Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dynamic and highly competitive environment that most product development organisations find themselves in demands a method to constantly assess the maturity of the organisations' product development processes and systems. Many of these organisations are in the product development business and for this reason a need was identified for a method that can be used by managers to identify areas in need of improvement on a continual basis. . This thesis included a literature study of product development best practices and organisational measurement techniques, as well as the application and evaluation of a tool that enables the business managers to assess the state of these product development activities against the benchmark of these said best practices. The theoretical approach taken in this thesis, was to define the scope of the organisations and products to be included in the thesis, to investigate the current best practices within both the academic and industry arenas and identify the needs of product development organisations in terms of measuring their product development process maturity and then an evaluation of the tool that enables the identification of shortcomings in the organisations' development systems. Included in the literature study were a variety of Business and Quality Philosophies, existing standards and measurement tools, as well as a brief look at Organisational culture and how it affects Product Development Activities. The results of this literature were then used to substantiate the tool that was used for the actual evaluation and case study. The literature provided a good basis of evaluation, particularly in the way that the tool employs measurements and scoring techniques to assess an organisation's position in terms of product development best practices. The case study then took an existing tool that is currently used by DRM Associates (USA) in assessing the state of an organisation's Product Development Best Practices and used it to assess a Business Unit within a South African company. The results were analysed and the tool thus evaluated in terms of accuracy, user-friendliness and value for the South African market. It was found that the tool is very accurate in terms of identifying areas of weakness both with respect to the strategic performance of the organisation as well as the individual best practices. It is easy to understand, but the scoring system utilised is not that easily employed. It was felt that the scoring systems needed to be more generic as those of ISO 9004 and the South African Excellence Model The idea is that managers do the assessment once in conjunction with a group of consultants and then again as part of a continuous improvement drive, on their own. Managers with limited knowledge of product development best practices and philosophies would find the assessment difficult to do on their own due to the ambiguous scoring criteria. It was felt that a generic system would be easier to use by non-technical people. Once the assessment had been completed and the tool itself evaluated, the value of such a tool for South African product development organisations was also evaluated. In this evaluation it was found that the tool could be more valuable as a guide for future education (an educational roadmap) than as a benchmarking and assessment tool. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ... punte toekenning sisteem meer generies moes wees, soortgelyk aan die van ISO 9004 en die 'South African Excellence Model'. Die idee is dat bestuurders die evaluering een keer saam. met 'n groep konsultante moet doen en dan weer op hulle eie as deel van 'n deurlopende verbeterings-program. Bestuurders met 'n beperke kennis in beste praktyke en filoso:fië van produk ontwikkeling sou die evaluering moeilik gevind het as hulle dit op hulle eie gedoen het weens die dubbelsinnige punte toekenningskriteria. 'n Meer generiese sisteem sal makliker wees vir mense wat nie tegnies aangelê is nie. Toe die gevallestudie voltooi was en die model self evalueer was, was die waarde van so 'n model vir Suid Afrikaanse produkontwikkelings-ondememings terselfdetyd evalueer. Dit was gevind dat die model meer waardevol kon wees as 'n opleidingshulpmiddel vir ondernemings, in plaas van 'n evalueringsinstrument teenoor opgestelde grondslae.