African Journals Online
South African Journal of Industrial Engineering

Volume 13, Issue 2, November 2002
ABSTRACTS

Quality systems in the fresh fruit export industry

Netterville, R.; Adendorff, K.

Abstract: The fresh fruit export industry has traditionally relied heavily on end point inspection to achieve quality. In response to several changes in international markets and concerns over the inability of end point inspection to ensure product safety and quality, many codes of practice and quality standard have been developed specifically for the food industry. This article reviews the principles and practicalities of implementation of the standards which have achieved international recognition. Producers and packers face technical challenges integrating these systems into a holistic management system while this may also present a significant entry barrier for smaller producers who lack the resources and expertise.

Die varsvrugteuitvoerbedryf maak tradisioneel gebruik van eindpuntinspeksie vir die handhawing van gehalte. Twyfel oor die doeltreffendheid van hierdie vorm van inspeksie ten opsigte van veiligheid en gehalte in die konteks van internasionale markte het tot gevolg gehad dat verskeie gebruikskodes vir die voedselbedryf tot stand gekom het. Die beginsels en praktiese implementering van hierdie standaarde wat internasionale erkenning geniet, word hierin behandel. Produsente en verpakkers ondervind tegniese uitdagings oor hoe die standaarde in 'n holistiese bestuurstelsel geïntegreer kan word, gesien die problematiek van marktoetrede vir klein produsente sonder kundigheid en voldoende bronne.

Managing benchmarking in a corporate environment

Mouton, D.M.; Claasen, S.J.

Abstract: Most new generation organisations have management models and processes for measuring and managing organisational performance. However, the application of these models and the direction the company needs to take are not always clearly established. Benchmarking can be defined as the search for industry best practices that lead to superior performance. The emphasis is on "best" and "superior". There are no limitations on the search; the more creative the thinking, the greater the potential reward. Unlike traditional competitive analysis that focuses on outputs, benchmarking is applied to key operational processes within the business. Processes are compared and the best process is adapted into the organisation. Benchmarking is not guaranteed to be successful though, it needs to be managed and nurtured in the organisation and allowed to grow throughout the organisation to finally become a way of life. It also needs to be integrated into key business processes in order to ensure that the benefits can be reaped into the distant future. This paper provide guidelines for creating, managing and sustaining a benchmarking capability in a corporation.

Die nuwe generasie van ondernemings beskik oor bestuursmodelle en -prosesse wat meting en die bestuur van ondernemingsvertoning in die hand werk. Die wyse waarop die modelle toegepas word en hoe die onderneming sy besluite moet vorm is nog nie deeglik uitgetrap nie. Praktykvergelykings ("Benchmarking") word beskryf as die soeke na beste bedryfspraktyke wat lei tot uitstekende vertoning. Die klem word geplaas op die woorde "beste" en "uitstekende". Die soektog word geensins beperk nie; hoe meer kreatief die benadering, des te beter is die potensiële beloning. Waar tradisionele mededingingsnanalise ondernemingsuitsette onder die loep neem word praktykvergelyking togepas op sleutelprosesse in die bedryf van die onderneming. Prosesse word met mekaar vergelyk om die beste praktyk te kan volg. So 'n gestruktureerde leerproses lei die onderneming langs 'n kontinue weg van verbetering tot by die "beste" praktyk. Praktykvergelyking moet bestuur en vertroetel word om pos te vat as 'n bestaanswyse van die onderneming. Dit moet veral deel vorm van die onderneming se sleutelprosesse sodat voordele daarvan in die toekoms verseker kan word. Hierdie navorsing voorsien riglyne vir die daarstelling, bestuur en handhawing van praktykvergelyking as 'n vaste komponent van die onderneming se kultuur.

Are we a learning organisation? An assessment model for continuous improvement

Van Waveren, C.C.; Bouwer, A.; Esterhuizen, I.F.

Abstract: It is generally agreed that one way for organisations to be competitive in the new global economy is by embracing the principles of Peter Senge's "The Fifth Discipline" and becoming "learning organisations". The literature on the nature of learning organisations is extensive, but few of the discussions break through the philosophical barrier and actually address practical ways in which organisations can move away from traditional organisation thinking models and become learning organisations. This paper discusses a 9-S framework and an accompanying measurement model that can be used by organisations to determine whether they are learning organisations, and if not, where and how they need to improve. The framework is based on the Hitt 8-S framework, and the measurement model takes the form of a series of weighted questions and results that graphically represent how successful an organisation has been in its quest to become a learning organisation. A practical implementation of the measurement model that focuses on the planning aspect of organisational management is included in the paper.

