CORONAVÍRUS (COVID-19) E SEUS IMPACTOS E DESAFIOS PARA A ÁREA DA QUALIDADE: ESTUDO MULTICASOS EM INDÚSTRIAS DE ALIMENTOS DA CIDADE DE PELOTAS/RS

Abstract

During the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic countries, following World Health Organization (WHO) protocols, have developed measures appropriate to each location in order to prevent a potential outbreak and keep essential services running. The industry, which accounts for 20.9% of the country's GDP, had to adapt to the health measures imposed, avoiding the closure of organizations and mass unemployment, preventing contagion among its workers. The food industry was classified as essential services, as they produce essential inputs to people's lives and also to avoid the risk of shortages. Because the food industry is one of the most important for the State of Rio Grande do Sul, this work aims to investigate the challenges and impacts that the Covid-19 has caused in food industries in the city of Pelotas. For this, a multi-case study was carried out in four industries of the city, of different sizes and branches of food, with data and information collection through the application of a survey questionnaire with the managers of the companies. As a result, it was observed that the main impacts were in relation to inputs, such as price increases and delays in deliveries, as well as drops in sales in two companies and, on the other hand, increased sales in one company. Another important impact was the maintenance of jobs, as no organization reduced its staff and in one of the companies there was growth as a result of increased demand.