Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban University of Technology, 2006 x, 68 leaves / The purpose of this study is to identify the training needs of leather technicians with the aim of supporting corporate competitive advantage within their company. Identifying competencies is an essential first step towards developing a training programme and to support corporate competitive advantage.

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006 viii, 105 leaves / The South African automotive leather export sewing industry was established in about 1991, when domestic firms were exposed to international markets. The industry’s success was largely attributed to the relatively cheap labour, infrastructure, leather and tax incentives given by the South African government. Interest in investment shown by multinational companies has resulted in significant growth in the industry today. However, at one time, the socio-political status in South Africa meant that the environment in which the industry developed was artificial. Economic, political and cultural conditions were not conducive to export manufacturing due to international sanctions. Consequently, the leather export industry was provided with an opportunity to integrate into the international arena primarily through the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP). The MIDP initiative allows South African automotive companies to offset import duties against exports. This duty offset programme aims to encourage firms to focus on high volume production runs and import less popular models that are expensive to produce locally. However, with the inclusion of the Eastern European countries into the European Union, it is expected that the market will become highly competitive. It has already been predicted by Ballard (2002) in a study on the South African leather business that the automotive leather sewing export industry is an “easy-come-easy-go” industry, with its success not linked to any intrinsic advantages South Africa possesses, but due to rebates from the Motor Industry Development Programme. Although South Africa has a number of advantages such as relatively cheap labour, material in leather hides, and a good infrastructure, the automotive sewing industry has yet to establish its efficiency when exposed to open market competition. Therefore, to create a perception of stability for international investors, the industry must seek contact with outside partners for market access, technology and process know-how through collaboration and benchmarking. This study therefore aims to develop a discourse related specifically to the sustainability of the leather export sewing industry as it approaches deregulation.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is currently facing serious socia economic challenges. The AIDS pandemic and wide scale unemployment exacerbates the social dichotomy that is a legacy of the apartheid era. Currently, 50% of the population lives below the poverty line. According to the Growth, Employment and Redistribution policy (GEAR), it would take an accelerated growth rate of more than 6% to enable the socioeconomic challenges to be addressed. The automotive industry is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the South African economy. In 2002 the industry's overall contribution to GDP was in the order of 6,4%. Due to the size of the industry and the contribution to GDP, the industry has been identified as an arena for sustainable growth. The automotive industry has been extensively transformed from an inwardly focussed entity to an industry that is globally competitive. The Motor Industry development plan has been the driving force behind the restructure initiative. The MIDP was responsible for reforms across the board, including the abolishment of a prescribed local content requirement which poses the challenge to the component sector, of how to overcome the limited local demand for components. The MIDP, through its system of reforms, has assisted in allowing industry role players to successfully penetrate world markets. The component secror is no exception. Assessing the future of the global industry, Mercer Management Consulting predicts that the industry as a whole will invest €2 trillion in capital spending over the next 11 years and the annual automotive production will climb from ±57 million units to about 76 million units in 2015 with an annual growth rate of 2.6%. (Dannenberg & Kleinhans, 2004:88) The study predicts a shift in .focus within the industry such that automotive manufacturers will place emphasis on brand-specific elements while their component manufacturers are predicted to become a growth engine and carry the major portion of the