved in supply chain. 

    Costa (2012) provides evidence from firms in the Oil and Gas industry operating in Brazil. She analyzes these firms' corporate social responsibility codes of conduct (CSR Codes) with qualitative, content analytical methods. Her study grouped the main categories: labor and human rights, environmental issues, and socio-economic issues. Her findings point to the fact that CSR Codes are more aligned with international regulations than with national legal systems, showing the weakness of domestic regulation facing multinational or transnational corporations. 

    We conclude our Special Issue with a paper by Borella, Bertolazzi, and Barcellos (2012). In this paper, the marketing-operations interface is extended to sustainable operations. They found three clusters of firms. One cluster scores high in both environment and marketing orientation. The second cluster scores low in both dimensions. 

    Finally, the third cluster scores high only in marketing orientation. Overall, the five papers provide evidence that sustainable operations have an important contribution to the body of knowledge of operations strategy. We hope you enjoy the Special Issue. 

    REFERENCES 

    Borella, M. R. C., Bertolazzi, M. A., & Barcellos, P. F. P. (2012). Marketing - Environment Sustainability Alignment: An Exploratory and Propositional Study. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 5 (Special Issue), 

    Costa, L. M. (2012). Sustainable Development in Emerging Markets & CSR Codes of Conduct: Oil and Gas Industry in Brazil. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 5 (Special Issue), 

    Gavronski, I. (2012). Resources and Capabilities for Sustainable Operations Strategy. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 5 (Special Issue), 

    Nelson, D. M., Marsilac, E., & Rao, S. (2012). Antecedents and Evolution of the Green Supply Chain. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 5 (Special Issue), 

    Vachon, S. (2012). Technological Capacity and Environmental Performance: A Research Note Using Country Level Data. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 5 (Special Issue),.

  • July/December
    Vol. 4 No. 2 (2011)

    Dear JOSCM Readers,

    We are pleased to introduce to the new issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM). We also would like to share with all JOSCM's community some special accomplishments we achieved in the second half of 2011.

    Firstly, JOSCM is being indexed in Biblioteca Eletrônica Spell, Cabell's Directory, EBSCO, Electronic Journal Library and Google Scholar. This is an important achievement because our articles are now available easily to be read and, disseminating knowledge to the academic debate.

    Secondly, the number of submissions we have received during this term has almost doubled from previous term. This is an indication that JOSCM is being considered as one important journal for the research community. We would also like to thank all the reviewers for the great job done.

    As we continue to strive for relevance and methodology rigor, this issue presents two invited papers from leading researchers in OM: Information Technology and the Ambidexterity Hypotheses: an Analysis in Product Development, and Offshore Operations Capabilities: an Exploratory Study. This issue also brings two of the best papers presented in the annual conference SIMPOI 2012: Assessment of the Brazilian Cash Operation through the Approach of Sustainable Supply Chains; and, Application of the Flexible Specialization Model in a Local Manufacturing System.

    Finally, 2012 is coming and we wish a nice year for all our contributors. Publishing invited papers from leading researchers and best papers from relevant conferences like SIMPOI are two actions that we planned for this year. The Special Issue on Sustainability is another key aspect planned for 2012.

    We wish you a good reading of the papers in this issue and a Happy New Year!

    Ely Laureano Paiva
    Priscila Miguel
    JOSCM Editors

     

  • January - June
    Vol. 4 No. 1 (2011)

    Dear JOSCM Readers 

    We are pleased to introduce you to the new issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management (JOSCM). 

    The articles in this issue follow our usual editorial orientation of a rigorous and well documented research results linked clearly to managerial implications. As Operations and Supply Chain Management is a research field with multiple possibilities, our readers will find a diversity of methodologies in this issue, such as case studies, survey and modeling. 

    Nevertheless, a topic that may summarize the common focus among the articles in this issue is related to the proposal of integration. All the articles mention the importance of integration in order to improve performance, to achieve a sustainable approach in management or to develop a quality certification label. 

    Relevance is still a challenge for the studies on Administration, including Operations and Supply Chain Management. Therefore, we do believe in the importance of publishing articles that present a clear connection between theory and practice. Therefore, we present a first article as “Technical Note” in this issue. Our intention is the creation of a space for discussion for studies with clear applied orientation. 

