Gestão de Produção mais Limpa em pequenas empresas: uma proposta metodológica desenvolvida por meio de pesquisa-ação

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to propose a Cleaner Production (CP) management methodology for small companies. CP can be understood as continual application of a preventive environmental strategy integrated to service, products and process in order to reduce risks to people and environment as well to increase process efficiency. Many companies, in particular the big ones, have adopted CP practices to reduce environment impacts and they have obtained, by extension, economic benefits by waste generation reduction and usage of less quantity of energy, water and materials. Despite its benefits, it is perceived low level of adherence to environmental management based on CP in the group of small companies, which is attributed to several barriers, such as few financial resources, lack of involvement of people and lack of leadership. This research analyzed how to structure the CP actions in a small metallurgical company by using the action research during five years. Data were collected and analyzed by means of participant observation. As main result this study proposes a CP management methodology in small companies composed by a five steps cyclical phase and a meta-phase. The proposed methodology showed to be a feasible way to conduct environment management in the research unit. It was observed that actions of monitoring and promoting CP improvement, prioritization of preventive opportunities and people involvement facilitate the evolution of continuous improvement in the proposed methodology.