published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

abstract / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

We live in a very demanding and increasingly computerised world. In almost any area, consumers have a wide variety of choices, yet they demand shorter lead-times, higher quality and lower costs and if a business is unable to provide for the consumer’s requirements, the consumer will look elsewhere. With little to distinguish in manufacturing quality, the efficient use and management of supply chains becomes paramount. For a long time, the counterfeiting trade has been a thorn in the side of legitimate business. Seeking only to generate maximum profit with minimum effort, they use the reputation of a legitimate business to maximize sales. The counterfeiter’s task is made easier by the lack of control mechanisms along the supply chain. This leads to a situation where materials and finished products are being misappropriated in volume and counterfeit goods are able to enter the chain, often with help from within the targeted organisation. There is no mechanism for forcing individuals and organisations to accept responsibility, allowing for the passing blame. This dissertation will examine the nature of a system aimed at defeating attempts at theft, validating an item’s authenticity and positively identifying the origin and rightful owner of an item. This dissertation will not be explicitly developing the above system and will concentrate more on the underlying factors and providing a generic model on which to base an actual system. First we examine the impact of supply chains on our day-to-day lives, the concept and the related management paradigms. Next comes the counterfeiting trade and what motivates the counterfeiter. The examination is extended to cover the workings of the so-called “Grey Market” and some steps to combat the trade. In order to facilitate an implementation, various technologies are examined for their suitability. This covers diverse technologies from biometric authentication through the Internet and cryptographic technologies to the use of Radio Frequency Identifiers. Some specific devices are discussed and user attitudes towards these technologies are gauged. Based on these technologies a model is proposed allow a supply chain to be secured. A variety of concepts, such as packaging, unpacking and sealing, are introduced and explained. These concepts are combined with the various technologies for tracking items within the chain and for enforcing nonrepudiation. Based on the model, the actors within the system are identified along with the types of information each might expect, allowing generic datasets to be developed. With the model and technologies in place a tiered theoretical implementation is formed showing how each hardware device interacts with the model to form a solution. / Prof. M.S. Olivier

Thesis (M.B.A.)-Business Studies Unit, Durban Institute of Technology, 2005 x, 79 leaves / The study examines the supply chain management, within the business unit of EraBeier(Pty) Ltd. This business is situated in Pinetown South Africa. The concept of supply chain management is examined in terms of quality of material supplied, supplier evaluation, logistics, inventory and purchasing. These facets identified by the concept of supply chain management are prerequisites to achieving continuous process flow, are deemed crucial for effectiveness. / M

MSc (Eng), School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg 2017 / The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of Learning factories in imparting Lean principles in order to build Business Improvement skills of mining workforces. This study was conducted at a training centre established by a mining company in South Africa. Two groups of participants with employees at two different employment levels were trained at the centre in foundation Lean principles. The Kirkpatrick model for evaluating effectiveness of training was chosen as a tool that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of this Lean training. This was achieved using before-and-after questionnaires, visual observations and process data from improvement projects identified by the participants. The results showed that the Learning Factory is effective in imparting the Lean skills across hierarchy levels in a mining operation within a short space of time. Furthermore, all employees arrived at the same overall Lean understanding post training regardless of their starting point. Where project implementation was done, it was found that the participants were able to apply most of the Lean principles in the workplace. A major shortcoming observed was that the main focus was on technical aspects of Lean with little regard for other aspects that contribute to sustainable Business Improvement such as change of culture. Lastly it was found that while the Learning Factory can assist in building Lean capability in an implementation, the other success factors such as management buy-in and workforce support can enhance this effort. One recommendation is to do a study to determine the interrelated nature of the factors that drive a successful Lean implementation and the role that a change management program like ADKAR can play to maximise success. / MT 2017

Video summarizing a Ph.D. dissertation for a non-specialist audience. / Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) / Transportation and Logistics / Transportation and Logistics / College of Business

