The Real Richness in the Semi-jewel Production

Author(s)

Bezerra Gemma, Sandra F. ; Silva, Marta Mesquita ; Bagnara, S ; Tartaglia, R ; Albolino, S ; Alexander, T ; Fujita, Y

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 20TH CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ERGONOMICS ASSOCIATION (IEA 2018), VOL VII: ERGONOMICS IN DESIGN, DESIGN FOR ALL, ACTIVITY THEORIES FOR WORK ANALYSIS AND DESIGN, AFFECTIVE DESIGN; v. 824, p. 8-pg., 2019-01-01.

Abstract

The city of Limeira is officially designated as the jewel and semi-jewel capital of Brazil, besides being recognized in the world scenery in this productive sector. However, these successful financial data contrast with the socio-environmental externalities caused by this type of production. In this research, three factories of the city were studied aiming to give visibility to the work, still very little explored in the literature, explaining its content, in what way and under what conditions the workers of these factories accomplish it, through the method Ergonomic Work Analysis (EWA), the main tool of activity ergonomics. This study evidenced that the work includes creation and assembly of products, through services and after-sales, as well as analysis and cost management and logistics. These characteristics are essential to address the vast diversity and high volume of products, and are revealed in the activities responsible for sales and deliveries of products that were the focus in this research. Different from what was expected of a mass production, the work turned out to be a manufacture of constant creations that depend on the management of the workers. Women are at the forefront of the negotiations in sales, with suppliers and with workers of the company, evidencing their decisive responsibilities for these companies. Even in an environment of intense pushiness of this sector, which is immersed in the consumption of the globalized market, prosperous results are achieved and it is in the commitment of these workers that lies the great value of the production of semi-jewel. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/25829-0 - Work in the manufacture of jewelry in Limeira, SP
• Grantee: Sandra Francisca Bezerra Gemma
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants