Modularização de produto e os efeitos sobre a eficiência técnica: uma avaliação em uma fabricante de ônibus

Abstract

The improvement of efficiency and productivity has attracted a growing interest by companies, and the modularization is considered a strategic alternative to achieve this purpose. However, despite the research on modularization points to this and other benefits, the empirical evidence supporting such expectations is scarce in the literature. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the effects the modularization produces in order to contribute to the improvement of the efficiency of an area or a productive system, for instance. The present study analyzes the effects of the implementation of product modularization over the efficiency of a company that manufactures buses. These effects were evaluated longitudinally using, in a combined way, the Data Envelopment Analysis, the Variance Analysis (ANOVA), and the Evaluation of the Causal Impact in Time Series (CausalImpact) on a study case. As a result, we can see that the effects of modularization on the efficiency are positive and significant. We also can note significant differences between modularized and non-modularized projects and products. Finally, this research establishes and empirically support the causality between modularization and the efficiency of Product Engineering in the productive process of the company studied.