capital investment in their new role as "little automakers" (Dannenberg & Kleinhans, 2004:90). The Mercer study indicates that there is definitely the capacity for growth in the automotive industry specifically the component sector. Various factors are key to the success of global market penetration Le. an innovative and cost effective product, adherence to quality and environmental standards, flexibility of production etc one trait that is notable is the fact that the majority of successful exporters have formed strategic alliances with multinational companies, thus making their penetration of global markets easier. For the South African component manufacturers to capitalize on the future prospects that will become available there needs to be a restructure and transformatlon initiative that addresses the need for development and collaboration. The current reality is that there exists a small number of large enterprises with the majority of component manufacturers being small and medium enterprises, working autonomously. Government as well as many local and international role players have demonstrated their support of the manufacturing sector by providing development and financing avenues. If the sector is to be successful, it is imperative for component manufacturers to take the initiative, pursue finance and development options and create a synergistic network of world-class suppliers who adopt the most up to date technologies to produce high quality, cost effective global market offerings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staar tans ernstige sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings in die gesig. Die VIGS pandemie en grootskaalse werkloosheid vererger die maatskaplike diskrepansie, 'n oorblyfsel van die Apartheid era. Tans lewe 50% van die bevolking onder die broodlyn. Volgens GEAR (die Groei, Indiensneming en Herverdeling beleid) sal dit 'n versnelde groeikoers van meer as 6% verg om die sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings aan te spreek. Die motorindustrie is een van die grootste vervaardigingsektore in die Suid- Afrikaanse ekonomie. In 2002 was dié industrie se totale bydrae tot die BBP in die omgewing van 6.4%. As gevolg van die grootte van die industrie en sy bydrae tot die BBP is dié nywerheid geïdentifiseer op die gebied van volhoubare groei. In die motorindustrie was daar reeds grootskaalse omskakeling vanaf 'n binnewaartsgefokusde entiteit na 'n globaal kompeterende nywerheid. Die Motorindustrie Ontwikkellingsplan (MIDP) was die dryfveer agter hierdie herstrukturerings inisiatief. Die MIDP was verantwoordelik vir hervormings oor die spektrum heen, insluitende die afskaffing van voorgeskrewe plaaslike inhoud beperkings wat 'n uitdaging was vir die onderdele sektor, of maniere om die beperkte aanvraag na plaaslike komponente te oorkom. Die MIDP het deur sy stelsel van hervormings plaaslike nywerheidsrolspelers gehelp om die wêreldmagte suksesvol binne te dring. Die onderdelesektor is geen uitsondering nie. In 'n vooruitskatting van die globale industrie, voorspel Mercer Management Consulting dat die totale nywerheid €2 triljoen in kapitaalbelegging oor die volgende 11 jaar sal spandeer en dat die jaarlikse motorproduksie sal toeneem vanaf. 57 miljoen eenhede na ongeveer 76 miljoen eenhede in 2015 met 'n jaarlikse groeikoers van 2.6%. (Dannenberg & Kleinhans, 2004:88) Die studie voorsien 'n verskuiwing van fokus in die industrie waarvolgens motorvervaardigers klem sal plaas op handelsnaam-spesifieke elemente terwyl dit voorspel word dat hul onderdeelvervaardigers die groei-enjin sal word en die grootste deel van die kapitale belegging sal dra in hulle nuwe rol as "klein motorvervaardigers" (Dannenberg & Kleinhans, 2004:90). Die Mercer studie toon dat daar definitief kapasiteit is vir groei in die motorvervaardigingsindustrie, spesifiek die onderdelesektor. Verskeie faktore is die sleutel tot sukses vir die binnedringing van die globale markte, met ander woorde 'n innoverende en koste-effektiewe produk wat voldoen aan die kwaliteits- en omgewings-standaarde, produksie buigbaarheid, ensovoorts. Een opvallende karaktertrek is die feit dat die meerderheid van suksesvolle uitvoerders strategiese bande gesmee het met multinasionale maatskappye wat hul indringing van die globale markte vergemaklik. Vir die Suid-Afrikaanse onderdeelvervaardigers om te kapitaliseer op toekomstige geleenthede, moet daar 'n heropbou- en transformasie inisiatief wees wat die vraag na ontwikkeling en samewerking aanspreek. Die huidige realiteit is dat daar 'n klein hoeveelheid groot maatskappye is teenoor die meerderheid onderdeelvervaardigers van klein tot meduim grootte maatkappye wat outonoom funksioneer. Die regering sowel as talle plaaslike en internasionale rolspelers het hulle ondersteuning vir die vervaardigings-sektor uitgespreek deur die verskaffing van ontwikkelings- en finansiële bystand. Vir die sektor om sukses te behaal, is dit belangrik vir die onderdeelvervaardigers om inisiatief aan die dag te lê, finansiële en ontwikkelingsopsies op te weeg en die stigting van 'n medewerkende netwerk van wêreldgehalte verskaffers wat die mees moderne tegnologie inspan om hoë kwaliteit, koste effektiewe, globale markaanbiedings daar te stel.