    Finally, we are very glad about the number of articles from different countries that we have being received. When JOSCM was launched in 2008, our intention was to provide a wide view of OM research that included studies from emerging and industrialized regions. Step by step JOSCM is achieving this goal because we are receiving several submissions from India, China, Malasia, besides Brazil, USA and European Countries. 

    Ely Laureano Paiva 
    Priscila Miguel 
    JOSCM Editors 

  • July - December
    Vol. 3 No. 2 (2010)

    Dear JOSCM Readers 

    The current JOSCM's issue accomplishes one of our first and main objectives: to be an OM journal with a global perspective. 
    Diversity of the authors' affiliation and countries in this issue shows how OM research is a central topic all around the world. 
    Beyond Brazil we have articles and authors from Bangladesh, England, India, Norway, Portugal, and United States. 
    The articles' topics are related to supply chain management, service operations and optimization. Have a nice reading! 

    Ely Laureano Paiva 
    Editor-in-Chief 
    Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management 

  • January - June
    Vol. 3 No. 1 (2010)

    This edition of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management bears a special meaning, since it marks the start of its third year of publication. 

    JOSCM was born in 2008. After two years of life, it has ceased to be a dream and has become a reality. The initial project has transmuted into a regular activity. 

    Much credit must be given to its first editor-in-chief - Professor Mauro Sampaio, Ph.D., for having assumed the heavy burden of shaping the journal, creating the rules for the selection and approval of papers, defining the processes and inviting most of the 14 associate editors, the 8 members of the editorial support staff and the 57 reviewers. 

    After its first year, when 15 papers were published, the post of editor-in-chief was inherited by Professor Fernando Coelho Martins Ferreira, Ph.D., who supervised successfully the publication of 15 more papers. 

    To these pioneers editors and to all the people who helped to give life to this so important Brazilian journal in the field of Production, Operations, Logistics, Supply Chain, Sustainable Development and related fields, to the associate editors, the members of the board, the FGV directors, the editorial staff, the reviewers, the assistants and, last, but not least, to our Authors, we want to express here our admiration and respect. 

    The publication of a journal like JOSCM is a collective undertaking, a team work, which requires abnegation on the part of authors, editors, reviewers, staff, and editorial, graphic and administrative assistants, who work most of them voluntarily, many of them anonymously, for the advancement of management theory and practice, that is, for the economic development and progress of this and other countries. We are much indebt to them, they deserve our unrestricted gratitude. 

    The present JOSCM edition contains seven papers. The paper entitled: "Investing in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects in Brazil" by Luiz Carlos Jacob Perera, Roberto Borges Kerr, Herbert Kimura and Fabiano Guasti Lima, explores the potential of Brazilian enterprises to sell carbon credits in accordance to the CDM conceived by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Nine executives linked to environmental issues were interviewed and indicated there is a promising future for carbon credits in Brazil. The paper has much to offer to all people interested in the reduction of harmful gases, forests conservation and the obtation of a healthier planet. 

    "The Stigma of Failure in Organizations", by Geraldo Ferrer and Nicholas Dew, addressed a much debated question, namely, how to build an innovative organization. Based on an early study by A. Landier (2005), the Authors developed models for different types of organizational culture and reached the conclusion that companies which do not reject executives on account of some failure are more favorable to innovation than bureaucratic organizations which stigmatize managers who failed. 

    The paper "Establishing the relationship between logistics complexity and supply chain objectives and decision areas in large companies operating in Brazil", by Peter F. Wanke, Henrique Luiz Correa, Maria Fernanda Hijjar, studies the relationship between logistics complexity and supply chain management objectives and decision making in 108 large manufacturing companies. Results show that such a relation indeed exists. To the question: "What is the right supply chain for my company, for my products, each logistics manager has to find his own answers. 

    The research reported in "Transport management in small and medium-sized ENTERPRISES in Brazil", by Ricardo S. Martins, Wescley Silva Xavier, Osmar Vieira de Souza Filho and Guilherme S. Martins looks at 450 small industrial companies logistics strategy. The results indicate that transportation is not used an area for competitive advantage in those companies. Instead, transportation is seen by them as a commodity, not a factor of differentiation. 