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is about the principles and practices of the emergmg discipline of virtual enterprising within the context of supply chain management. This type of enterprise makes it possible for Southern African companies to compete in the global marketplace against global players. Value chain analysis is firstly discussed to help the business units, within the virtual enterprise, identify their competitive advantage. This competitive advantage will secure the position of these business units within the virtual enterprise. Electronic commerce is described as the vehicle for data communication within the virtual enterprise, and the supported enterprise resource planning (ERP) software as the transaction capturing software. A performance measurement system is proposed that will assist with the management of virtual enterprises at a macro level. Some conclusions and recommendations are made as to how the management of performance can assist the business units, within the virtual enterprise, to grow financially and obtain sustainability. Recommendations are also made for the implementation of the proposed structure within the 3-D Business Simulator. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis handeloor die beginsels en gebruike van die ontluikende dissipline van virtuële ondernemend binne die konteks van toevoerkettingbestuur. Hierdie tipe ondernemings maak dit moontlik vir Suid-Afrikaanse ondernemings om in die globale mark teen globale, multinasionale spelers te kan meeding. Waardekettinganalise is eerstens gedefinieer, om die besigheidseenhede, wat deel vorm van die virtuële onderneming, te help om hul kompeterende voordeel te identifiseer, en sodoende te kan aanwend om hul posisie binne die virtuële onderneming te verseker. Elektroniese handel word bespreek as die middel van data-kommunikasie binne die virtuële onderneming, en ondernemingshulpbronbeplanning (ERP) sagteware as die sagteware wat verantwoordelik is vir die vasvang van alle transaksies. 'n Prestasiemetings-struktuur word voorgestel wat met die bestuur van die virtuële onderneming op makro-vlak sal help. Gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings word gemaak vir die aanwending van prestasiemeting om met die bestuur van die besigheidseenhede binne die virtuële onderneming van hulp te wees, en sodoende hierdie besigheidseenhede te help om finansieël te groei en volhoubaar te ontwikkel. Aanbvelings word ook gemaak vir die toepassing van die voorgestelde struktuur binne die konteks van die 3-D Besigheidsimulator.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT "The environment sets many new requirements and SMEs can reactively adapt or they can design themselves to affect and operate in the environment as effective as possible. " - Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin (2000). The objective of this thesis is to assess how applicable transformation methodologies (essentially a design process) are to South African small and medium manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). Enterprise Engineering was chosen as the reference discipline for this study. Enterprise Engineering is an emerging discipline that draws upon a wide variety of reference disciplines as a foundation. Transformation from an Enterprise Engineering perspective is considered as a rigorous engineering approach through careful planning to transform an enterprise from a current state to desired future state. Two methodologies from the Enterprise Engineering discipline were chosen, and their applicability to serve as transformation methodologies was assessed for South African manufacturing SMEs. The thesis starts by stating the thesis objective, problem statement, approach followed, limitations of the research and thesis outline. Global competitive trends for nations and manufacturing enterprises are then discussed. The current South African environment for manufacturing SMEs is reviewed in order to better understand the specific needs for transformation. Current literature on the reference disciplines of Enterprise Engineering is introduced to establish a sound foundation for understanding the transformation concepts. Transformation, Enterprise Engineering methodologies and the type of transformation that each methodology presents are defined, and some important concepts of the methodologies are discussed and evaluated against prevailing South African practices. A pre-transformation assessment method is established to help in the decision process of whether a SME should go ahead with transformation at all, and if so, what the extent and type of transformation approach should be. An application for each of the two transformation methodologies is done. The Transform Enterprise Methodology was applied at a small manufacturer of microwave components for the electronic warfare industry, and the Master Planning methodology was applied to a business unit that specialises in rapid product development. The results of the applications are included in this report. Lessons learnt and conclusions drawn are presented in the sections following. