Análise hierárquica de processos na gestão da produção de sementes

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the viability of applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process - AHP methodology to prioritize processes in a quality control management system in seed production. The technology area is concerned in developing procedures for the production, commercialization and use of high-quality seed lots. The literature shows to a lack of investigative work on process management in seed production systems. The use of decision support tools becomes a robust alternative to harmonize the interests of different agents and allow a safer assessment of the performance of the production chain. Through these tools it is possible to prioritize actions from the perspective of a group of participants in order to make the decision-making process decentralized, multidisciplinary and focused on the rational and efficient use of resources. The AHP methodology allows decision makers to logically structure and visualize a complex and previously unorganized problem. This structuring (hierarchy) represents the simultaneous interaction of the many factors that affect the problem in question. Determining components for the production of high-quality seeds were identified based on two premises: to be subject to improvement actions and even though they can be monitored through the company's internal quality control. This analysis resulted in three thematic dimensions: (1) Infrastructure related to the physical structure of the processing and storage site and also to the logistics and transport conditions of the final product to the consumer. (2) Location that is related to the characteristics of the place where the seed multiplication fields are conducted and (3) People, which concerns the entire professional team involved from production to distribution of the final product. For each dimension, five critical monitoring points were established. The people dimension was identified as having a significant difference between the others, assuming 54.3% of importance in relation to the other criteria. This demonstrates that a team organized and involved with the strategic directions of the seed producing company is a determining factor for the delivery of high quality seeds. The local dimension was in second place assuming 33.2% of relative importance and Infrastructure with 12.5%.