Thursday, November 17, 2011

Shannon on the GM visit

GM Visit: Today was one of the best customer visits Curtis and I have been on, in the 3 years of participating on this trip. It was great to see a production assembly plant. The engine assembly was very fascinating in that they produce 70 engines an hour! They are much smaller than the typical US engine, but again, gasoline is around $6.30 a gallon here!

We went on to the car assembly, where the only robot we saw was one to install the glass windshields. We walked from start to finish, and saw them drive off the line! The defect rate was quite high at 20%. Mostly gap issues, etc. Plenty of run to improve, but Six Sigma hasn't spread here yet. Overall a great visit!

Martine's thoughts so far

We had a truly interesting visit this morning of the GM assembly line, close to Sao Paulo.  I had only seen videos and pictures, and "walking" the line was fascinating.  Even more fascinating was watching the true excitement and delight of engineering experts such as Raida and Curtis!  Lori Feldman went off, on foot, to find a place to have lunch and got side-tracked by a gift shop where we bought a lot without doing too much damage.  I for one am very happy with the gifts I am bringing back to Indiana.

Reflections on the GM visit - Scott

We visited General Motors do Brasil (located in Sau Paulo), in which we experienced a presentation and plant tours of their engine plant as well as their assembly plant.  General Motors do Brasil is the largest subsidiary of General Motors in South America and the second largest outside the United States.
Some interesting facts we learned about their business were the following:
·         ~2,200 engines are made per day for each engine class (e.g. 4 cylinder 1.0 liter, 4 cyclinder 1.2 liter, etc..)
·         8 hour work day for employees
·         8,000 Engine Plant personnel
·         1,000 Assembly Plant personnel
·         80% car approvals / 20% rejection (defective)
·         Employees receive 30 paid holidays per year
·         Entry level employees get paid ~200 Reals/week

The plant tours were amazing as the majority of us have never stepped foot in an automobile plant before.  I am not sure if anyone else felt the same but I actually left this visit today with a little more appreciation of the vehicle I drive.  There are many steps to manufacturing a vehicle.  Engineering, supply chain, organization, personnel, quality assurance, etc are all vital elements.  If any of these components are not managed properly, it could be detrimental to the final product.

p.s.  One of the neatest processes to watch was the marriage between the body of the car and the engine.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Day 3 - Ballet de Santa Theresa - from Scott

Visiting the Santa Teresa Ballet non-profit organization in Rio de Janeiro was undoubtedly one of the most inspirational stories I have heard and learned about on this Brazil trip thus far.  This non-profit organization essentially was started because a 4 year young girl from the community of Morro de Coroa, 2nd largest favela  in the Santa Teresa neighborhood, asked her teacher when she was going to teach her ballet.
Santa Teresa Ballet serves kids from the ages of 7-18 daily that reside in areas of social risk.  Most of them are young girls.  Examples of activities that are complimentary and accompanied by instructional orientation and social assistance range from classical ballet lessons and music and chorus to presentation programs and English classes.  Since the inception of the program, 700 families (1000 children) have been assisted through projects such as “First Steps”, “Ballet da Letras” and “Spectacle”.
Only $250 out of $400 Reals per child (Brazil Currency) are covered by the state which means it is important to raise necessary funds for this organization to keep assisting the children.  Some of the future plans for Santa Teresa Ballet are to strengthen its projects, establish new partnerships and sustain the institution.   It was an honor to visit and hear a presentation at the Santa Teresa Ballet non-profit organization.  It was truly inspirational!

Day 5 - Thoughts from Seth

We have been very fortunate (in my opinion) to have visited with diverse companies here in Brazil.  We've been able to see both non-profit organizations and for-profit companies who contribute both to society & to their shareholders in unique ways.  In all of our visits thus far, the common theme has definitely been the "cultural" differences between doing business in Brazil vs. what we see and experience in the US.  We have heard over and over again how important it is to build relationships and trust first before considering closing a deal.  The notion of instant gratification that many businesses are accustomed to in the US would simply not work here.  We are used to meeting a couple times and perhaps going to dinner and then signing on the dotted line.  Here, they often take 6 months to get to know one another before considering entering into a business relationship.

We heard today from an investment banker (who is originally from Indiana and taught for 2 years at PU) that he was recently part of a transaction where they valued a company at ~$90 Million Reais and because of a relationship the owners had with one particular bidder, they settled for a bid of ~$65 Million Reais.  While we may view this as ludicrous in the US, the owners didn't think twice about it or even consider that they may be taken advantage of by someone they knew.  He commented that the owners didn't feel like they needed any more money and were happy to be able to sell to someone that they had a connection with.  It truly is a different way of doing business and viewing life in general in many respects.

