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Abstract
The aim of this work was to assess the milking process in an agricultural cooperative in Lavras, Minas Gerais state. The study was
done between August and November/2004, employing a qualitative research methodology that involved the researchers and the
cooperative’s employees. Process management promotes the organization and management of information in the company, favoring
cost administration and control. The study presented some lines with average costs above R$ 1.51/Km, and others below. This fact
could impair the efficiency of the process. To ensure quality, legal parameters were defined, through laboratory analysis, to classify
the milk. The observance of the strong and weak points are the best way to maximize the organization’s efficiency. However, these
weak points deserve special attention from the CAARG’s decision makers in order to guarantee the cooperative’s performance. The
main strategies implemented were financing and allowance of the outgoing tanks, combined with payment according to the volume and
quality of the milk. Nevertheless, vertical integration should be adopted through supply contracts or quota definition, which is
extremely important in guaranteeing not only the supply, but mainly the quality of the raw-material.