Antecedents of the Productive Efficiency in Manufacturing: experiences from Brazilian furniture industry

Abstract

This article aims to identify productive characteristics that differentiate technically efficient and inefficient firms in the furniture industry in Brazil. The sampling of companies obeyed especially the accessibility criteria, ensuring, however, the assumptions of homogeneity and reliability of the data. Data collection occurred in loco (May-September 2011) with the respondents, mostly corporate managers. The data analysis is based on efficiency scores obtained using Data Envelopment Analysis. Companies that has efficient production can be defined as those midsized and with pushed production. Additionally, they develop internally much of its processes, using outsourcing with less emphasis on the research and development of new products and with the client research, are relatively recent in the market and have a more innovative profile. But are those companies who have better control of production systems, presenting products with higher quality and at lower unit costs of production.