Manufatura sustentável: Direções para desenvolvimento de modelos dedicados a MPMEs

Resumo (EN)

The growing demand for sustainable production practices has intensified discussions regarding manufacturing approaches capable of integrating economic performance, environmental responsibility, and social aspects. In this context, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a relevant role, although they face structural, financial, technological, and managerial constraints that may hinder the systematic implementation of such practices. Despite advances in the literature, there is still a predominance of fragmented, conceptual, or weakly contextualized models and frameworks, particularly regarding the specificities of SMEs in emerging economies. In light of this scenario, this dissertation aims to propose conceptual advances and analytical directions that may support the future development of evaluation and management models for sustainable manufacturing dedicated to SMEs, based on a critical literature analysis and exploratory empirical evidence. The research adopts a quantitative and exploratory approach, operationalized through a survey conducted with professionals, managers, and executives from industrial firms, resulting in 155 valid responses. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, reliability and validity assessment, correlation analysis, and exploratory factor analysis, aiming to identify association patterns and latent structures among the analyzed dimensions. The findings indicate the existence of factorial groupings associated with strategic-operational and organizational aspects, suggesting possibilities for a more parsimonious interpretation of sustainable manufacturing in the context of SMEs. However, these findings should be understood as exploratory evidence rather than as conclusive validation of a model. The study contributes by systematizing dimensions, variables, and conceptual directions for the evaluation of sustainable manufacturing in SMEs, offering theoretical-empirical foundations for future research and for the development of approaches better adapted to the characteristics, constraints, and needs of this business segment.