Editorial Introduction

The present issue of the Brazilian Jornal of Operations & Production Management (BJO&PM) relies on a special context: the transition of the Editorial responsibility which has changed from Prof. Dr. Paulo Cauchick Miguel to myself. Prof. Cauchick Miguel had been in charge of it since this journal was first published  in 2004. I think the Brazilian community of Production and Operations Management is really in debt with him, since he was the pioneer of it and has performed a very valuable work. Since its first edition up to December 2008, 9 issues were published containing 46 papers, all of them selected under a rigorous blind review system, whose referees were well qualified and important researchers on production and operations management subjects. So, it is a great responsibility to take the BJO&PM ahead in the direction of its mission: “Publish research on production engineering and operations management produced in Brazil and abroad, in English language.”. Facing this challenge, the new editorial efforts focus on two main goals: increase visibility of our journal, in both Brazilian and international communities, and reduce the lead time for publishing high quality manuscripts. To achieve these goals, some strategies have been adopted, such as installing a portal for managing electronic submissions and increasing the number of referees from the international community. It is also relevant to highlight that it is not a result of a solitary work. Right now there are also important contributions from three associated editors that are working hard in order to make this journal a reference for excellence on its subject: Prof. Dr. Nei Soma, Prof. Dr. Caroline Miranda and Prof. Dr. José Luís Duarte Ribeiro. Their work, jointed with the carefully collaboration of ad-hoc referees and also the contribution of authors, encourage and make it possible to consolidate BJO&PM as a vehicle for publishing high quality researches in POM fields

AHP-De Borda: a hybrid multicriteria ranking method

De Borda voting method was proposed in the period of French revolution to be used in a multiple decision-maker environment. Later, it was adapted to multicriteria ranking problems. The adoption of criteria weights in De Borda modeling is an evolution of the original De Borda method; despite this fact, evolution does not approach how to define the weights, that is: the weights are an input to De Borda. The proposal is to segment the problem into two ones. The first is a weight assignment problem and was approached through AHP modeling. The second problem is a ranking problem, being approached through De Borda method. AHP and De Borda are based in principles from different multicriteria Decision Schools: AHP is classified into the American School; De Borda is recognized as a French method. This paper shows that it is possible to use both methods, in a complementary way. The proposal can assist and support decision makers in the modeling of multicriteria ranking problems by assigning weights to the criteria under a systematized way. This hybrid approach proposes a better way for the structuring of the problem, by linking an approach that natively supports the assignment of weights (AHP) into another devoted to the ordering of objects (De Borda)

Modelo para mapeamento das percepções dos usuários a respeito dos serviços prestados por uma biblioteca especializada

Nowadays a question arises: how to evaluate the users’ satisfaction regarding the services provided by a library? This paper aims to propose and apply a model for evaluating the satisfaction of the users of a library, regarding the library services. The proposal should be divided into three steps: a systematized literature review that has supported the construction of a questionnaire; a data collection though applying the questionnaire to a sample; and, the analysis of the data collected. In the first step, it was performed an extensive and systematized literature review on the bases Scientific Electronic Library Online - SciELO, Scopus and ISI Web of Science was developed to support the construction this model. The results from the literature review were the input for defining the set of evaluation criteria and to prepare a questionnaire for evaluating the users’ satisfaction. In the second step the questionnaire was applied to a sample by users of a library specialized in the field of nuclear technology, in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. In the third step, the data collected were complied and analysed though statistical frequency analysis. The sample was composed of 117 respondents of whom 94 returned forms. The results indicated that the criteria on which the library best performed were the conservation and adequacy of the collection. In the other hand, the results also have shown that the update criteria and international coverage of the collection are the ones that have should receive more attention, once they were perceived as having low performance and high importance for the users’ satisfaction. The main contributions of this research are: the criteria set and the frame for performing the survey and the way data were analysed.No ambiente da gestão de bibliotecas, vem à tona a seguinte questão: como avaliar a satisfação dos usuários com os serviços prestados pelas bibliotecas? Este artigo propõe e aplica um modelo para a avaliação da satisfação dos usuários quanto aos serviços oferecidos por uma biblioteca e, também, identificar o grau de importância dos diferentes aspectos deste tipo de serviço. Para isto uma revisão sistematizada da literatura foi desenvolvida a fim de dar suporte à construção do modelo. Esta revisão foi especialmente útil para definir o conjunto de critérios de avaliação e para a elaboração do instrumento de coleta, o qual foi aplicado a uma amostra composta por 117 usuários de uma biblioteca especializada na área de tecnologia nuclear, dos quais retornaram 94 formulários. Os dados coletados indicaram a importância e o desempenho de cada um dos aspectos considerados no questionário, apontando os critérios nos quais os usuários ficaram mais satisfeitos foram a conservação e a adequação do acervo. Por outro lado, os resultados também mostraram que atualização e cobertura internacional do acervo são os aspectos prioritários para ações de melhoria, visto que são aqueles em que os usuários estão menos satisfeitos e também são aqueles que os usuários consideram mais importantes. Destacam-se como contribuições da pesquisa: o conjunto de critérios; o instrumento de coleta; e, a proposta para tratamento dos dados