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Die omgewing stel baie nuwe vereistes en klein en medium ondernemings kan reaktief aanpas of hulle self herontwerp om die omgewing te beinvloed en om so effektief as moontlik daarin te werk. " - Handel en Nywerheid Minister Alec Erwin (2000). Die doewit van die tesis is om te bepaal hoe toepasbaar transformasie metodologië is tot Suid Afrikaanse klein en medium vervaardiging ondernemings. Ondernemings Ingenieurswese is gekies as verwysings disipline vir hierdie studie. Ondernemings Ingenieurswese is 'n opkomende disipline wat gebaseer is op 'n wye verskeidenheid verwysings disiplines. Transformasie vanuit 'n Ondernemings Ingenieurswese oogpunt kan beskou word as 'n werksintensiewe ingenieurs benadering om 'n onderneming te transformeer van 'n huidige tot 'n toekomstige begeerlike toestand in ooreenstemming met 'n plan. Twee metedologië vanuit die Ondernemings Ingenieurswese disipline is gekies, en hulle toepasbaarheid om as transformasie metedologië gebruik te word is bepaal vir Suid Afrikaanse klein en medium vervaardiging ondernemings. Die tesis begin deur die tesis doelwit, probleem stelling, benadering gevolg, begrensing van die navorsing en oorsigtelike skema te gee. Globale kompeterende tendensies vir nasies en vervaardinging ondernemings word daarna bespreek. Die huidige omgewing vir klein en medium vervaardiging ondernemings in Suid Afrika word dan beskou. Dit word gedoen om beter te verstaan wat die spesifieke behoeftes vir transformasie is. Huidige literatuur oor Ondernemings Ingenieurswese verwysmgs disiplines word bekend gestelom 'n goeie fondasie daar te stel vir begrip van transformasie konsepte. Transformasie word gedefinieer en twee tipes transformasie metedologië word bekendgestel. Die belangrikste konsepte van die twee metedologië word dan bespreek en geevalueer teen algemene Suid Afrikaanse werkpraktyke. 'n Pro-transformasie evalueerings metode is opgestel om te help met die besluitneming of daar voortgegaan moet word met transformasie in 'n onderneming, en indien wel, watter tipe metedologie gebruik moet word en wat die omvang van transformasie moet wees. Toepassings van beide metedologië is gedoen. Die Transformeer Onderneming Metedologie is toegepas op 'n klein vervaardiger van mikrogolf komponente vir die elektroniese oorlog industrie, en die Meester Plan metedologie is toegepas op a besigheids eenheid wat spesialiseer in pas komponent vervaardiging.

Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this project is to find a means to evaluate a number of machines to optimise a process chain. Firstly seven machine types were identified to be included in the study. These machine types include: broach machines, EDM machines, GNG lathes, engine lathes, drilling machines, milling machines and grinders. The information requirements for these machines in terms of attributes for three areas were identified. Functionality, economical and reliability and availability attributes were identified. These attributes were subsequently incorporated into a MS-Access database to provide a database of machine information. Several methods for comparing machines were studied and the decision then fell on one existing method to be used for machine evaluation. A new method was developed to use for evaluating machines. The existing method is the Analytic Hierarchy Process, whereas the new method developed, is called the Quotient Exponential Method. These methods were implemented in the MS-Access database to enable the user to evaluate machines by means of both methods. The results indicate that these methods provide the correct answers according to test values used. It should be noted that the decision methods should, however, only serve as an aid towards an answer and do not necessarily provide the final answer. The AHP process is very time-consuming for this project because of the large number of criteria evaluated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie projek is om "n manier te vind om masjiene te evalueer om sodoende "n proses-ketting te optimeer. Eerstens is besluit op die soorte masjiene wat ingesluit gaan word in die projek. Sewe soorte masjiene is gekies en sluit in: RNB draaibanke, masjiendraaibanke, boormasjiene, skuurders, elektriese ontladings