    The "Study on the Configuration of Distribution Channels for New Automobiles", by Ubiratã Tortato and Roberto Marx, relates the results of a research based on interviews conducted with dealers and automakers, concerning dealership strategy. A finding was that the three variables which most influence dealers' strategies are: dealer size, consumer behavior and legal environment. This article sheds an interesting light over car dealers, a scarcely studied economic segment in Brazil. 

    The paper "Supply chain mapping initiatives in the Brazilian automotive industry: challenges and opportunities", by Dario Ikuo Miyake, Alvair Silveira Torres Junior, Cleber Favaro, is an in-depth report of the initiative of three manufacturers, situated in different links of automotive supply chains, who undertook the difficult task of mapping the processes of their chains. Drawing the flow charts of materials, procedures and information is not easy in a company, let alone in a supply chain. Several techniques of process mapping are described in the paper. This methodology, essential for cost reduction and productivity improvement has not yet been much mentioned in the supply chain context. 

    The seventh paper of this series is "Operations and Technology Strategy Trajectories followed by automotive engine manufacturers set up in Brazil", by Jonas Lucio Maia, Aline Lamon Cerra and Alceu Gomes Alves Filho. It addresses a topic related to operations and technology strategies trajectories followed by two engine assembly plants in Brazil. The results show that the mature company has made efforts to increase quality and flexibility, while the newcomer has prioritized cost reduction and quality enhancements. 

    Now an important notice: authors can send us their papers through the site: www.joscm.com.br instead of by using our e-mail. This should make easier the submission of papers, and help JOSCM to receive an evergrowing number of them. 

    Ely Laureano Paiva 
    JOSCM Editor-in-chief  

  • July - December
    Vol. 2 No. 2 (2009)

    We have at least two important characteristics related to a good academic research: relevance and rigor. 

    Relevance is frequently present in operations management research because our area is historically an applied field covering important aspects related to value added and productivity. Regarding this JOSCM issue, papers published in this issue present a clear promise of advanced practice with both orientations mentioned earlier. Their focus on IT-based operations and technology use as leverages for innovation also strengthen all these aspects. 

    Methodological orientation of the papers follows multiple proposals, including survey, case study and math modeling. We may state that methodological rigor concerns are clearly identifiable in the papers present in this issue. 

    Based on all these points, we are sure that the articles in this issue provides for our readers rich insights related to the integration of technology and operations management. 

    Ely Laureano Paiva 
    Editor-in-Chief 

  • January - June
    Vol. 2 No. 1 (2009)

    In an era of intense global competition, the role of Operations Management (OM) is increasingly important. The third issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management is a clear evidence that OM plays a key role in the current competitive arena. Themes like sustainability, IT-based operations, internationalization and service management are central in the OM's research agenda. All of these themes are present in this issue, which indicates that JOSCM is in tune with the global trends. It is worthy to stress that the articles also present a multiplicity of research methods with qualitative and quantitative analyzes, improving the quality of the discussion in our research area.

    Articles present in the third issue are:

    • Results and implications of technological development in the Telecommunication Industry in Brazil.
    Débora Segato Martins, Simone Vasconcelos R. Galina;

    • Outsourcing of R&D activities to Brazilian Subsidiaries.
    Dusan Schreiber, Ivan Antônio Pinheiro;

    • The influence of banking service customers' satisfaction Level on the perception of switching costs and on behavioral loyalty.
    Maria Luiza Barcellos Zacharias, Kleber Fossati Figueiredo, Claudia Affonso Silva Araujo;

    • The UN/CEFACT XML Business Messaging Standard: a potential source of competitive advantage.
    Douglas S. Hill;

    • A contribution of the Cleaner Production Program to the ISO 14001 Management System: a case study in the metal-mechanic sector.
    Fernando Magnani Cervelini, Maria Tereza Saraiva Souza;

    • The dynamics between the roots and the wings: a study on innovative organizations.
    Silvana Pereira de Aguiar, Marcos Augusto de Vasconcellos;

    • Scenario Analysis within a Call Center Using Simulation.
    Marco Aurélio Carino Bouzada;

    • The influence of entrance mode on strategic positioning: an analysis of telephone companies Brasil Telecom and GVT.
    Fernando Ceragioli and Alexandre Reis Graeml.


