In order to evaluate the logistics activity in the dairy companies operating in Zona da Mata and Campo das Vertentes in Minas Gerais, Brazil a research has been promoted on 40 industries that represent the sector assessed. The questionnaire answered by company employees, contained variables that allowed obtaining information about company identification, gathering and distribution logistics, internal management, marketing and commercialization. Factorial statistical analysis was very important to enable the construction of an index representing the logistics performance of each company and was also used to perform the grouping of these industries into 4 groups containing similar characteristics. The index logistics (IL) showed that companies in the study area still need to improve their activities which were measured to make the logistics a competitive advantage. Moreover, the groups formed also allowed to evaluate that is not enough the improvement at only a part of logistics activities, but is necessary to improve the set of variables that can positively influence the final result in the logistics competitiveness and leadership.
multivariate statistical analysis; performance index; milk collection; distribution logistics