masjiene, veelvuldige punt snymasjiene en rubeitelmasj iene. Die inligting-vereistes van die sewe masjiene, in terme van hul attribute vir drie areas, is vervolgens geïdentifiseer. Hierdie drie areas is funksionaliteit, koste, asook beskikbaarheid en betroubaarheid. Hierdie attribute word in "n MS-Access databasis gebruik om "n databasis van masjien-inligting te skep. Verskeie metodes vir die vergelyking en evaluasie van masjiene is bestudeer en daar is op een bestaande metode besluit vir die evaluering van "n aantal masjiene. Daarbenewens is ook "n nuwe metode ontwikkel vir die evaluering van masjiene. Die bestaande metode is die Analitiese Hiërargiese Proses, terwyl die nuwe metode die Kwosiënt Eksponensiële Metode genoem word. Altwee hierdie metodes is in MS-Access geïmplemeteer om die gebruiker in staat te stelom masjiene met albei metodes te vergelyk. Die resultate verkry toon aan dat die korrekte resultaat verkry word volgens die toetsdata wat ingevoer is ten opsigte van die twee metodes. Dit moet in gedagte gehou word dat hierdie metodes egter slegs as "n hulpmiddel tot besluitneming gebruik behoort te word en nie noodwendig die finale antwoord lewer nie. AHP is baie tydsaam gevind, aangesien die masjiene in die projek baie attribute bevat het.

Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies have expanded vastly over recent years. With the advent of new materials along with new processes, each technology has been contributing to the diversities in different fields of application for the growing technologies. In the course of improvement, it is however critical to understand exactly what the capability of each individual technology is in order to compare future improvements, or even to compare current processes and technologies. The objective of this research has been to develop capability profiles of prominent RP technologies: 3D-Printing (3DP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), and Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) - in which different characteristics of each technology are measured and quantified. A capability profile may be regarded as a set of building blocks that give a representation of the RP technology's ability and is defined by quantifying the following characteristics: Accuracy (both dimensional- and geometrical accuracy) Surface finish measures Strength and elongation Build time, and Cost The significance behind developing capability profiles lies in the need to more accurately describe and compare each of the different processes - especially Z Corporation's 3DP, since although this process is regarded as very capable in many areas, little has been published to substantiate this opinion. When users of these technologies are pushing the limits of their machines, it becomes critical to know exactly what these boundaries are in order to know with some measure of certainty that they will be able to fulfil a certain customer demand or expectation. For South Africa in particular, the industry's growing interest in rapid prototyping is triggering inevitable questions as to whether a certain RP technology can produce the desired solutions to their problems. The South African industry's growing awareness about rapid prototyping is opening new doors for better solutions to new and existing problems - but ultimately, before investing money, customers want to know if RP is going to meet the standards needed to solve their solutions. On a more general level, this study can also be seen to bear significance in contributing to research in what has become known as rapid manufacturing (RM). This term is defined as the manufacture of end-use products using additive manufacturing techniques. RM must guarantee long-term consistent component use for the entire product life cycle or for a defined minimal period for wearing parts [1]. However, before it is possible to guarantee long-term consistency of components, one must first ensure consistency of the process. Once a process is consistent, the next question becomes: What is it capable of doing consistently? This study aims to answer this question for the three processes (3DP, SLS and LOM) mentioned earlier. In doing so, this study and its development of capability profiles, seeks to contribute and be of value in both academic circles as well as for industry partners and system manufacturers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Snelle Prototipering (SP) tegnologieë het die afgelope jare ongelooflike groei ondervind. Met die ontwikkeling van nuwe materiale tesame met nuwe prosesse, het elke tegnologie bygedra tot 'n diversiteit in moontlike toepassings vir 'n verskeidenheid van velde. Met 'n mikpunt van aaneenlopende verbetering, is dit egter krities om te verstaan presies wat elke individuele tegnologie se vermoëns is. Dit maak dit dan moontlik om toekomstige verbeteringe te vergelyk, of om selfs huidige prosesse met mekaar te vergelyk. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om vermoënsprofiele van prominente SP tegnologieë te ontwikkel: 3D-Printing (3DP), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) en Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) - waarin verskillende karaktereienskappe van elke tegnologie gemeet en gekwantifiseer word. 'n Vermoënsprofiel mag beskou word as 'n stel boustene wat 'n weerspieëling gee van die SP tegnologie se vermoë en word gedefinieer deur die kwantifisering van die volgende karaktereienskappe: Akkuraatheid (beide dimensionele- en geometriese akkuraatheid) Oppervlakgehalte metings Treksterktes en verlengings Bou- of vervaardigingstye, en Kostes Die rede waarom dit belangrik is om vermoënsprofiele te ontwikkel berus by die behoefte om die verskillende prosesse met meer akkuraatheid te beskryf en te vergelyk - veral Z Corporation se 3DP. Alhoewel hierdie proses algemeen beskou word as baie bevoeg in vele areas, is min informasie al gepubliseer om hierdie opinie te ondersteun. Wanneer gebruikers van hierdie tegnologieë hul masjiene tot die limiete druk, begin dit krities raak om presies te weet wat daardie grense is, sodat hulle met 'n sekere mate van sekerheid sal kan sê of hulle sal kan voldoen aan kliënte se behoeftes of verwagtinge. Die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie se belangstelling in SP tegnologieë begin al hoe meer groei, en daarmee saam, begin vrae ontstaan tot watter mate snelle prototipering wel werkbare oplossings kan produseer vir hul probleme. Hierdie groeiende bewustheid van die Suid-Afrikaanse industrie begin dus ook nou nuwe paaie openbaar vir beide nuwe en ou probleme - maar uiteindelik, voordat kliënte egter bereid sal wees om geld te belê, sal hulle wil weet of snelle prototipering die standaarde gaan behaal wat nodig sal wees om juis hierdie oplossings te verwesenlik. Op 'n meer breë vlak, beoog hierdie studie om ook 'n bydrae te maak in die groeiende navorsingsveld van snelle vervaardiging (SV). Hierdie is 'n term wat gedefinieer word as die vervaardiging van endgebruiker produkte, met die benutting van byvoegings-vervaardigings tegnieke. SV moet versekering bied vir komponente se werkverrigting op die lange duur vir die hele produk se lewenssiklus, of ten minste vir 'n gedefinieerde minimale tydperk in die geval van slytasie-parte [1]. Maar voordat dit moontlik sal wees om hierdie versekering te bied, moet mens eers die versekering kan bied van 'n proses se werkverrigting. Wanneer die prosesse betroubaar en deurlopende resultate lewer, word die volgende logiese vraag gestel: Wat presies, is hierdie proses in staat om betroubaar te lewer? Hierdie studie beoog om juis hierdie vraag te beantwoord vir die drie prosesse (3DP, SLS en LOM) wat vroeër genoem is. Dienooreenkomstig, met die ontwikkeling van vermoënsprofiele van hierdie prosesse, behoort hierdie studie van waarde te wees vir beide akademici, sowel as industrie-lede en vervaardigers van SP tegnologieë.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to investigate the techno-economic feasibility of operating an aquaponics farm in South Africa. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing type of food production in the world, yet South Africa is lagging behind international efforts to boost the industry. An independent academic feasibility study on small scale aquaponics farms in South Africa has not been performed before, causing current and prospective farmers to be uncertain about the prospects of the venture. The study is approached by investigating the aquaculture and aquaponics industry and gathering the relevant information. By investigating other models used to represent aquaculture or aquaponics systems, the required information is gathered in order to build a unique model for the purpose of determining the feasibility of the case study farms. The model is modified to represent each of the case study farms. The results show that the majority of the farms are not economically viable. A sensitivity analysis provides some insight on how varying certain parameters can affect the performance of the systems. Using the information gathered in the case studies and research, a near-ideal system is specified in order to establish whether this improved system can be viable whilst