    We are grateful for the tireless efforts of our reviewers. Without them it would be impossible to complete our work.
    Welcome to the JOSCM's third issue!

    Ely Laureano Paiva
    Editor-in-Chief

  • July - December
    Vol. 1 No. 2 (2008)

    The reception of the inaugural issue of the journal was electrifying. It has led to a heavy flow of high-quality manuscripts, new reviewers participation, and library subscriptions. As of December 20, 2008, the assembly of the third issue is nearly complete. It appears to have become the journal of choice for both authors and readers in our field.

    The current editorial team salutes ours reviewers who have worked hard in the continuous improvement of these papers: Alceu Gomes Alves Filho, Alexandre Reis Graeml, André Carvalho, André Luís De Castro M. Duarte, Beatriz Maria Braga Lacombe, Charbel Chiappetta, Edemilson Nogueira, Edmilson A. Moraes, Ely Laureano Paiva, João Mario Csillag, Jorge Luiz de Biazzi, José Carlos Barbieri, Júlio C. B. de Figueiredo, Leonardo Santiago, Luiz Artur Ledur Brito, Luis Henrique Rigatto Vasconcellos, Manoel de Andrade e Silva Reis, Mário Sacomano Neto, Paulo Gonçalves, Paulo Tromboni de Souza Nascimento, Peter Fernandes Wanke, Renato da Silva Lima, Ricardo Silveira Martins, Roberto Giro Moori, Silvio Roberto Ignacio Pires, Susana C. Farias Pereira e Tales Andreassi.

    Our pursuit for excellence involves encouraging submission of the best manuscripts and inviting practitioners to share their valuable experiences. We want to be known as an outlet of rigorously conducted, relevant, scholarly activities of those academicians who consider research as their other passion after teaching. We will appreciate to hear what you think of our progress.

    Papers in this issue

    This issue, much like the preceding one, represents the rich diversity of our field. In the first paper, "Sustainability: What Does it Mean for the Operations Manager?," Geraldo Ferrer presented evidence that the quest for sustainability is a quest for process improvement, then the operations manager is responsible the integrate quality, environmental and safety management. In the second paper,"Collaboration and Competition between 4PL and 3PL: A study of a fast-food supply chain ," Mauro Vivaldini, Sílvio R. I. Pires and Fernando Bernardi de Souza analyzes, in the form of a case study, a series of characteristics that help to understand the role of a 4PL to the management of several 3PLs. In "Satisfaction and Quality of Service Provided by Suppliers to mid-sized Supermarkets," Domingos Fernandes Campos analyzes, using survey methodology, the quality of service provided by suppliers to supermarkets in a medium sized city in the northeast of Brazil.

    In the fourth paper, "Analysis of the Relationship between Automaker and Systemist in an Industrial Condominium of the Automotive Industry," Mário Sacomano Neto and Sílvio R. I. Pires describe the relationship between an automaker, constituted in the form of an industrial condominium, and a systemist supplier operating inside the automaker's plant, exploring the impacts and innovations in the way production is organized. In "Supply Chain Management of Second Tier Suppliers: The use of Soft Systems Methodology and its Benefits in a Brazilian Company," Ricardo Alexandre Soares, Conrado Chiaradia Navarro and Renato da Silva Lima analyze and propose improvements in the supply relationship between auto parts companies and second tier suppliers in the Brazilian automotive sector by suggesting significant changes in its process, tasks and technology usage.

    In the seventh paper, "Buyer-Supplier Relationship and Service Performance: An Operations Perspective Analysis," Ely Laureano Paiva, Patrícia Phonlor, Lívia Castro D'Ávila analyze the influence of the buyer-supplier relationship continuity on service performance. In the eighth paper, "An Analysis of Business Administration Students Interest in the Area of Production and Operations," Francisco José da Costa, Dorelland P. Lima e Raphael de Jesus Campos de Andrade investigate the interest of Business Administration students in the field of Production and Operations Management.

