Graduation date: 1998

Please read the abstract in the section “front” of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Applied Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / MSc / unrestricted

Background: Trends for more sustainable and environmental friendly business practices have transformed many industries, especially Volvo CE as an OEM within heavy vehicle industry, where company needs to continuously innovate and develop environmental sustainability technologies. Volvo CE is trying to balance the cost and profit with environmental impact through engaging in sustainable operations and do it through the optimization of Environmental Performance Management (EPM). There is a need for Volvo CE to improve their whole supply chain throughout the entire tier of suppliers since the suppliers create a major value within company business and Volvo CE need to find the way on how to diffuse the EPM to supplier networks. Also, to control and evaluate the process, Volvo CE is looking for systematic control mechanism to measure and control the practice of EPM. Research questions: 1. How does the environmental regulation in heavy vehicle industry impact the EPM of Volvo CE? 2. How should the EPM be efficiently diffused to the supplier network of Volvo CE? 3. Which are the effective control mechanisms of the EPM on the supplier network of Volvo CE? Purpose: The purpose of this paper is two-fold. Firstly, it aims to identify the impact of environmental regulations has in Volvo CE. Secondly, it is set to analyse the possible ways to efficiently diffused the EPM on the supplier network of Volvo CE and identify control mechanisms for the EPM implementation on the supplier network, from the perspective of Volvo CE. Method: By using Volvo CE as the research object, this study adopts case study method with qualitative approach. The study is conducted in ii Volvo CE perspective where it has an abductive approach with the intention to examine the impact of environmental regulation in EPM of Volvo CE, understand how Volvo CE implement the diffusion back to the supplier network and control the process through EPM. Conclusion: The findings emphasize that the environmental sustainability regulations impact the EPM in Volvo CE are distributed in manufacturing/production, managerial, strategic, technical and compliance area. Volvo CE needs to work a lot with energy efficiencies, material efficiencies and waste reduction management and find the products, which need less energy to produce and environmental friendly. To achieve the efficient of EPM adoption, EPM should perceive to have relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability characteristic. The control mechanism can be built through formal and informal control techniques. Specifically, Volvo CE needs to identify more joint KPI:s with suppliers and include important suppliers in the process. A long-term relationship with an important supplier will alleviate the control of 2:nd and 3:rd tier supplier since the important supplier will have the trust and authority to control, monitor and oversee how they are implementing the environmental aspect in their daily work.

This thesis deals with the development and design of a mechanism used to change the geometry of impeller blades in radial fans. Firstly, a suitable design was selected and then constructed taking into account the forces and loads applied. The blade consists of two parts - fixed, and movable. The movable part extends or retracts behind the fixed part of the blade, changing its length and therefore the operating characteristics of the fan. The simulation part of the work deals with the effect of the changed blade geometry on the fan performance at one particular operating point. The results show a slight reduction in performance, but on the other hand the fan is operable under a wider range of operating conditions. The conclusion of the paper suggests the need for further research to gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities of radial control mechanism fans.

No description available.

It has been an important issue on how to get universities to better contribute to the innovation process, especially in the knowledge-based economy. This paper aims to explore the control mechanism in the university-industry partnership through the framework of transaction cost theory. I conduct an empirical study of the collaborative process by providing the research-based evidence that focuses on the perspectives of two sets of faculties in a research university and a biotech company. The optimal control mechanisms will be suggested in the context of the uncertainties and ineffective communications in the R&D joint research projects.

Study Design: Computational analyses using optimization finite element (FE) models. Objective: To determine the spinal muscle forces (MFs) creating compressive follower loads (CFL) in the lumbar spine in various sagittal postures and to investigate if such MFs can maintain the spinal stability. Summary of Background Data: Biomechanical loads are known closely associated with spinal disorders. Normal spinal loads, however, remains poorly understood due to the lack of knowledge of the MF control mechanism for normal biomechanical functions. Methods: 3-D optimization and FE models of the spinal system (trunk, lumbar spine, sacrum, pelvis, and 232 muscles) were developed and validated using reported experimental data. Optimization models were used to determine the MFs creating CFLs in the lumbar spine in various sagittal postures from 10 extension to 40 flexion. The deformation of the lumbar spine under these MFs and trunk weight was predicted from FE models. The stable lumbar spine deformation was determined by the resultant trunk sway < 10 mm. Results: Optimization solutions of MFs, CFLs, and follower load path (FLP) location were feasible for all studied postures. The FE predictions clearly demonstrated that MFs creating CFLs along the base spinal curve connecting the geometrical centers or along a curve in its vicinity (within anterior or posterior shift by 2 mm) produce the stable deformation of the lumbar spine in the neutral standing and flexed postures, whereas the MFs creating the smallest CFLs resulted in the unstable deformation. In case of extended postures, however, it was not possible to find the CFL creating MFs that produce stable deformation of the extended spine. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated the feasibility for spinal muscles to stabilize the spine via the CFL mechanism.

MNCs face challenges in developing complex strategic and organizational capabilities to meet their global efficiency and local responsiveness needs. Effective competitive strategy involves different management control over its product, functional and geographic diversity, language and culture. There are many options available for MNCs to use to develop models for business operations in different countries. The planning and executing these competitive strategies have significant impact to MNCs and they must be sustainable and successful. Human resources (HR) in MNCs have been playing an increasingly important role to improve organizational capabilities. Organization structure, responsibility, the practices, functions and professionals in the Human Resource management are key factors in creating the organizational capabilities. Meeting the current challenges and laying groundwork for the future calls for the redesign of roles and new competencies among HR professionals. With the aligning of the skills of HR professionals with the changing HR visions, strategies, structures, systems, and processes, the transformation of HR functions will be of value to their organization. Emerging trends in the strategic partner development of HRM is discussed.

In this master thesis study, new inventory control mechanisms are developed for the repairables in Nedtrain. There is a multi-item, multi echelon system with a continuous review and one for one replenishment policy and there are different demand supply options in each control mechanism. There is an aggregate mean waiting time constraint in each local warehouse and the objective is to minimize the total system cost. The base stock levels in each warehouse are determined with an approximation method. Then different demand supply options are compared with each other.

This thesis focuses on the development of two new applications using ion concentration polarization (ICP): an out-of-plane microfluidic approach for water desalination and a method for concentration and transportation of charged analytes in paper-based biomedical diagnostic device. In the first work, we present an out-of-plane desalination approach using ICP. A depletion boundary separates salt ions and purified water into distinct vertically stacked layers. The out-of-plane design enables multiplexing in three dimensions, providing the functional density required for practical applications. The second work demonstrates an active control mechanism of target analytes in paper using ICP. Both external devices (with all functional units on one side of paper) and integrated paper microfluidic devices (by embedding all functional units in paper) were developed to concentrate and transport charged analyte molecules in the paper. We also demonstrate a new fabrication method of nanofluidic and hydrophobic barriers (nanoporous membrane patterning) in paper microfluidic device.