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globalization has shifted to a level where market competition is tougher. Therefore, multinational companies focus on cutting cost along the company’s supply chain with heavy scrutiny on procurement. Developing countries have become very attractive from which to strategically procure commodities because of low cost labour, especially from the People’s Republic of China. The business complexity, ethics and current market situation in China are often too modestly emphasized. Yet, these elements have a significant impact on the sourcing decision because it indirectly influences the total landed cost of a commodity but is not taken into account. Therefore, the total landed cost on which sourcing decisions are made, does not reflect the actual total landed cost of a commodity. In many cases multinational companies sourcing from China do not realise the impact of the hidden cost involved and do not reach the expected cost savings as calculated. The purpose of this study is to explore why more attention must be paid to hidden cost when automotive commodities are procured from China. This, as well as the research methodology used in order to obtain the data, is explained in chapter one. Chapter two of this thesis illustrates the change in a company’s supply chain and discusses this in a global sourcing context. The sourcing commodity, which is the point of focus in this study, is automotive commodities sourced from China and is discussed in chapter three. Based on China’s increased presence in global sourcing of automotive commodities, chapter four focuses on China’s integration into the global supply chain. The influential factors that have an impact (hidden cost) on the actual landed cost of commodities sourced from China are described in chapter five and identified as guanxi, indirect business logistic obstacles, quality of goods and supply, management, the labour market and training, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). In chapter six the influential factors, as described in chapter five, are analysed through a case study of Daimler Chrysler China Limited. Chapter seven is a comparative study of Japan’s miracle economy from 1960-1980 and the current economic trends in China to determine whether it will be feasible to procure automotive commodities from China in the future with regards to the economic indicators. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Globalisering het verskuif na ʼn vlak waar mark kompetisie meer gekonsentreerd is. Daarom fokus multinasionale maatskappye ernstig daarop om kostes langs die aanvoerketting van die maatskappy te verminder deur te konsentreer op die aanskaffingsproses. Ontwikkelende lande het uiters aanloklik geword as bestemming in die strategiese aanskaffingsproses van goedere weens lae arbeidskoste, veral vanaf Sjina. Tans word die besigheidskompleksiteit, etiek en die markkondisie in Sjina meestal onderbeklemtoon. Daarenteen het die faktore ‘n gewigtige impak op die aanskaffingsbesluit omdat dit die totale koste by aankoms indirek beïnvloed. Gevolglik reflekteer die totale koste by aankoms, waarop aanskaffigsbesluite gegrond word, nie die werklike koste van aankoms van goedere nie. In menige gevalle behaal multinasionale maatskappye nie die verwagte kostebesparing soos bereken vir goedere wat vanaf Sjina aangeskaf word nie omdat die multinasionale maatskappye onbewus is van die impak wat die versteekte koste op die totale koste by aankoms het. Die doel van hierdie studie is ‘n ondersoek na die redes waarom daar meer beklemtoning moet wees op versteekte koste wanneer goedere uit Sjina aangeskaf word. Dit, sowel as die navorsingmetodes wat gebruik is om die inligting vir die studie in te win en akkuraat deur te gee, word verduidelik in hoofstuk een. Hoofstuk twee bespreek die verandering in 'n maatskappy se aanvoerketting in ʼn globale aanskaffingskonteks. Hoofstuk drie fokus op redes vir Sjina se toenemende verteenwoordige rol in die globale aanskaffing van goedere en op die aanskaffing van motorvoertuigparte uit Sjina. Met betrekking tot die globale aanskaffing van goedere word die integrasie van Sjina in die globale aanskaffingsketting in hoofstuk vier bespreek. Die beïnvloedende faktore wat 'n impak (versteekte koste) op die werklike koste by aankoms van die motorvoertuigparte wat aangeskaf word vanaf Sjina het, word bespreek in hoofstuk vyf en geïdentifiseer as guanxi, indirekte besigheidslogistiek hindernisse, die kwaliteit van goedere en die aanskaffing daarvan, bestuur in Sjina, die Sjinese arbeidsmark en opleiding in die werksplek, en intellektuele eiendomsreg. In hoofstuk ses word die beïnvloedende faktore (soos bespreek in hoofstuk vyf) geanaliseer deur ʼn gevalle studie van Daimler Chrysler Sjina Beperk. Hoofstuk sewe is ʼn vergelykende studie tussen Japan se wonder ekonomie van 1960-1980 en die huidige ekonomiese tendens in Sjina om te bepaal hetsy dit moontlik sal wees om motorvoertuigparte aan te skaf vanaf Sjina in die toekoms met betrekking tot die ekonomiese indikatore.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Business Administration: Entrepreneurial Studies & Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The automotive industry is the third largest sector in the South African economy and it plays such an important role in the economy, that it is often viewed used as a barometer of the health of the economy. Despite the relatively large number of automotive component manufacturers (ACMs) in South Africa, manufacturing a wide range of automotive components, and the incentives offered by the government to increase the local content of vehicles manufactured in the country, the majority of vehicle manufacturers as well as after-market wholesalers and retailers in South Africa source a greater proportion of their automotive components from foreign suppliers. This may be due to a number of reasons, and in this regard, this study investigated the nature and extent to which ACMs in Gauteng, South Africa, used innovative strategies to remain competitive. A quantitative research design was used, and a self-administered questionnaire was sent to all of the ACMs located in Gauteng. Some of the main findings from the study was that only 48.9% of the respondents had a Research and Development (R&D) department; ACMs ranked their clients, who include motor vehicle manufacturers and original equipment manufacturers, as the most important source of innovation, with existing employees being ranked second, suppliers ranked third, and competitors ranked fourth. The importance of a highly skilled workforce was highlighted by the finding that almost three quarters of the respondents agreed with the statement that new ideas and suggestions from employees had been implemented. Although the local motor vehicle manufacturers purchase most of the automotive components from ACMs located outside South Africa, the finding that 82% of the ACMs surveyed have been in operation for more than 10 years, with 72% of these organisations in operation for more than 15 years, indicates that most local ACMs are financially profitable and have adapted to global competition. / M

As empresas de manufatura, nos dias atuais, estão incessantemente em busca de redução de custos, motivadas pela concorrência e competição, que são características fortes da globalização. No Sistema Toyota de Produção (OHNO, 1988) é ressaltada a questão dos sete desperdícios que podem existir em um processo e que, consequentemente, geram custos no produto sem, contudo agregar valor ao mesmo. Um dos desperdícios mais comumente encontrados são os do fluxo do produto semiacabado (WIP), matéria-prima ou produto acabado. O estudo de Layout visa otimizar a disposição dos recursos dentro de um processo de modo a minimizar, entre outros, o fluxo de materiais. O presente estudo visa apresentar um caso real de uma grande empresa de autopeças na região de Curitiba, PR, que gasta milhões por ano em mudanças de Layout. O objeto de estudo é a linha de montagem de um determinado componente que esta empresa fabrica. Através do uso de Métodos Heurísticos propõe-se uma abordagem para a otimização do Layout desta linha de montagem. Esta abordagem foi dividida em duas etapas. Na primeira etapa, foi resolvido o problema de formação de células (visando melhorar os tempos computacionais, bem como a qualidade da solução), visando associar as máquinas disponíveis às peças a serem fabricadas. Na segunda etapa, resolve-se o problema de otimização do layout, considerando as associações de máquinas às peças feitas na primeira etapa. Nas duas etapas testou-se o uso de uma abordagem meta-heurística (busca tabu) híbrida, bem como o método exato denominado Branch-and-Bound (este na primeira etapa), para resolver o problema. Os resultados encontrados no arranjo físico das máquinas mostraram-se bastante promissores. / Nowadays, the manufacturing enterprises are constantly looking for