    Additions to the Editorial Board
    The journal welcomes the following colleagues who have joined JOSCM as associate editor : Annibal José Scavarda, Marriott School of Management; and Joel Wisner, University of Nevada.

    Acknowledgements
    In preparing this issue, we thank Professor Claude Machline, for his tremendous support and incentive and professor Piotr Trzesniak for his advice and assistance.

    Flávia Canella, Luciana Gaia and Leonice Cunha are the assistant Editors, Thanks for their cheerful disposition efforts to keep us organized have contributed more than they could imagine.

    Finally, and most important, I would like my love, Ester, for her unwavering support during her pregnancy time. POM community prepare: Sophia is coming.

    We hope that you enjoy this issue of the Journal and will consider JOSCM as an outlet to share your research and conceptual papers with practitioners and academics.

    Mauro Sampaio
    Editor-in-Chief

  • January - June
    Vol. 1 No. 1 (2008)

    Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management. We are an outlet for publishing high quality research and application papers in this field (Production and Operation Management, "POM"). We've noticed that Latin American authors have not written papers on POM topics, or papers that use certain research paradigms, simply because there are limited outlets in English, and Spanish and Portuguese have a limited scope of readership. We think there is a need to communicate new ideas in the area of POM from Latin America researchers to enable a better flow of knowledge among emerging and developed countries. We believe our region has been and will continue to be increasingly more important in terms of operations and supply chain management, with more and more companies off-shoring their operations to this part of the world together with the growth of our own companies. As the map of the world changes and companies gain new opportunities, managers need a sound understanding of the socioeconomics, politics and cultures of the different parts of the world. Such knowledge is critical for developing manufacturing and service strategies that respond to customer needs effectively. In today's world, knowledge can easily be shared across national boundaries. The experience of a company in one country can provide a company in another country with valuable insight. This is not to suggest that the scope of the Journal is strictly Latin America, but rather that the focus is Latin America while the scope will include the international interface. 

    We developed our original plan for the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management with the following set of objectives:

    • To provide new and helpful information about POM;
    • To provide new theory or techniques in POM;
    • To provide researched generalizations about thought and practice in the field of POM;
    • To provide creative views and syntheses of dispersed concepts in the field of POM;
    • To provide papers in subject areas which have significant current impact on thought and practice in POM and which present challenges for the future.
    Together with these goals we will guarantee our readers some policies which will make the Journal more responsive to both the current and changing needs of the POM area. These policies are: 

    Fairness.

    All of the papers that are submitted to the Journal will receive a blind evaluation by three members of the Editorial Review Board. If a manuscript is unique, on occasion specific outside reviewers will be added to the Board for purposes of review. It is our current plan to include one invited paper in some issues of the Journal. These papers will be identified as "invited papers" and will not be subject to the review process. 

    Flexibility.

    In the rapidly changing world of POM, we must be flexible to meet current challenges and to anticipate future directions. We are not committed to any specific type of paper, methodology, or author, but rather we are committed to addressing all important related issues. 

    Rigor.

    The editors and reviewers judge the papers published in the journal, for their contribution to the improvement of business practices and to close the gap between research and practice. The Journal will attempt to present material at the level of the "thoughtful businessman" and we will carefully attempt to avoid the trap of presenting sophisticated quantitative methodology in a manner whereby only a handful of highly quantitatively skilled individuals can communicate with an equally limited number of highly quantitatively skilled individuals using the Journal as a vehicle. We are committed to developing a Journal which is responsive to the needs of the readership and to the discipline. This will make it easier to maintain a balanced and objective point of view in editorial content and provide content at a level which readers find informative and useful. 

    Furthermore, the editorial board is committed to the fair, thorough, and rapid review of manuscripts. 

    We also intend to implement with either Volume I Number 2 or the succeeding Volume a Forum section in the Journal. The Forum section will be for short posts of 1000 to 1500 words on current issues, interim research, or specific responses to papers published in the Journal. Also with either the next Number or the succeeding Volume, we hope to inaugurate a Book Review section which will take current text books and other material of general interest in the field and provide an objective evaluation for the readers. 

