Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Eskom, the South Africa and trans-Africa electrical power utility, has a capacity expansion project that is estimated to cost roughly R340 billion. The programme is anticipated to continue through 2018. Eskom will be contracting with a multitude of suppliers and it is imperative that the projects delivered under the capacity expansion programme meet Eskom’s required quality standards. The question then arises whether the set quality standards are sufficiently comprehensive to provide confidence that suppliers will achieve high quality standards. This aim of this research was to examine supplier assessment programmes to determine the criteria that will best provide supplier assurance. The researcher consulted a vast range of literature available on supplier quality assessment programmes. From the literature consulted, there appeared to be some recurring themes from the range of assessment tools. It also becomes apparent that the assessment tool cannot only focus on a quality system, but a balance of strategic and operational focus was needed to fully understand suppliers’ ability to deliver. One of the key considerations was establishing longer-term collaborative relationships with key suppliers. Long-term relations encourage trust, transparency and innovation. It was equally important to ensure that operational assessments provided insight on suppliers’ capability. Based on the literature reviewed, a proposed framework was tested against the current methodology for supplier evaluation. From these comparisons, some gaps were identified and recommendations were suggested to improve the supplier evaluation programme.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / abstract / Computer Science / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This study was a follow up to P. C. Dams' (1996) unpublished University of North Texas masters thesis, The effect of defect probability during training on inspection accuracy in a quality control simulation. Graphics of computer circuit boards were presented in dyads with an error free sample on the left and a comparison on the right. Comparisons had either a rotation or transposition defect, or were error free. Subjects had 10-s to accept or reject the comparison as identical to the sample. They were trained using two different stimulus fading procedures (using descending defect probabilities) and immediate feedback. Defect probabilities for the Tens were 0.60, 0.50, 0.40, and 0.30 and for the Twenties were 1.00, 0.80, 0.60, and 0.40. The last 4 pretraining and posttraining sessions were compared and the posttraining performance of the Twenties, as compared to the Tens, demonstrated greater improvement over pretraining performance. No firm conclusions could be drawn as to the effectiveness of either training procedure. The significance of the current investigation and suggestions for future research are discussed.

A própolis é uma resina de coloração e consistência variada coletada por abelhas da espécie Apis Mellifera de diversas partes da planta como brotos, botões florais e exsudados resinosos, sendo transportados para a colméia com a finalidade de defesa e vem se destacando por suas atividades terapêuticas, como atividade antimicrobiana, antiinflamatória, cicatrizante, anticaríogênica e anticancerígena. Estudos realizados com a própolis brasileira mostraram a presença de muitos compostos fenólicos, sendo o mais recente, a identificação de derivados prenilados do ácido cumárico. Dentre estes, o mais estudado é o ácido 3,5-diprenil-4hidroxicinâmico (Artepillin-C), separada da própolis produzida em áreas cuja flora é rica em espécies de Baccharis. A sua quantificação tem se tornado um fator importante como indicador da qualidade da própolis brasileira. O objetivo deste estudo foi o desenvolvimento e a validação do método de determinação de Artepillin-C, assim como a caracterização e quantificação dos principais parâmetros relacionados ao controle de qualidade da própolis preconizada pela legislação brasileira vigente, foram realizadas análise de: umidade, cinzas, teor de cera, teor de massa mecânica, teor de sólidos solúveis em etanol, índice de oxidação, f1avonóides totais e fenólicos totais. O trabalho foi complementado com análise polínica e determinação da atividade antioxidante Amostras de própolis foram obtidas de apicultores e entrepostos totalizando 33 amostras procedentes das regiões Nordeste, Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul do Brasil, no período de 2003 a 2005. As amostras de própolis analisadas apresentaram resultados, na quase totalidade, de acordo com os limites estabelecidos pelo Ministério da Agricultura. A maioria das amostras apresentou alta atividade antioxidante inibindo a oxidação da reação acoplada de β-caroteno a ácido linoléico em torno de 86,0%. O método de análise de Artepillin C atendeu a todos os parâmetros preconizados para a validação do método cromatográfico (linearidade, precisão, exatidão, limite de detecção e limite de quantificação) podendo ser recomendado para análise de rotina em laboratórios de controle de qualidade. A análise estatística mostrou uma forte correlação entre os seguintes parâmetros: cinzas e massa mecânica; compostos fenólicos e solúveis em etanol assim como os compostos fenólicos e atividade antioxidante. Também foi constatada uma variação nos valores dos outros parâmetros analisados em função da procedência das amostras de própolis. / Propolis is a resin of varied color and consistency collected by honeybee, Apis Mellifera, from several parts of the plant such as sprouts, f10wer buds and resinous exsudatos, being transported to the hive with the intent of defending and it has become really popular for its therapeutic properties, such as antimicrobial, anti inflammatory, healing anti-carcinogenic and anti-cancerigenous properties. Studies performed with the Brazilian propolis showed the presence of several phenolic compounds, as the most recent brings the identification of prenyl derivative of coumaric acid. Among them, the most studied one is 3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (Artepillin-C), isolated from the propolis produced in areas which flora is rich in Baccharis species. Its quantification has become an important factor as indicator of Brazilian propolis quality. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method to determine Artepillin-C, as well the identification and quantification of main parameters related to quality control of propolis forecasted in the current Brazilian regulation (moisture, ashes wax content, mechanic matter, content of solid soluble in ethanol, oxidation rate, total f1avonoid and total phenolic).The polinic studies and antioxidant activity determination were also performed to complement this work. Propolis samples were obtained from beekeepers and warehouses summing up 33 samples from the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-West and South of Brazil from 2003 to 2005. The propolis samples studied presented results which were almost all in accordance to the set limits by the Brazilian Agriculture Department. Most samples presented high antioxidant activity preventing oxidation from the coupled reaction of βcarotene to linoleic acid around 86,0%. The analysis method for Artepillin C addressed all the forecasted parameters for the validation o f the chromatographic method (linearity, precision, accuracy, detection limit and quantification limit) as it can be recommended for the routine analysis in labs to control quality. The statistics showed a strong relationship between the following parameters: ashes and mechanic matter; phenolic compounds and soluble in ethanol as well as phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. It was also observed a variation in the figures for other studied parameters due to the origin of propolis samples.

by Poon Lai-king, Yip Wai-man Christina. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79). / PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.iii / ABSTRACT --- p.v / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vi / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY --- p.1 / Introduction --- p.1 / Organization of the Paper --- p.2 / The Approach --- p.3 / Chapter II. --- COMPANY PROFILE --- p.5 / Introduction --- p.5 / History --- p.5 / Operating and Financial Results --- p.6 / Organization and Management --- p.7 / Motorola Asia Pacific Semiconductor Group --- p.8 / Motorola Semiconductors Hong Kong Limited --- p.9 / Chapter III. --- EVOLUTION OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT IN MOTOROLA --- p.11 / Introduction --- p.11 / Motorola's Quality Improvement Stages --- p.11 / Motorola-HK --- p.17 / Chapter IV. --- QUALITY GOAL - THE SIX SIGMA --- p.20 / The Six Sigma Concept --- p.21 / Six Steps to Six Sigma --- p.22 / Six Sigma and Beyond --- p.23 / Chapter V. --- QUALITY CULTURE --- p.24 / The Notion of Quality Culture --- p.24 / Shared Values and Assumptions --- p.25 / Top Management's Commitment --- p.28 / Organization --- p.29 / Communication --- p.30 / Teamwork --- p.33 / Training and Education --- p.35 / Motivation --- p.37 / Chapter VI. --- IMPLEMENTATION OF THE QUALITY MANAGEMENT --- p.41 / "Quality, Speed and Teamwork Program" --- p.41 / Implementation through Various Programs --- p.46 / VII. SUCCESS STORIES SHARED --- p.52 / Manufacturing Examples --- p.5 3 / Non-manufacturing Examples --- p.61 / Chapter VIII --- . MOTOROLA CORPORATE QUALITY SYSTEM REVIEW --- p.65 / Introduction --- p.65 / The Quality System Review (QSR) --- p.67 / Some Thoughts on the QSR --- p.70 / Chapter IX. --- CONCLUSION --- p.76 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.78 / APPENDICES

by Lam Ka-chi, Ricky and Wong Suet-yee, Sheri. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-140). / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.x / PREFACE --- p.xi / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.xii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Global Trend Towards Quality Improvement --- p.2 / Quality Improvement in Hong Kong --- p.5 / Chapter II. --- OBJECTIVES OF THE RESEARCH --- p.11 / General Objective --- p.11 / Ultimate Objective --- p.11 / Minor Objectives --- p.11 / Chapter III. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.13 / Primary Research - Questionnaire --- p.13 / Design of the Questionnaire --- p.13 / Content of the Questionnaire --- p.15 / Respondents of the Questionnaire --- p.16 / Primary Research - Interview --- p.18 / Secondary Research - Library Research --- p.19 / Chapter IV. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.20 / Quality --- p.20 / Quality Productivity --- p.22 / Quality and Cost --- p.22 / Productivity and Cost --- p.24 / "Quality, Productivity and Cost" --- p.25 / Customers Satisfaction --- p.25 / Profitability --- p.25 / Quality: A Long-term Strategic Planning --- p.28 / Summing Up --- p.30 / Chapter V. --- DEFINITION --- p.33 / Some Operational Terms --- p.33 / Quality --- p.33 / Productivity --- p.33 / Company Performance --- p.34 / Quality Performance --- p.35 / Financial Performance --- p.35 / Gurus in Quality Management --- p.35 / Edward Deming --- p.35 / Joseph Juran --- p.39 / Philip Crosby --- p.42 / Armand V. Feigenbaum --- p.46 / Kaoru Ishikawa --- p.47 / Genichi Taguchi --- p.48 / Quality Improvement Techniques --- p.49 / Zero Defects --- p.49 / Quality Control Circle --- p.49 / Statistical Process Control (SPC) --- p.49 / Quality Control 7 Tools --- p.51 / Taguchi Method --- p.51 / Fool-proof (Poke Yoke) --- p.53 / Quality Function Deployment --- p.54 / International Standard Organization --- p.54 / Productivity Improvement Techniques --- p.56 / Work measurement --- p.56 / Layouts --- p.56 / Computer-integrated Manufacturing (CIM) --- p.56 / Material Requirements Planning (MRP) --- p.57 / Manufacturing Resources Planning (MRPII) --- p.57 / Just in Time (JIT) --- p.57 / Competitive Benchmarking --- p.58 / Self-directed Work Teams --- p.58 / Theory of Constraints --- p.58 / Chapter VI. --- HIGHLIGHT OF FINDINGS --- p.60 / Company Demographics --- p.60 / Company Size --- p.60 / Employees Turnover Rate --- p.60 / Company Sales Last Year --- p.61 / Number of Years Established --- p.61 / Overseas Branch or Subsidiary --- p.63 / Other Company Information --- p.65 / Company Performance --- p.69 / Customers Perception:Company Performance --- p.69 / Quality Performance --- p.73 / Financial Performance --- p.75 / Quality Improvement Techniques --- p.76 / Formal Approach to Quality Improvement --- p.76 / Separate Quality Department --- p.76 / Application of Quality Improvement Techniques --- p.81 / Quality Improvement -ISO 9000 --- p.92 / Quality Improvement - Understand & Specify Customer Requirements --- p.99 / Productivity Improvement Techniques --- p.105 / Formal Approach to Productivity Improvement --- p.105 / Productivity Improvement Techniques --- p.105 / Chapter VII. --- ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION --- p.117 / Factor Analysis --- p.117 / Kaiser-Meyer-olkin Measure --- p.117 / Steps of Factor Analysis --- p.118 / VARIMAX Rotation --- p.118 / Interpretation of Factors --- p.118 / Factor 1 --- p.118 / Factor 2 --- p.121 / Factor 3 --- p.121 / Factor 4 --- p.122 / Factor 5 --- p.122 / Factor 6 --- p.123 / Regression --- p.123 / Total Quality Cost --- p.123 / Items Defective and Rework Cost --- p.126 / Returns and Warranty Cost --- p.126 / Internal Waste and Training Costs --- p.126 / Quality Performance --- p.127 / Financial Performance --- p.127 / Employee Turnover Rate --- p.127 / Employees' Satisfaction --- p.128 / Chapter VIII. --- CONCLUSION --- p.129 / APPENDIX --- p.131 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.138

by Ho Shui Leung, Paul, Lau Kun Che, Choi Yin Chau. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-128). / ABSTRACT --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vii / PREFACE --- p.xii / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.xiv / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- HONG KONG'S CLOTHING INDUSTRY --- p.1 / Historical development --- p.1 / Global Position --- p.2 / Domestic Position --- p.3 / Structure --- p.7 / Factory Classification --- p.10 / Number and Size of Establishment . --- p.10 / Labour --- p.12 / Market --- p.14 / Current Constraints --- p.16 / Increasing Costs --- p.16 / Labour Shortage --- p.16 / Increase Competition From Other Low-cost Countries --- p.17 / Pressure From Buyers --- p.18 / Chapter II. --- QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AS A STRATEGY TO KEEP COMPETITIVENESS --- p.20 / Total. Quality Management --- p.20 / Customer Focus --- p.21 / Identifying Your External Customer --- p.21 / Identifying Your Internal Customer --- p.23 / Listening To The Voice Of Customers --- p.24 / Achieve Zero Customer Defections . --- p.25 / Continuous Process Improvement --- p.25 / Improving Existing Production Process --- p.25 / Performance Measurement --- p.27 / Total Commitment --- p.27 / Leadership And Empowerment --- p.28 / Training And Education --- p.29 / Chapter III . --- PERFORMANCE & QUALITY ACHIEVEMENT --- p.30 / Postal Survey --- p.30 / Objective --- p.30 / Methodology --- p.31 / Company Demographics --- p.33 / Company Size --- p.34 / Turnover Rate --- p.34 / Company Sales --- p.34 / Year in Business --- p.34 / Employee Involved in Quality Improvement Activities --- p.35 / Overseas Establishmen --- p.35 / Company Information --- p.37 / Company Performance --- p.40 / Quality Performance --- p.44 / Financial Performance --- p.47 / Quality Improvement Techniques --- p.50 / Productivity Improvement Techniques --- p.73 / Further Analysis and Discussion --- p.85 / Factor Analysis --- p.85 / Kaiser-Meyer- Olkin Measure --- p.89 / Results of Factor Analysis --- p.94 / Chapter IV. --- COMPARISON WITH HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY --- p.96 / Quality Performance --- p.97 / Financial Performance --- p.99 / Other Quality And Financial Achievement . --- p.101 / Factor 1 --- p.102 / Factor 2 --- p.102 / Factor 3 --- p.103 / Factor 4 --- p.103 / Factor 5 --- p.104 / Factor 6 --- p.104 / Chapter V. --- FINDINGS IN FACTORY INTERVIEWS --- p.106 / Background of the Factory --- p.107 / Glorious Sun Group --- p.107 / Hinbase Limited --- p.108 / Quality Achievement --- p.108 / Informal Approach --- p.109 / Formal Approach --- p.111 / Quality Certification --- p.112 / Productivity Improvement --- p.114 / Traditional Cost Reduction --- p.114 / Industrial Engineering and Process Analysis --- p.116 / Market Pressure --- p.117 / Management Commitment --- p.118 / Chapter VI. --- CONCLUSION --- p.119 / APPENDIX --- p.120 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.127

Lin Min Ying. / Summary in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: l. 80-81.

Ng, Wai Hung Thomas. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-112). / Abstracts in English and Chinese ; questionnaires in Chinese. / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.ix / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.x / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.6 / Service Quality (SQ) --- p.6 / Conceptualizing SQ --- p.9 / SQ Perception Discrepancy between Employees and Customers --- p.14 / SQ Conceptualization Discrepancy / Discrepancy in Psychometric Properties of SQ scale / SQ Evaluation Discrepancy / Measurement Equivalence/Invariance(ME/I) --- p.19 / Testing Configural Invariance / Testing Factorial Invariance / Testing Unique Variance Equivalence / Testing Factor Variance Equivalence / Testing Intercept/Scalar Invariance / Testing Factor Correlations Equivalence / Testing Latent Means Equivalence / Chapter CHAPTER III --- OBJECTIVE --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- CONCEPTUALIZATION --- p.27 / SQ Conceptualization --- p.27 / Difference in Conceptual Model / Difference in Manifestation of Constructs (Dimensions) / Psychometric Properties of the Scale --- p.31 / Difference in Magnitude of Random Error / Difference in Perception Dispersion / Difference in Baseline Perception / SQ Evaluation --- p.35 / Difference in Interrelationships among Dimensions / Difference in Perceived SQ level / Summary --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- METHODOLOGY --- p.41 / Data Collection --- p.41 / Survey Instrument / Interview / Method of Analysis --- p.42 / Testing Difference in Conceptual Model / Testing Difference in Manifestation of Constructs / Testing Difference in Magnitude of Random Error / Testing Difference in Perception Dispersion / Testing Difference in Baseline Perception / Testing Difference in Interrelationships among Dimensions / Testing Difference in Perceived SQ level / Other Methodologies in Examining ME/I --- p.51 / Chapter CHAPTER VI --- RESULTS --- p.56 / SQ Conceptualization --- p.59 / Difference in Conceptual Model / Difference in Manifestation of Constructs / Psychometric Properties of the Scale --- p.68 / Difference in Magnitude of Random Error / Difference in Perception Dispersion / Difference in Baseline Perception / SQ Evaluation --- p.75 / Difference in Interrelationships among Dimensions / Difference in Perceived SQ level / Summary of Results --- p.77 / SQ Conceptualization / Psychometric Properties / SQ Evaluation / Chapter CHAPTER VII --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.85 / Managerial Implications --- p.85 / Using Employees Information / Training / Methodological Merits --- p.90 / Measurement Non-invariance as a Source of Information --- p.92 / Future Direction: / Application of the Multiple Forms of Discrepancy --- p.94 / Conclusion --- p.95 / APPENDIX --- p.96 / Chapter 1A. --- Employees Survey Questionnaire --- p.96 / Chapter 1B. --- Customers Survey Questionnaire --- p.99 / Chapter 2. --- Item Patterns of Three Testing Models --- p.102 / REFERENCES --- p.103