Day 1 - Reflections from Millie

If I had to use one word to describe Brazil thus far, it would be phenomenal. It is what I imagined and more. The people, the food, the culture have all been phenomenal.   The people are warm and friendly and for the most part want to help. I want to give a special thanks to Antonio for assisting me from the moment I board the plane in Miami, until arriving in Brazil. He is a true ambassador for his country.  Second special thanks to Lucia , our tour guide in Rio, for sharing her warmth , passion, sincere concern, insights, and thought of Brazil. She is also a TRUE ambassador for Brazil. I highly recommend her for any trips to Rio.
Our first night in Rio will be forever memorable.  We had a “scrump dillyishus “  dinner at a Brazilian steak house.  The food , drinks, and company was phenomenal. Everyone was gracious, warm, and accommodating.  Thereafter, with our tummy’s full; we wanted to experience the nightlife we have heard so much about. Several of the alumni and a few of us current students ventured out looking for fun…and WE FOUND IT!!!!  Our first choice of clubs had a line that wrapped around two blocks; being the impatient people we are J we decided not to wait. We found another club (playing James brown) and went in. There were a very few people there to our initial dismay.  We grabbed a drink and several of us (not me at that time) started dancing the electric slide.  Several of the local Brazilians decided to try and learn and jumped in. People from the street began to look in and see what was going on and decided to come in.  PURDUE got the party started …whooo hoooo…  within an hour the place was packed..music was hoping… and we were right there in the middle of it.  Within a few hours a live band began to play…  They were phenomenal.   Unfortunately fatigue set in and we left the club about 2:30 pm  looking for a taxi to get us back to the hotel.  We had been traveling for 24 hours,  arriving at 7 :30 am Brazilian time ( 3:00 am our time ) ;  hung out until 2:00 pm ; went to a meeting; checked into our rooms at 3:30 pm , went to  dinner, and then straight to the club. We had not rested ….. but we represented well J    That is how this trip started J J

Day 2 - up on mountains

We were so lucky. The sun stayed out most of the day and the rain stayed away! 

Our first visit of the day was to Pao de Acucar - Sugarloaf Mountain.  It was named by the first settlers who saw it and thought that it resembled a lump of raw sugar. During the seventeenth century sugar cane was the primary export of Brazil and upon completion of the processing the finished product was packed into bread like loaves for shipment. Hence the name Sugar Loaf. It is said to have the best 360 degree view of Rio from one place.  When we arrived, Licia (our guide) showed us a 300 year old mango tree growing in the middle of the building that houses the tram which takes you to the top of the mountain.  It was an amazing tree and was still bearing fruit that we could see.  The lines for the tram were VERY long because of the upcoming Brazilian national holiday and because the Christ the Redeemer statue was shrouded in fog.  The statue is another place to get wonderful views of Rio. 

The line moved quickly and we soon got on an efficient tram which took us to the midway point where we saw wonderful views of the 8-mile long bridge, Copacabana beach, and many other parts of Rio.  There was still a bit of fog, but we could still see a lot.  We then took the second tram all the way up to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain and lo and behold, the clouds parted and we got a GREAT view of the city.

Our next stop was the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (Catedral de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro). It is dedicated to Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of Rio de Janeiro. The current church was built between 1964 and 1979 and replaced a series of old churches that had served as cathedrals since 1676. It is located in the center of the city. Conical in form and with a 96 metres (315 ft) internal diameter and an overall height of 75 metres (246 ft), it has a standing-room capacity of 20,000 people. The cathedral's four rectilinear stained glass windows soar 64 metres (210 ft) from floor to ceiling.

Although it was optional, and because the weather was clearing up, most of the
 group then decided to continue on to the Tijuca National Park on Corcovado Mountain where the Chriso Redempto statue is.  It was two very long van rides up to the top.  The private van company can take you about 80% of the way up and then you have to take a government van the rest of the way up.  The ride was full of switchbacks which the expert drivers maneuvered easily.  I am constantly amazed at the skill of the bus drivers and these van drivers. 

Once we got to the top, we were not quite at the top.  There were still several flights of steep stairs to climb to truly get to the statue.  Christ the Redeemer (Portuguese: Cristo Redentor) is considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. It is 39.6 metres (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 metres (31 ft) pedestal, and 30 metres (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tons. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931. It is an icon of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is also now considered one of the wonders of the modern world.   

It is truly, truly amazing and a sight not to be missed.  We were thrilled that the sun came out just at that time.  It is hard to believe how big it really is and the peaceful feeling you get in its presence.  As you would expect, there were many, many people taking pictures not only of the statue, but of themselves in Jesus' pose and to get an idea of the huge scale of this work of art.

The midpoint down had a nice little area for lunch where we ate.  Apparently the not dogs were not very tasty but my chicken and cheese empanada had a flaky crust and was yummy.  I also had more of the acai frozen concoction and introduced to a few more of us in the group :)  See the picture to the right.

Many of us wanted to hurry down so we could go to the "Hippie" market in town.  It is a craft fair that is held only on Sundays and was only a few short blocks from our hotel.  There was an amazing selection of leather goods, toys, and other handicrafts.  Since we all knew where we were, we all went our separate ways and met back up at the hotel. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Bear with us

We've had intermittent internet issues.  We will get posts and pix up as soon as we can.  Hang in there....

