Challenges in data collection for enhancing productivity in Brazilian industrial processes

Goal: To understand the underlying reasons for low productivity in medium-sized metalworking companies and to evaluate the effectiveness of the productivity improvement techniques that have been implemented. Design / Methodology / Approach: The research adopted an exploratory design, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. This included content analysis and semi-structured interviews with company managers. Twelve medium-sized enterprises in the metalworking sector were selected, and data were collected from thesis projects conducted between 2017 and 2019. The interviews were conducted via phone or video conferencing with managers in 2023. Results: The findings indicate that productivity improvement techniques, including Lean Six Sigma, PDCA, and Value Stream Mapping, were partially implemented in some companies but were abandoned in others due to the pandemic and internal cultural barriers. Only a minority of companies succeeded in sustaining their productivity programs. Limitations of the Investigation: The primary limitations include the reluctance of companies to provide detailed data, challenges in maintaining improvement programs due to the pandemic, and restricted access to internal information owing to industrial confidentiality. Practical Implications: This study underscores the necessity for enhanced methodological strategies to foster company collaboration and robust data collection in productivity research, offering insights into the challenges faced by medium-sized companies in Brazil. Originality / Value: This research provides a unique comparison of productivity challenges encountered by medium-sized Brazilian companies in the metalworking sector, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus contributing to the discourse on industrial competitiveness and productivity enhancement in developing economies.