This paper aims to describe and analyze the Product Development Process (PDP) management in a sample of firms from the ceramic coating pole of Santa Gertrudes, State of Sao Paulo, focusing on the identification of problems of their adopted management practices, and to propose improvements to their PDP performance, addressing the needs of the current and future capacity of these companies. A survey research was carried out through visits and interviews to 20 companies of different sizes, located at the Pole. Compilation and statistical analysis of these data were later performed. The cluster analysis and correlation indicated the existence of two distinct groups of companies with respect to general characteristics, and the main difference regarded the formalization of the PDP activities. It was also possible to observe that, in general, all companies are structured with little regard to PDP management, using few management tools, and are technologically dependent on the innovation capacity of their suppliers, mainly producers of enamels ('Colorificio').
Product development process; Ceramic coating; Santa Gertrudes Center; Product development management