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Woelcome dinner - Brazilian steakhouse

 Wow, this was a great experience! Not only the many kinds of beef, turkey, ribs, pork and sausages but the amazing salad bar! When we arrived we each got a caipirinha - very strong ones. Some of us found ways to make them into mixed drinks - with mango juice or with Coke :). They also gave us rolls with really garlicky garlic butter.  You can see some of the amazing salads in the photo on the left. 

One of the neat things about this type of restaurant is that you can sample many different kinds of meat.  Here they came around with the meat on long skewers - beef, pork, chicken....  It is amazing that they don't drip on anyone and that they can cut the meat SO thin. I was truly amazed at how sharp the knives must be.  It is a bit like Brazilian "tapas" in that they come around with different types of meats and you say which ones you want to try. In this picture you can see Scott and Millie with one of the servers.

Day - Reflections from Kim

Yesterday was an eventful day of cultural activities in Brazil. We started off at Sugarloaf and our timing was impeccable. We travelled to the lowest viewing area by tram and had the opportunity to experience some of the best views of Rio. Right after taking a few pictures and getting some background information from Licia, our guide, the clouds rolled in and blanketed the whole city below.

Luckily, the sun began burning off some of the fog just as we began ascending Corcovado Mountain to see one of the tallest statues in the world, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer. We began to climb the winding brick road up the side of the mountain in a tour van. The van drivers here are experts and drove accordingly, barely clipping the side of the mountain and taking blind curves without easing off the gas pedal. We arrived safely at the top and after quite a few stairs, we reached the base of the statue. The statue was breathtaking, all 130 feet! After taking many photos of the statue and the city views below, we stopped for lunch at the base of the statue. Many of us discovered that hot dogs are even more questionable in Brazil - mushy is the best word!

After our tours, we hit the Hippie Market to spend some of our Reals. They were selling leather goods, jewelry, shirts, dresses, knickknacks for children, swim suits, Brazilian gifts, and of course, corn on the cob and other Brazilian treats. Scott found a pair of leather overalls and Millie found a colorful leather skirt. Unfortunately, they didn't find their sizes and didn't make their purchases. You can see their finds in the pictures below. A wonderful cultural day in Rio de Janeiro.

Day 2 - reflections on Corcovado - from Scott

Christ The Redeemer Statue – You thought sitting in the upper deck at U.S. Cellular Field was high up…
The “Christ The Redeemer” statue is one of the most amazing sites to see.  It is considered one of the great wonders of the world.  To get to the top we had to take a van which provided some great views.  My ears popped as we got closer.  I felt like I was on the plane ride again.  Once we got to the top, we had to walk up flights of stairs to get to the base of the statue. 

When I was younger, I never had any second thoughts of leaning over the edge to see a view from any certain height.  As you may imagine, it was a little tough to look over the edge.  

The views are priceless and it is amazing to think that this was built in the 1920’s.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Our first time all together

The hotel was most kind to offer us a welcome drink.  The Brazilian national drink is a Caipirinha which is a rum based concoction :).  I had mine with a group of our travelers on the roof top bar.  Now, I heard that for some folks it was just fruit juice, but somehow mine had a LOT of rum ....  This is what it looked like and these are the folks who hung out on the roof.  Also, here is a view of the beach from our hotel.  


After that we had our first official meeting with the Austral folks - Federico and Licia. They gave us an introduction to Rio de Janeiro and told us all the dos and don'ts of the city.  They also gave us a nice sense of what we will be doing this week.  It was really nice for all the current students, alumni and faculty/staff to get to know each other.  I'm sure we'll be fast friends by the end of the week. 
 
Many of our travelers want to blog so hopefully you'll see their posts soon.  Tonight we will be off to dinner at a traditional Brazilian steakhouse. 

We have arrived!


Ah, Rio! Warm, sunny, beautiful beach and soft sand. After a long plane trip we are here. A few arrived yesterday and two groups came today. Some of us in the early group had a chance to wander around before our first official meeting.

Kim, Raida, and I went and got a nice drink right away. Kim got the local guarana soda, Raida got fresh mango and I got something like Acai "ice cream"). It was highly reccommended by the nice Brazilian woman who I sat next to on the plane.

After that I really wanted to get some Haviana flip flops (a true Brazilian specialty). We found a store that sold just Havianas and there were SO many to choose from! They definitely live up to their reputation. Very comfortable and cute.

Then it was off to the beach. We definitely looked like tourists, but we had a great time dipping our toes in the beach and people watching!

We are waiting for the other group to arrive from the airport and then we will have our welcome meeting at 2:00 after which we have the afternoon free.

Will update are later.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

We'll be off soon!

We are leaving on Friday 11/11/11 for arrival on Saturday.  After an orientation meeting, we will have time to explore Rio and the beautiful Ipanema Beach.  Check back often for updates!