taking into account the constraints placed upon aquaponics ventures in South Africa. The study suggests some recommendations for current and prospective farmers that might improve their chances of succeeding with an aquaponics venture. The study finds that currently aquaponics in South Africa is hindered by a number of constraints that result in it being a high-risk venture with meagre returns on investment. However, the study shows that if an aquaponics system were designed, built and managed correctly, it could theoretically be an economically viable venture. The investigation has, in a logical method, provided insight into the viability of operating an aquaponics farm in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om die lewensvatbaarheid van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika te ondersoek. Akwakultuur is die tipe voedselproduksie wat die vinnigste groei in die wêreld, maar Suid-Afrika hou nie tred met die internasionale poging om akwakultuur te ontwikkel nie. „n Onafhanklike lewensvatbaarheid studie oor kleinskaal akwaponika plase in Suid-Afrika is nog nooit onderneem nie. Dit veroorsaak dat huidige en voornemende akwaponika boere onseker is oor die uitkomste van hulle ondernemings. Die studie is benader deur die akwaponika en akwakultuur bedrywe te ondersoek, en die relevante inligting te versamel. Deur ander modelle wat gebruik word om akwakultuur en akwaponika sisteme te verteenwoordig te ondersoek, is die nodige inligting versamel om „n unieke model te bou wat gebruik word om die lewensvatbaarheid van die gevallestudies te bepaal. Die model is aangepas om elkeen van die gevallestudies te verteenwoordig. Die resultate wys dat die meerderheid van die gevallestudie plase nie ekonomies lewensvatbaar is nie. „n Sensitiwiteitsanaliese gee insig oor hoe spesifieke parameters die prestasie van die sisteme affekteer. Deur die inligting wat versamel is tydens die gevallestudies en navorsing te gebruik, kan „n sisteem gespesifiseer word om te bevestig of hierdie verbeterde sisteem lewensvatbaar kan wees terwyl dit die beperkings waaronder akwaponika sisteme in Suid Afrika geplaas word in ag neem. Die studie verskaf „n paar aanbevelings vir huidige en voornemende boere. Hierdie aanbevelings kan die kanse van sukses van die ondernemings verbeter. Die studie het gevind dat akwaponika in Suid-Afrika deur „n aantal beperkings benadeel word, wat lei tot „n situasie waar dit „n hoë-risiko onderneming is, met lae opbrengste op die belegging. Maar, die studie wys ook dat as „n sisteem korrek ontwerp, bou en bestuur word, dit teoreties „n ekonomies lewensvatbare onderneming kan wees. Die studie het op „n logiese wyse insig gegee oor die haalbaarheid van akwaponika in Suid-Afrika.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the 2009 financial year the sawlog production from plantations in South Africa amounted to 4.4 million m 3 and sawn timber of R4.2 billion was produced from these logs. At the current average price for structural timber, a 1% increase in volume recovery at a medium-sized South African sawmill with an annual log intake of 100 000m 3 will result in additional profit of about R2.2 million annually. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the potential of increasing in value recovery at sawmills through optimization of the positioning of a log at the primary workstation by considering the internal knot properties. Although not yet commercially available, a high speed industrial log CT scanner is currently in development and will enable the evaluation of the internal characteristics of a log before processing. The external profiles and the internal knot properties of ten pine logs were measured and the whole log shape was digitally reconstructed. By using the sawmill simulation program Simsaw, explicit enumeration was performed to gather data. This data include the monetary value that can be earned from sawing the log in a specific log position. For every log a total of 808 020 sawing positions were evaluated. In the sawmill production environment only a few seconds are available to make a decision on the positioning of each log. Meta-heuristic optimization algorithms were developed in order to come to a near optimal solution in a much shorter time than that required when simulating all possible log positions. The algorithms used in this study include the Genetic algorithm, Simulated Annealing, Population Based Incremental Learning and the CrossEntropy method. An Alternative algorithm was also developed to incorporate the trends identified through analysis of the sawmill simulation