頻繁的產品傷害危機（product-harm crisis）以及隨之而來的產品召回已經引起了公眾的廣泛關注。在此背景下，企業一方面應該有效的應對產品召回，另外一方面應該提高產品品質，從而避免產品傷害事件的發生。然而，由於品質問題已經超越了企業自身的範疇，傳統的以企業為中心的品質管理理論對管理供應鏈品質不具有指導意義。 / 在第一個研究中，我們通過深入案例研究來鑒別供應鏈品質管理體系的關鍵組成部分，在經過嚴格的案例對比分析後，我們識別出了供應鏈品質管理體系的6個重要組成部分，並提出了供應鏈質量管理的定義，以及一個完整的供應鏈品質管理模型。 / 第二個研究主要是分析在上一個研究中提出的供應鏈品質管理模型的有效性。通過實證的方法證明該模型的有效性對於該理論的發展具有重要的意義。通過分析400份基於中國製造商的問卷調查資料，我們發現供應鏈品質管理模型有助於提高企業的品質績效。 / 第三個研究主要側重于從消費者的角度探討不同產品召回策略的影響。具體來說，此研究在組織合法性理論（organizational legitimacy theory），服務主導邏輯（service-dominant logic）和雙因素理論（two-factor theory）的基礎上，探討產品召回主動性和補償策略如何影響消費者感知的組織合法性和再次購買傾向。通過實驗驗證，我們發現產品召回的主動性和補償策略對消費者感知的組織合法性及再次購買傾向具有顯著直接影響和交互作用影響。同時，消費者感知的組織合法性在召回策略（召回主動性和補償策略）和再次購買傾向關係中起到仲介作用。 / 總體上來說，本論文促進了供應鏈品質管理理論的發展，加深了對不同召回策略有效性的理解。同時，本論文也將為企業建立有效的供應鏈品質管理和產品召回系統提供指導。 / In the context of frequent product-harm crisis and product recalls, on the one hand, companies should make efforts to handle the recalls effectively; on the other hand, they should improve quality to prevent the recurrence of product-harm crises. However, as the quality issue goes beyond the scope of the organization, the traditional firm-centric quality management theory has limited implications for managing supply chain quality. / In the first study, we identified the six key components of SCQM and proposed a definition of SCQM and a holistic SCQM framework through in-depth case studies. The second study strived to empirically test the effectiveness of SCQM system that we proposed by analyzing the 400 survey samples collected from manufacturing companies in Mainland China. The results showed that SCQM system could help companies to achieve high quality performance. The third study investigated the effectiveness of different product recall strategies (recall proactiveness and compensation) from the consumers’ perspective, based on the organizational legitimacy theory, service-dominant logic and two-factor theory. Through the scenario experiment, we found significant main effect and interaction effect of recall proactiveness and compensation on consumers’ perception of organizational legitimacy and repurchase intention. Moreover, the perceived organizational legitimacy will mediate the relationship between recall strategies (proactiveness and compensation) and repurchase intention. / In summary, this dissertation will advance the development of supply chain quality management theory and enrich understanding of the effectiveness of different product recalls strategies. In addition, it will provide guidelines for companies to establish the supply chain quality management and product recalls system. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Hu, Haiju. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-140). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.I / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.III / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.V / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.VI / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.VIII / LIST OF TABLES --- p.IX / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Research Motivations and Research Questions --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Research Objectives --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of Dissertation --- p.7 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Quality Management --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Supply Chain Quality Management --- p.17 / Chapter 2.3 --- Product Recalls --- p.22 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Conceptualization of Supply Chain Quality Management --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Methodology --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3 --- Within-case Analysis --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4 --- Cross-case Analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5 --- Definition of Supply Chain Quality Management --- p.60 / Chapter 3.6 --- Supply Chain Quality Management Framework --- p.61 / Chapter 3.7 --- Conclusions and Discussion --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Effects of Supply Chain Quality Management on Quality Performance --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- Research Hypotheses --- p.68 / Chapter 4.3 --- Research Methodology --- p.84 / Chapter 4.4 --- Analysis and Results --- p.88 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusions and Discussion --- p.99 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Effects of Different Recall Strategies on Consumer Reaction --- p.103 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.103 / Chapter 5.2 --- Theoretical Background and Research Hypotheses --- p.104 / Chapter 5.3 --- Research Methodology --- p.110 / Chapter 5.4 --- Analysis and Results --- p.112 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusions and Discussion --- p.117 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Summary --- p.119 / Chapter 6.1 --- Overview --- p.119 / Chapter 6.2 --- Theoretical Contributions --- p.120 / Chapter 6.3 --- Managerial Contributions --- p.121 / Chapter 6.4 --- Limitations and Future Research Directions --- p.121 / Chapter Appendix 1 --- Measurement Instrument for Chapter 4 --- p.123 / Chapter Appendix 2 --- Measurement Items for Chapter 5 --- p.127 / Reference --- p.129

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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-132). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.