Aplicabilidade dos métodos de determinação de perfis da superfície livre em escoamentos através de condutos circulares

This work, initially, presents some qualitative aspects of free surface flow through circular conduits. Following, some methods for determination of longitudinal profiles of the water surface to gradually varied flow are described. These methods are the Direct Step, Keifer and Chu, Keifer and Chu modified, Angles, Critical Slope, Graphical Integration and the Ven Te Chow one. That description is based on the analysis of the theoretical structure of each method, and then, the respective methodologies are used in situations of flow previously chosen. The applicability of each method is talked over and criticized in order to recommend the choice of the appropriated methodology for the different pratical situations.O trabalho apresenta inicialmente alguns aspectos qualitativos dos escoamentos com superfície livre em condutos circulares. Em seguida são apresentados alguns métodos para determinação de perfis longitudinais da linha de água para o escoamento permanente não uniforme. Os métodos são: Direto, Keifer e Chu, Keifer e Chu modificado, Ângulos, Declividade Crítica, Integração Gráfica e o de Ven Te Chow. Tal apresentação é realizada através de uma análise da estrutura teórica de cada método e posteriormente, as respectivas metodologias são aplicadas a situações de escoamento pré-fixadas. A aplicabilidade de cada método é comentada e criticada no sentido de fornecer subsídios para escolha da metodologia adequada perante as diferentes situações encontradas na prática

ESCOLA COMO ESPAÇO DO ACONTECER SOLIDÁRIO:

Resumo: O presente trabalho tem como objetivo refletir sobre a escola como espaço do acontecer solidário. Para isso, foram realizadas reflexões sobre a categoria Lugar, a partir do referencial teórico da Geografia Nova de Milton Santos. Durante a pesquisa foram realizadas reflexões sobre o papel social da escola pública, sobre o Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID), e por fim, a aproximação da escola como lugar. Foram realizadas 16 entrevistas com estudantes que participaram das atividades do PIBID no Colégio Estadual Dr. Pedro Ludovico Teixeira, localizado na cidade de Porto Nacional/TO. Este trabalho possibilitou pensar a escola em uma perspectiva geográfica, resultando em reflexões sobre as transformações do mundo, da sociedade e consequentemente da escola. É possível pensar em uma escola que reflita além dos seus muros. Nesse trabalho defende-se uma escola mais humana, solidária e coletiva, capaz de transformar o futuro da nação, combatendo as desigualdades socioespaciais e respeitando as diferenças.    Palavras-chaves: Ensino. Geografia. PIBID. Solidariedades. Abstract: This paper aims to reflect on the school as a space of solidarity happening. For this, reflections were made about the Place category, from the theoretical framework of New Geography of Milton Santos. During the research, reflections were made about the social role of the public school, about the Institutional Program for Teaching Initiation Scholarships (PIBID), and finally, the approach of the school as a place. Sixteen interviews were conducted with students who participated in PIBID activities at the Dr. Pedro Ludovico Teixeira State College, located in the city of Porto Nacional / TO. This work enabled the school to think in a geographic perspective, resulting in reflections on the changes of the world, society and consequently the school. It is believed possible to think of a school that reflects beyond its walls. This work defends a more humane, solidary and collective school that is capable of transforming the future of the nation, combating socio-spatial inequalities and respecting differences. Keywords: Teaching. Geography. GDPID. Solidarities

Bibliometric analysis of scientific production on methods to aid decision making in the last 40 years