Vir 'n organisasie om kompeterend in 'n wereldekonomie te wees, word daar algemeen aanvaar dat die organisasie sekere leergerigtheidseienskappe moet bemeester soos beskryf in Peter Senge se boek "The Fifth Discipline". Omvattende literatuur oor die leergerigtheidseienskappe van organisasies bestaan, maar daar is egter min inligting oor praktiese maniere om 'n tradisionele organisasie na 'n leergerigtheidsorganisasie oor te skakel. Hierdie artikel bespreek 'n 9-S raamwerk asook 'n gepaardgaande evalueringsmodel wat gebruik kan word om 'n organisasie te meet aan sekere leergerigtheidseienskappe. Die raamwerk is gebaseer op die Hitt 8-S raamwerk en die evalueringsmodel maak gebruik van geweegde vrae waarvan die resultate grafies vertoon word om die sukses van leergerigtheid in die organisasie voor te stel. 'n Gevallestudie wat die beplanningsleergerigtheid van 'n spesifieke organisasie evalueer, is ook ingesluit.

Using a new supply chain planning methodology to improve supply chain efficiency

Raubenheimer, A.L.V.; Conradie, P.J.

Abstract: Effective supply chain planning and management has emerged as one of the most challenging opportunities for companies in the global economy during the last decade or two. This article reviews the evolution of Supply Chain Management and the traditional Supply Chain Solutions. It then introduces a new Supply Chain Planning methodology in which simulation modelling plays an important value-adding role to help organisations understand the dynamics of their Supply Chains.

Effektiewe voorsieningskettingbeplanning en .bestuur het gedurende die laaste twee dekades ontwikkel tot een van die mees uitdagende geleenthede vir ondernemings in die wêreldekonomie. Hierdie artikel hersien kortliks die ontwikkeling van voorsienings- kettingbestuur en die tradisionele oplossings. 'n Nuwe voorsieningsketting- beplanningsmetodologie word dan voorgestel en bespreek waarin simulasiemodellering 'n belangrike rol speel om ondernemings te help om die dinamika van hul voorsieningskettings te begryp.

Applying the theory of constraints to increase economic value added: part 2 – implementation

Smith, M.; Pretorius, P.

Abstract: This article describes a way to implement the holistic approach of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) which will lead to an increase in the Economic Value Added (EVA) of a business. The approach consists of two parts: the adoption of the holistic approach, and the implementation of a new company strategy. The pitfalls in implementing a holistic approach are discussed. The elements of a company strategy that is compatible with the holistic approach are described.

Hierdie artikel beskryf 'n metode hoe om die holistiese benadering van die Teorie van Beperkinge (TVB) te implementeer met die doel om die Ekonomiese Toegevoegde Waarde (ETW) van 'n besigheid te vermeerder. Die benadering is tweeledig: die ingebruikneming van die holistiese benadering, en die implementering van 'n nuwe besigheidsstrategie. Die moontlike probleme in die implementering van die holistiese benadering word bespreek. Die elemente van 'n besigheidsstrategie wat versoenbaar is met die holistiese benadering word beskryf.

A conceptual framework for managing relationships between all participants during IT service and support activities

Leonard, A.C.

Abstract: Since the early days of computing, IT professionals have been struggling with their end users (customers) to such an extent that end users became sceptic about the quality of service and support IT professionals can offer. As such, relationships between IT professionals and end users were in many cases very poor, which impacts negatively on the efforts to use information technology to the advantage of organizations or communities as a whole. This paper briefly describes the historical reasons therefore and gives a theoretical foundation for the establishment of IT-end user relationships. The paper describes IT-end user relationships as intriguing and complex and proposes a conceptual framework that explains all the important elements involved during the establishment and maintenance of sound relationships as well as for managing change. This paper is based on a research study conducted into the working relationship between IT departments and its end users. The research was done by means of a qualitative approach in which thought experiments were used to inductively refine the results of the research study.

