Performance Measurement System (PMS) is already a consecrated tendency among companies concerned with an entire and solid set of metrics, process and system to support performance assessment efficiently. The design of a PMS requires deep evaluation of the current measurement situation used, concrete managers engagement and clarity in the objectives and goals to be achieved with the new system. There is little research evidence that illustrates the transition between design and implementation phases of a PMS. Within this context, this dissertation presents a case study carried out at Petrobras concerning the design of a PMS for its Downstream Logistics Division and the preparation of its implementation. The value of applying some practices during design phase in order to prevent implementation problems is considered in the case. Throughout the initiative, conceptual ideas generated by the design team needed to be tested and sometimes adapted in order to provide a better implementation. As consequence, the transition between design and implementation phases revealed to be an important and delicate moment, directly responsible for the success of the PMS implementation. If definitions established and decisions taken during design phase are not properly addressed, it runs the risk of loosing the main purposes of the new system; this particular aspect is discussed in the dissertation regarding the case study observations.