About us
The Operations Management Research Centre (OMReC/UFSC) was established on 21 July 2025 and is officially linked and certified by the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). The centre was founded by Professor Dr Andrei Bonamigo.
OMReC/UFSC is dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge and innovation applied to operations management in both industrial and service contexts. Its research scope encompasses the analysis and improvement of production systems, the management of complex service systems, and themes such as performance, value creation, sustainability, and digital transformation.
OMReC/UFSC represents the evolution of the former Group for Studies and Research in Service Engineering (GEPES), which was based at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF). The construction of this research group began in early 2019 and was finalised in July 2025, with the institutional transition of Professor Bonamigo from UFF to UFSC.
GEPES gained recognition through its research, teaching, and outreach activities focused on industrial service management, particularly in the business-to-business (B2B) context. The GEPES/UFF was associated with the Department of Production Engineering (VEP) at the School of Industrial and Metallurgical Engineering (EEIMVR), UFF.
The closure of GEPES/UFF and the creation of OMReC/UFSC marked a strategic evolution of the research group’s mission, aligned with emerging opportunities and trends within the broader university pillars of research, education, and extension. Today, OMReC/UFSC is composed of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and students from UFSC, UFF, UNOESC, and other national and international institutions.
The focus area
Knowledge Management
Develops research focused on the generation, integration, flow, control, and reduction of knowledge waste among stakeholders who co-create value collaboratively. Knowledge is regarded as a key resource for generating competitive advantage, promoting efficiency and innovation through collaborative business platforms.
Service Development
Focuses on research aimed at developing, integrating, and refining methods, models, processes, and tools that support service development. It applies value co-creation concepts, seeking collaborative and innovative environments that foster service excellence.
Lean Thinking
Lean thinking is embedded to enable ongoing improvement in value co-creation. This area focuses on creating efficient flows, eliminating waste, and maximising the value delivered to customers and partners through collaboration.
Quality Management
Applies the principles of Quality Engineering to manage and enhance value co-creation, with emphasis on risk identification and management, performance in B2B service environments, and excellence in organisational processes.
Industry 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0
Studies the impact of digital and technological transformation on organisations—from automation and connectivity (Industry 4.0), through the emphasis on human factors and personalisation (Industry 5.0), to the anticipated advances of Industry 6.0, which integrates sustainability, advanced artificial intelligence, and global collaborative networks. This area seeks to understand how these revolutions drive new forms of value co-creation among multiple actors.
Operational Excellence in Services
Dedicated to the creation and implementation of solutions that promote excellence in services, focusing on performance, process optimisation, continuous improvement, and sustainable value generation. It encompasses performance metrics, supply chain, service innovation, and the practical application of results in real-world contexts.
The Operations Management Research Centre (OMReC/UFSC) represents a strategic space of excellence for scientific production, academic collaboration, and researcher development. It also offers a valuable opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students to develop knowledge and skills focused on operations management, integrating theory, practice, and innovation.
Prof Dr Andrei Bonamigo — Coordinator of OMReC/UFSC
OMReC objectives
- To continuously develop people based on the scientific method;
- To foster initiatives and projects related to teaching, research, and outreach;
- To disseminate knowledge within the academic and professional communities;
- To contribute to the training of researchers with a critical perspective on the demands of the Operations Management field;
- To promote and support actions aligned with UFSC’s Institutional Development Plan (PDI).
1) Mission
To develop and disseminate scientific knowledge and applied innovation in operations management, contributing to operational excellence, sustainability, and digital transformation in industrial and service organisations, through people development, scientific methodology, and strategic partnerships.
2) Core Values
- Excellence: Scientific rigour in all activities.
- Innovation: Fostering creativity and adopting new technologies and methods to address theoretical and empirical challenges.
- Sustainability: Commitment to responsible practices that protect the environment, ensure economic viability, and generate positive social impact.
- Collaboration: Integrated work with academic, business, and community partners.
- Ethics: Transparency, respect, and responsibility in all actions.
- Education: Commitment to human development and the continuous pursuit of excellence.
3) Vision
To be nationally and internationally recognised as a leading centre for research and innovation in operations management, promoting competitiveness and sustainable development through efficient and technology-driven solutions.