Sedert die ontstaan van die rekenaarwese en die gepaardgaande dienslewering via inligtingstegnologie bestaan die neiging by eindpuntgebruikers om skepties te staan teenoor die gehalte van diens wat deur inligtingstegnoloë gebied kan word. Dit het daartoe gelei dat die verhoudinge tussen eindpuntgebruikers en die inligtingstegnoloë vertroebel is. Voordelige gebruik van inligtingstegnologie deur ondernemings en die gemeenskap is gevolglik daardeur benadeel. Hierdie stuk behandel kortliks die historiese oorsake vir die toedrag van sake. Dit beskryf ook die teoretiese grondslae vir die skepping van wedersydse verhoudings vir die probleemsituasie. Die stuk ondersoek die aandagwekkende en komplekse verhoudingsmilieu. Dit beskryf vervolgens 'n voorgestelde konsepraamwerk waarmee die belangrik elemente by die daarstelling en instandhouding van gesonde verhoudings blootgelê kan word. Dit behandel ook die gepaardgaande begrip van veranderingsbestuur. Die navorsing is gebaseer op werklike praktykgegewens. Die navorsings maak gebruik van kwalitatiewe metodes en induksie om die resultate tot bruikbaarheid te verfyn.

Reliability centred maintenance for industrial use: significant advances for the new millennium

Coetzee, J.L.; Claasen, S.J.

Abstract: Maintenance organisations have to obtain the correct strategic 'mix' to ensure success. This includes having a strategically sound maintenance policy and managerial procedures, a well thought through maintenance plan, a proper maintenance management and operational system, proper operational procedures, employment of the necessary technology and sensible management of human resources. Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) has enabled maintenance users to develop, scientifically founded maintenance plans. However, due to shortcomings in the methodology and shortcuts taken by RCM practitioners, these benefits have not been forthcoming in industrial use. This paper addresses these limitations and develops an improved RCM methodology. It was tested against the 'classical' RCM in a typical industrial setting, with significant benefits being demonstrated.

Instandhoudingsorganisasies moet die regte strategiese 'mengsel' verkry om sukses te verseker. Dit sluit 'n strategies gesonde instandhoudingsbeleid en bestuursprosedures, sowel as a weldeurdagte instandhoudingsplan, 'n goeie instandhoudingbestuur en -operasionele stelsel, goeie operasionele prosedures, die regte vlak van instandhoudingstegnologie asook goeie mensbestuur in. Betroubaarheidsgebaseerde Instandhouding (BGI) stel gebruikers in staat om wetenskaplik gefundeerde instandhoudingsplanne daar te stel. Desnieteenstaande word hierdie voordele meesal nie in industriële toepassing verkry nie vanweë tekortkominge in die BGI metodologie asook die neem van kortpaaie deur BGI praktisyns. Hierdie artikel ondersoek hierdie beperkings en ontwikkel 'n verbeterde BGI metodologie. Dit is teenoor 'klassieke' BGI in 'n tipiese industriële omgewing getoets en het beduidende voordele getoon.

The management of maintenance technology transfer in the South African aviation industry

Le Grange, L.I.; Buys, A.J.

Abstract: This paper reports on research into the technology transfer activities of South African aviation industry companies. The technologies surrounding the maintenance function were investigated, since this is one of the main functions in this industry. The investigation shows the extent to which technology is transferred from external sources to the individual companies. The investigation was also extended to cover internal technology transfer. The result of the investigation indicated the sources of technology, the mechanisms used for transfer, and the barriers to the transfer process both for internal and external technology transfer. The paper concludes with a look into what the future may hold for maintenance in the aviation industry given the current trend in technology development.

Hierdie artikel beskryf navorsing oor die tegnologie-oordrag aktiwiteite van Suid-Afrikaanse lugvaartnywerheidmaatskappye. Die tegnologieë wat verband hou met die onderhoudfunksie is ondersoek, aangesien dit een van die hooffunksies in dié nywerheidsektor is. Die ondersoek toon die omvang van tegnologie-oordrag van eksterne bronne na individuele maatskappye. Die ondersoek is uitgebrei om ook interne tegnologie-oordrag in te sluit. Die resultaat van die ondersoek het die bronne van tegnologie, die oordrag-meganismes en die versperrings tot interne en eksterne oordrag, geïdentifiseer. Die artikel sluit af met 'n toekomsblik vir instandhouding vir die lugvaartnywerheid in die lig van huidige neigings in tegnologiese ontwikkeling.

Dynamical industrial systems

Adendorff, K.

Abstract: There is widespread evidence that industrial systems do not consistently perform in a stable fashion regardless of how diligently they have been designed and operated. Operation of a system is often in a dynamic sense chaotic or verges on the chaotic. The essence of such performance deserves analysis using the tools of chaos theory.

Daar is voldoende getuienis dat industriële sisteme nie altyd stabiel funksioneer nie, ten spyte van die noulettendheid waarmee hulle ontwerp en bedryf word. Die gedrag van 'n sisteem is soms in 'n dinamiese sin chaoties of bykans chaoties. Sodanige sisteme verdien ontleding met behulp van die gereedskap van die warboelleer (chaosteorie).