    This journal is intended to be an open source where the electronic version of the journal is available for free at www.joscm.com.br. By doing this, we hope to increase the visibility of the papers published in this journal for academics and business colleagues. 

    We will give awards to outstanding papers in the Journal. Our current plans are to offer this award once a year (details are being worked out). We are anticipating the announcement of this award so that it can be implemented in Volume II of the Journal. The name of the award is "The Claude Machline Award" in honor of Claude Machline, a pioneer in this field. 

    It was mentioned earlier that the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management was founded because there was a need. This need has been expressed by our academic and business colleagues all over Latin America. Now is the time to express a commitment to this step toward professionalism. We encourage your active participation with the Journal, as readers, as submitters of manuscripts, or simply as observers, commenting on how things can be done better. 

    Papers in this issue 

    The papers in this inaugural issue represent the diversity of our field, and future issues will continue this diversity. The first paper, "Changes in the role of production and operations management in the new economy," by Henrique Luiz Corrêa, analyzes how the area of production and operations management (POM) in Brazil should change/adapt in order to remain relevant to the so called "new economy" in the second paper, "Strategy and entrepreneurship: decision making and creation under uncertainty," Igor Tasic and Tales Andreassi deals with the entrepreneurial process and with how entrepreneurs decide to set up companies and structure new businesses without having clearly defined pre-established objectives, and without the capacity to analyze all future variable environments that might have an impact on this business, using the notion of 'effectuation'. 

    The third paper, "A new kind of operation inventory: the pre-assembled kit," by Claude Machline, shows the effect of a kit system on the supplier inventory and describes how to dimension the circulating inventory and its safety stock for pre-assembled kits. 

    In "Failure Recovery Management in Performance of Logistics Services in a B2B Context: A Case Study Using the 3PL Perspective", Luis Antonio Figueira Sanches Flores and Marcos André Mendes Primo analyze how failure recovery management can affect the supply chain performance and identify seven factors that should be evaluated for the management of failure recovery in logistics services. 

    The work described in the fifth paper, "Strategic alignment in the Brazilian automotive chain: the relationships between the first and second tier," by Osmar Vieira de Souza Filho, Ricardo Silveira Martins and Susana Carla Farias Pereira analyse the extent of strategic alignment in the Brazilian automotive chain by examining the strategies adopted by the purchasing function in the first tier suppliers for managing relationships with their suppliers. 

    In "The impact of quality management on profitability: an empirical study" Alexandre Pignanelli and João Mario Csillag evaluate the impact of quality management adoption on the profitability of Brazilian companies, comparing their performance in the period after the effective implementation of quality with the performance prior to that period. The results of the studies do not give a clear answer regarding the impact of quality on financial performance. 

    In "Power and trust in reverse logistics systems for scraptires and its impact on performance," Francisco Gaudêncio M. Freires and Alcibíades Paulo S. Guedes describe and analyze the influence of power and the trust between players on performance (efficacity and efficiency) of reverse logistics system. 

    The Future of This Journal

    We designed the journal's flexible editorial policy to help us seek new ideas and listen to our readers. When this journal was announced, there was a shared belief within the Latin American community that the journal would be able to play a major role in shaping the future of POM. That belief is now on trial, and although only the future will be the judge, the veredict will depend on the Latin American POM community's willingness to avail itself to the opportunity. 

    Acknowledgements

    I would like to thank my many colleagues from academia, business, and government, especially those who serve as advisors, area editors, members of the editorial review board, and referees, for their contributions in getting the Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management off the ground. 

    Three excellent visionaries provided critical support: Marcos Augusto Vasconcellos, General Coordinator of International Conference of the Production and Operations Management (Simpoi), Susana Carla Farias Pereira President of Simpoi, and Claude Machline, Emeritus professor of production and operation management at the Getulio Vargas Business School in Brazil. 

    I am grateful to all members of the editorial board of this journal for their contribution, in soliciting papers and reviewing them for this and coming issues. I would also like to thank the authors for giving the opportunity for this new journal to publish their high quality papers. 

    This is just the end of the beginning. I look forward to your continued help and suggestions. 

    Mauro Sampaio 
    Editor