costs reduction, driven by rivalry and competition, which are strong globalization characteristics. In the Toyota Production System (OHNO, 1988), are highlighted the seven wastes which can exist in a manufacturing process and that, consequently, generate costs to the product without, however, adding value to it. Some commonly found wastes are the work-in-process (WIP), raw material or finished products flow wastes. The layout study aims to optimize the layout of facilities inside a process to minimize, among others, the materials flow. This study aims to present a real case of a huge auto parts manufacturer enterprise located in Curitiba, PR, which spends millions a year on layout changes. The object of study is the assembly line of a specifical component that this company manufactures. Using Heuristic methods, it proposes an approach for the layout optimizing of this assembly line. This approach was divided in two stages: in the first one, the cell formation problem (in order to improve the computational time, as well as the solution quality) was solved in order to associate machines to parts. In the second stage, the layout optimizing problem is solved, considering the combination of machines to parts (made in first stage). In both stages the hybrid meta-heuristics approach (tabu search), as well as the Exact method so called Branch-and-Bound (this on first stage), were tested to solve this problem. The results found on layout of facilities were quite promising.

As empresas de manufatura, nos dias atuais, estão incessantemente em busca de redução de custos, motivadas pela concorrência e competição, que são características fortes da globalização. No Sistema Toyota de Produção (OHNO, 1988) é ressaltada a questão dos sete desperdícios que podem existir em um processo e que, consequentemente, geram custos no produto sem, contudo agregar valor ao mesmo. Um dos desperdícios mais comumente encontrados são os do fluxo do produto semiacabado (WIP), matéria-prima ou produto acabado. O estudo de Layout visa otimizar a disposição dos recursos dentro de um processo de modo a minimizar, entre outros, o fluxo de materiais. O presente estudo visa apresentar um caso real de uma grande empresa de autopeças na região de Curitiba, PR, que gasta milhões por ano em mudanças de Layout. O objeto de estudo é a linha de montagem de um determinado componente que esta empresa fabrica. Através do uso de Métodos Heurísticos propõe-se uma abordagem para a otimização do Layout desta linha de montagem. Esta abordagem foi dividida em duas etapas. Na primeira etapa, foi resolvido o problema de formação de células (visando melhorar os tempos computacionais, bem como a qualidade da solução), visando associar as máquinas disponíveis às peças a serem fabricadas. Na segunda etapa, resolve-se o problema de otimização do layout, considerando as associações de máquinas às peças feitas na primeira etapa. Nas duas etapas testou-se o uso de uma abordagem meta-heurística (busca tabu) híbrida, bem como o método exato denominado Branch-and-Bound (este na primeira etapa), para resolver o problema. Os resultados encontrados no arranjo físico das máquinas mostraram-se bastante promissores. / Nowadays, the manufacturing enterprises are constantly looking for costs reduction, driven by rivalry and competition, which are strong globalization characteristics. In the Toyota Production System (OHNO, 1988), are highlighted the seven wastes which can exist in a manufacturing process and that, consequently, generate costs to the product without, however, adding value to it. Some commonly found wastes are the work-in-process (WIP), raw material or finished products flow wastes. The layout study aims to optimize the layout of facilities inside a process to minimize, among others, the materials flow. This study aims to present a real case of a huge auto parts manufacturer enterprise located in Curitiba, PR, which spends millions a year on layout changes. The object of study is the assembly line of a specifical component that this company manufactures. Using Heuristic methods, it proposes an approach for the layout optimizing of this assembly line. This approach was divided in two stages: in the first one, the cell formation problem (in order to improve the computational time, as well as the solution quality) was solved in order to associate machines to parts. In the second stage, the layout optimizing problem is solved, considering the combination of machines to parts (made in first stage). In both stages the hybrid meta-heuristics approach (tabu search), as well as the Exact method so called Branch-and-Bound (this on first stage), were tested to solve this problem. The results found on layout of facilities were quite promising.