Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 472-498).

South Africa's current industrial policy focuses on the economy at two levels: a sectoral and spatial level. The former relates to the manner in which industrial policy is concentrating on particular sectors i.e. industrial clusters. This shift in industrial policy from targeting individual industries to an emphasis on industrial clusters, has complemented the change in focus to export promotion under trade policy. Furthermore, there has been increasing recognition of the need to improve industry performance and competitiveness in order to successfully implement export growth. Industry clusters are considered as having the potential to increase manufacturing performance and can provide the basis for sustainable competitive advantage for nations. Consequently the concept of industry clusters was introduced in South Africa in 1997. Because industry clusters are relatively new in South Africa, most of the cluster initiatives in various sectors of the economy are in their early stages of development. Nevertheless, some are already showing signs of potential success in increasing competitiveness in particular sectors. This thesis uses Porter's "diamond" framework apprdach to investigate whether clustering has improved the manufacturing performance of the motor industry in the Eastern Cape. International experience from both developed and developing countries will illustrate the potential of clustering as a powerful strategy in increasing manufacturing performance and consequently competitiveness. Ultimately this should lead to long-term economic development, especially if government adopts clusterbased economic development policies. Information from a survey conducted on both the motor vehicle assemblers and component suppliers is used in this study. The findings reveal that it is mainly the motor vehicle assemblers who have experienced some improvements in manufacturing performance. The components sector on the other hand has not experienced any such improvements. This thesis concludes with the recommendation that it is important to develop cluster policy as a broader and dynamic view of competition. The main emphasis under such policy would be a move from targeting particular industries and providing subsidies towards focusing attention to all clusters in the economy. To effectively apply such a policy requires the repositioning of national, local and provincial government in order to become more involved in regional development issues. Moreover, the various levels of government need to incorporate cluster policy into their competitive strategies.

M.B.A. / According to du Plessis et al., (1994:67), the history of protectionism in trade goes almost as far back as that of trade itself. There are various arguments for the numerous benefits, which can be gained from free trade such as, efficiency and welfare gains. But, despite these benefits, governments have had counter arguments as to why protectionism is justified. Examples of these traditional arguments for protection are, the infant industry argument, the terms of trade argument, protection to increase employment in an industry, a tariff to offset foreign dumping and a tariff to improve the balance of payments. All of these arguments have important gains for the protected economy but could be considered beggar-thyneighbour policies since they are at the expense of the unprotected economy. Various trade instruments are used by governments to intervene in its countries trading activities. These trade instruments are categorised into, tariff, non-tariff barriers and export taxes and subsidies. Both tariff and non-tariff barriers are used to interfere on the import side of trade, whereas export subsidies and taxes are used to interfere with the free flow of exports. Tariff barriers include specific tariffs, ad valorem tariffs, import subsidies, preferential duties, most-favoured nation treatment and offshore assembly provisions. Nontariff barriers include import quotas, "voluntary" export restraints, government procurement provisions, local content provisions, administrative classification and restriction on service trade (du Plessis et al.,1994:67-70). An example of a protected industry in South Africa is the motor industry. The initial protectionist programmes used by the motor industry were characterised by local content policies. These programmes resulted in a heavily protected motor and component industry. In recent years, policymakers have attempted to reduce the level of protection in the industry through the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP), in line with the General Trade and Tariff Agreement (GATT). This programme is not only attempting to reduce the use of trade instruments but, also to become globally competitive. This dissertation attempts to evaluate the effects that protectionism, in the form of the Motor Industry Development Programme, has had on the Motor Industry's component suppliers.

M.Com. (Econometrics) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

O objetivo deste trabalho de pesquisa é realizar uma análise exploratória do desenvolvimento de novos produtos e produção em empresas do segmento automotivo que adotam a estratégia modular. A estratégia para a indústria automotiva é uma forma de simplificar a gestão de um produto, considerado complexo, num ambiente de intensa competição, inovação tecnológica e redução do ciclo de vida do produto. Na verdade, é um conjunto de conceitos que leva a novas formas de organizar o desenvolvimento do produto e a produção, possibilitando a transferência de atividades de projeto do produto e produção na cadeia produtiva. Para o delineamento da pesquisa foi utilizado o estudo de caso na análise de duas montadoras de veículos comerciais que produzem produtos semelhantes (caminhões e chassis de ônibus). Uma das montadoras opera com o sistema de consórcio modular e a outra, embora mais convencional, aplica o conceito de modularidade na linha de montagem final. O estudo de caso também foi utilizado na análise de dois fornecedores de primeiro nível, que fornecem motores para a montadora que opera o consórcio modular, sob a óptica do desenvolvimento de novos produtos e montagem do módulo no veículo. De uma forma ampla, a pesquisa revelou que os novos desenvolvimentos de produtos modulares influenciam o sistema produtivo existente e por outro lado, este também exerce influência no projeto do produto. Para minimizar as consequências as montadoras lançam medidas que integram os times de engenharia e fornecedores e adotam medidas para simulação do processo antes do início de produção. / The aim of this research paper is performing an exploratory analysis of the new product development and production in automotive companies that use the modular strategy. The strategy for the automotive industry is a way to simplify the management of complex products in an environment of intense competition, technological innovation and shorter product life cycles. Indeed, it is a set of concepts that lead to new way of organizing the product and production development, enabling the transfer of project activities and production in the chain. Aiming the research design, it was used the case study analysis in two automakers, which produces similar products (trucks and bus chassis). One of the automakers operates the modular consortium system, and the other, though more conventional, applies the modular concept in the final assembly line. Also, the case study was used in the analysis of two first tier suppliers, which supplies engines for the automaker that operates the modular consortium, in order to know how the new product development happens. Generally, the research has shown that the new product development influences the existing modular production system, and in the other side, this also influences the product design. However, to minimize the consequences, automakers launch measures in order to integrate the teams and suppliers, and adopt measures to simulate the process before starting of production.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

After more than three decades of country-of-origin (COO) research, product origin has become a more complicated construct. With the trend towards multi-national production and sourcing structures, oftentimes products can be associated with more than just one COO cue -- making them so-called hybrids. This paper presents the first detailed literature review of the related new research stream in the COO arena. In this context, the shaping of new trade regimes within the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) provides an interesting hybrid research setting, given that all major regional car segments are dominated by such hybrids -- both for country-of-brand (COB), country-of-assembly (COA), and country-of-components (COC). Taking cars 'made in and for' the three main markets of ASEAN, namely Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, the research covers perceived quality and image of such hybrids. / thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2005.

No description available.

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Technische Universität Braunschweig, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-59).