Purpose: Multicriteria methods have gained traction in both academia and industry practices for effective decision-making over the years. This bibliometric study aims to explore and provide an overview of research carried out on multicriteria methods, in its various aspects, over the past forty-four years. Design/Methodology/Approach: The Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases were searched for publications from January 1945 to April 29, 2021, on multicriteria methods in titles, abstracts, and keywords. The bibliographic data were analyzed using the R bibliometrix package. Findings: This bibliometric study asserts that 29,050 authors have produced 20,861 documents on the theme of multicriteria methods in 131 countries in the last forty-four years. Scientific production in this area grows at a rate of 13.88 per year. China is the leading country in publications with 14.14%; India with 10.76%; and Iran with 8.09%. Islamic Azad University leads others with 504 publications, followed by the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University with 456 and the National Institute of Technology with 336. As for journals, Expert Systems With Applications; Sustainability; and Journal of Cleaner Production are the leading journals, which account for more than 4.67% of all indexed literature. Furthermore, Zavadskas E. and Wang J have the highest publications in the multicriteria methods domain regarding the authors. Regarding the most commonly used multicriteria decision-making methods, AHP is the most favored approach among the ten countries with the most publications in this research area, followed by TOPSIS, VIKOR, PROMETHEE, and ANP. Practical implications: The bibliometric literature review method allows the researchers to explore the multicriteria research area more extensively than the traditional literature review method. It enables a large dataset of bibliographic records to be systematically analyzed through statistical measures, yielding informative insights. Originality/value: The usefulness of this bibliometric study is summed in presenting an overview of the topic of the multicriteria methods during the previous forty-four years, allowing other academics to use this research as a starting point for their research

Space without smoke: uma experiência em microgravidade

Em 11 e 13 de Setembro de 2002 realizaram- se os voos da 5th Student Parabolic Flight Campaign promovido pela Agência Espacial Europeia (ESA), na qual participaram 32 equipas de 15 países, uma das quais portuguesa. A experiência do projecto português Space without Smoke foi bem sucedida e despertou grande interesse dos responsáveis da organização

ELECTRE ME: a proposal of an outranking modeling in situations with several evaluators

Highlights: This paper describes an original proposal for modeling Multicriteria problems taking into account more than one evaluator. It allows each evaluator to have its own set of criteria. It also avoids the incoherency of adopting compensatory techniques into non-compensatory algorithms. Goal: This paper describes an original proposal for modeling multicriteria situations where multiple evaluators take part of the evaluation process. This proposal allows each evaluator to have its own set of criteria, including their weights, and also avoids the usual inconsistency of adopting pre-processing compensatory methods for introducing it into non-compensatory algorithms. Design / Methodology / Approach: In order to better describe how ELECTRE ME works, a multicriteria-multiple evaluator situation is modeled by ELECTRE TRI ME (as we have called the ELECTRE TRI variation that incorporates the principles of multiple evaluators). Results: ELECTRE ME was able to avoid the inconsistency of adopting contradictory mechanisms of aggregating preferences while modeling multicriteria & multiple evaluators problems (first called here as MCDA-ME). Limitations: Although the proposal focuses in situations with multiple evaluators, there is no restriction for its application in situations where there is only one decision maker. Practical implications: Another important feature of ELECTRE ME is that it allows each evaluator to consider its own set of criteria and its own scale for evaluation. Originality / Value:  ELECTRE ME avoids a contradictory approach to use compensatory algorithms (such as weighted mean) as an input in non-compensatory outranking methods. Despite the fact that non-compensatory principle is in the heart of the ELECTRE methods, it has not found a previous proposal with the attributes shown in this study: to incorporate outranking concepts in situations where more than one evaluator is present and, by extension, allow each evaluator to have its own set of criteria

Production of electroactive filaments by coextrusion

The development of new products for i-textiles (interactive textiles) or e-textiles (electronic textiles) applications shows a significant growth in the most recent years due to their huge potential. Although much scientific work has been published in the last years, actual practical applications are still limited. This is due, on one hand, to unsatisfactory state of development of the technology and, on the other, to difficulties on the integration of technologies and methods of the textile and electronic areas. Products for e/i-textiles very often involve the use of sensors, preferably in the form of films, filaments or fibres, due to the inherent easy insertion in the product. For this purpose, electroactive filaments, that benefit from the piezoelectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, can be an interesting choice. There aresome works published in the literature related to the development of films with piezoelectric properties [1], that employ PVDF as the electroactive material. However, despite its importance, the manufacture methodologies employed are very difficult to use in industrial scale production. In this work a novel methodology for the production of electroactive filaments, by coextrusion of PVDF and an electrical conductive polymer composite, is proposed and tested. The developed methodology involves a conventional coextrusion line, and can be easily scaled up for industrial massive production. It is shown that The PVDF filament with a conductive PP/carbon black composite core crystallizes in the crystalline phase related just to the temperatures and stretch ratio conditions, independently of the existence of the conductive core: for 80ºC the material crystallizes in the -phase and undergoes increasing to phase transformation for increasing stretch ratios from 1 to 5.FCT- Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology through the projects PTDC/CTM/69316/2006, NANO/NMed-SD/0156/2007 and PTDC/CTM/108801/2008 and FEDER via FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, under the POCI 2010 and Pluriannual programs. A.F., P.C. and V. S. thank the FCT grants SFRH/BD/69796/2010, SFRH/BD/64267/2009 and SFRH/BPD/63148/200