Governança na cadeia produtiva do leite no Alto Uruguai Catarinense: um estudo de caso

Abstract

This study aimed to describe and analyze the key business processes by the small-scale dairies in the region of Alto Uruguai Catarinense and characterize the governance structure adopted in the coordination of their chains. That option was chose due to the fact that the current scientific literature indicates the use of the concept of supply chain together with the concept of productive chain for the study of aspects of relationships among companies in the agribusiness sector. At the same time, they also indicate the notion of supply chain as an approach under construction and able to incorporate elements which are found in the study of different realities for the composition of broader concepts. From mapping a supply chain of four dairy agribusiness organizations in the studied region, performed by applying an analysis model developed from the literature review, the nature of supply chain management in such segment was intended to be understood. The method of obtaining and analyzing data was case study by using interviews. The study indicates that the related companies manage their supply chains with a hybrid governance structure, but with marked differences to one extreme or another, depending on the link to which they relate. In the link of raising raw materials, the governance through the market is predominant. Yet, in the link of trading there are cases varying from vertical integration in the first tier to the building of partnerships. The management processes prioritized by those companies are basically those located in the first tier of suppliers and customers, but not all of them. The prioritization of processes related to closer links is due to the fact that the management structure is very lean and companies do not adopt a management version of their supply chains. Finally, companies in the study, besides the scarcity of resources, may adopt a system to manage a portion of their key processes and thereby gain competitive advantages in the regional market.