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Este artigo tem por objetivo identificar as principais características de pesquisa no tema linhas de montagem, a fim de propor oportunidades para trabalhos futuros. Para tanto, foram revisadas 226 publicações relevantes sobre o tema nos últimos 50 anos (1960-2010) e analisados os principais assuntos, métodos e conteúdos dos trabalhos estudados. Como resultado, observa-se uma concentração de publicações em balanceamento e sequenciamento de linhas de montagem através de métodos de modelagem e experimentos computacionais, além de significativa quantidade de estudos de linhas de modelos mistos, justificada pela crescente demanda por variedade e customização dos produtos. Existe um desafio para a pesquisa de linhas de montagem que é traduzir para os modelos gerados a complexidade dos aspectos reais do funcionamento e configurações das linhas de montagem existentes. Diversos autores enfatizam dificuldades para obter modelos aplicáveis em diversos casos e situações específicas da realidade. Os autores apontam que existem decisões estratégicas importantes para as configurações das linhas que antecedem a utilização dos modelos disponíveis. Conclui-se que há oportunidades para trabalhos científicos relacionados às pesquisas práticas e aplicadas que envolvam casos e problemas reais, além de para uma abordagem mais ampla do tema, considerando os aspectos multidisciplinares das linhas de montagem e seu relacionamento com as estratégias de produção adotadas pelas empresas.

This paper aims to reflect about opinions and reports about the Covid-19 impact on society and on the fashion industry from retail, luxury market professionals and consumer behavior researchers. The pandemic impacts are analyzed under the perspective of consumer behavior and the demand for connection and affection from the isolation caused by the pandemic. Within these two dimensions, four basic variables emerge to formulate reflections on the future and to visualize opportunities, external threats and the impact on the internal strengths and weaknesses of different luxury, mass and differentiation business. The analysis was formulated based on books, research on websites in the digital sphere that encompass different opinions involved in the fashion world, as well as recent trend studies. To meet new consumer demands, a brand needs to be present in the digital environment and connect to its consumers on an emotional level through its purpose, values and communication, by means of virtual and physical channels in a fluid, direct and transparent way. Small businesses may have a greater capacity to adapt to the new post-Covid-19 moment, due to the agility of responding to adversities.

The pressure to innovate has been particularly strong in industry traditional sectors if they are to survive to competitors with lower labour costs. Furniture has become a commodity product in some international markets. In most countries the furniture industry is highly fragmented and family owned. In this context the decision to introduce and launch new products rests solely on the owner, without considering the costumer needs. At the same time, the companies do not have an organizational structure and a formal process for managing new product development (NPD). In recent years “lean thinking” has gained increased popularity as a new paradigm of product design and manufacturing. This is due to the success which Toyota attained worldwide. The present research, still in progress, aims to answer the following research question: “Can lean thinking principles, methods and tools be applied in product development in a traditional sector such as the furniture industry?” To answer this question a research programme has been designed based on a cross-case analysis in two distinct cultural settings: the Portuguese and Brazilian furniture industries. Two in-depth case studies are in progress in two firms (one in Portugal and another in Brazil). The research programme is focused on the following principles: organize to balance functional expertise, to establish customer defined value, front load the product development process and to use tools for standardisation. The application of these principles has as its main goal to eliminate waste during the process chain and attain excellence. The first phase of the work looked into the subsystem People, with particular emphasis on the organizational structure. The preliminary results, obtained up to now, show that there is no formal product development system currently in place in the studied companies. This results in an inefficient flow of information in all phases of the product development, leading to numerous sources of waste.

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