Process Engineering as a Competitiveness Engine: Why Brazilian Industry Can No Longer Wait

How process engineering can boost the competitiveness of Brazilian industry in an increasingly demanding scenario.

Industry accounts for about 24.7% of Brazil's GDP, according to the latest data from the National Confederation of Industry (CNI). Even so, Brazilian industrial productivity still lags behind major global competitors. One structural gap lies in process engineering — that is, the ability to design, implement, and validate production flows that enable equipment, techniques, and people to work in full synergy.

When this engineering is missing or underfunded, the result is what we see: high costs, limited room for innovation, and difficulty scaling technologies like automation, digitalization, and advanced manufacturing.

The Innovation Scenario and Its Limits

The rate of Brazilian industrial companies — with 100 or more employees — that introduced product or process innovation dropped to 64.6% in 2023, from 68.1% in 2022.
In monetary terms, R&D spending in 2023 totaled R$ 38.3 billion, of which R$ 33 billion came from the manufacturing industry. A study on returns from innovation investments concluded that while internal or external R&D does not show a statistically significant correlation with the number of companies that innovate, investments in machinery, equipment, and employee training do have a direct impact. These findings show that it's not enough to invest in "innovation" generically — process engineering must be structured so investments result in efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.

Where Process Engineering Comes In

Process engineering goes beyond factory layout or automation. It involves:

• mapping production flow and identifying bottlenecks;
• defining and implementing best operational practices;
• integrating control, measurement, and feedback systems;
• integrating sensors, automation, and data (Industry 4.0).

Why does this matter in Brazil? Because the "Brazil cost," high interest rates, and global competition squeeze industrial margins. Every percentage point gained in productivity directly increases profitability and reinvestment capacity.

The Opportunity to Turn the Game

• According to CNI, 74% of manufacturing companies said their investments aimed at "technological innovation."
• Greenfield and expansion projects in Brazil reveal billion-dollar CAPEX volumes, especially in automation, engineering, and logistics.
• Companies that adopt process engineering as a strategic pillar can: reduce fixed and variable costs; increase output and efficiency; respond more quickly to market changes; elevate business sustainability.

The Role of Global Group Brasil

Global Group Brasil acts as a strategic partner for industrial companies seeking to raise their process engineering maturity, offering:

• technical and strategic mapping, with diagnostics of industrial processes;
• engineering and automation support for implementing improvements;
• technical validation, testing, and KPIs that turn data into decisions.
 

If Brazilian industry wants not just to survive, but to stand out globally, it's not enough to have expensive equipment or cutting-edge software. What it needs first is robust process engineering, connecting people, technology, and workflow. At Global, we're ready to walk this journey with you. Talk to our technical team and discover how we can accelerate the evolution of your plant.