results. The effectiveness of these meta-heuristic algorithms were evaluated using the sawmill simulation data created. Analysis of the simulation data showed that a maximum increase in product value of 8.23% was possible when internal knot data was considered compared to using conventional log positioning rules. When only external shape was considered a maximum increase in product value of 5% was possible compared to using conventional log positioning rules. The efficiency of the meta-heuristic algorithms differed depending on the processing time available. As an example the Genetic algorithm increased the mean product value by 6.43% after 200 iterations. Finally, a method to evaluate the investment decision to purchase an internal scanning and log positioning system is illustrated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gedurende die 2009 finansiële jaar is daar 4.4 miljoen m 3 rondehout op plantasies in Suid Afrika geproduseer en saaghout ter waarde van R4.2 biljoen is hieruit vervaardig. Met die huidige gemiddelde prys vir strukturele hout, kan ‘n 1% verhoging in volumeherwinning by ‘n gemiddelde grootte saagmeul in Suid Afrika met ‘n jaarlikse rondehout inname van 100 000 m 3 ‘n bykomende wins van R2.2 miljoen lewer. Die doel van hierdie projek was om die potensiële verhoging in waardeherwinning by ‘n saagmeul te evalueer, indien die posisionering van ‘n stomp by die primêre werkstasie geoptimeer word deur interne kwas eienskappe in ag te neem. Kommersiële CTskandeerders word tans nog nie hiervoor aangewend nie, maar ontwikkelinge in tegnologie sal dit moontlik binnekort prakties moontlik maak om die interne karakteristieke van ‘n stomp te evalueer voor prosessering. Die eksterne profiel en interne kwas eienskappe van tien Pinus rondehout stompe is gemeet en die al tien stompe is digitaal geherkonstrueer. Met behulp van die saagmeulsimulasieprogram, Simsaw, is 808 020 verskillende saagsimulasielopies uitgevoer. Elk van hierdie simulasielopies het ‘n ander beginposisie gehad in terme van rotasie, skeefheid en horisontale verskuiwing. Die finansiële waarde wat verdien kan word deur ‘n stomp in ‘n sekere posisie te saag is telkens bepaal. In die saagmeulomgewing is daar slegs ‘n paar sekondes beskikbaar om ‘n besluit te maak oor hoe ‘n stomp geposisioneer moet word. Meta-heuristiese optimisering algoritmes is ontwikkel om ‘n naby optimale oplossing te bepaal in ‘n baie korter tyd as wanneer alle saagposisies geëvalueer word. Vyf verskillende meta-heuristiese algoritmes is teen mekaar opgeweeg. Vier van hierdie algoritmes is bestaande heuristieke wat vir verskeie ander optimeringsprobleme ingespan word. Die vyfde algoritme is spesifiek vir doeleindes van hierdie projek ontwikkel om die neigings wat tydens die data-analise van die saagmeulsimulasie geïdentifiseer is, te inkorporeer. Die effektiwiteit van hierdie meta-heuristiese algoritmes is bepaal deur van die saagmeul simulasiedata wat gegenereer is gebruik te maak. Analise van die simulasiedata toon dat ‘n maksimum toename in produk waarde van 8% moontlik is wanneer interne kwaseienskappe ook geïnkorporeer word tydens besluitneming teenoor die konvensionele stompposisioneringreëls. Wanneer slegs die eksterne stompprofiel in ag geneem word, is ‘n maksimum produkwaardeverhoging van tot 5% moontlik teenoor resultate wat verkry word met konvensionele stompposisioneringsreëls.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) population are those individuals who live under the poverty line. They often do not have easy access to products and services, because the infrastructure to serve them is not in place and most organisations consider the challenges of the BoP overwhelming and unconquerable. The primary objective of this research is to develop a framework that guides an organisation through the design of a business model, which will allow them to expand into the BoP population Organisations face constant pressure to increase their market share and profits, and improve their performance in the current aggressive environment. To retain their competitiveness they have to look at unconventional and alternative markets. By recognising the BoP as a potential emerging market, organisations can increase their market share or enter new markets, thereby creating benefits for organisations and the BoP alike. The reasons why organisations fail when targeting the BoP market are also identified in this research. These reasons include aspects like organisations making assumptions about the BoP, not understanding the BoP, not knowing how to approach the BoP market and being ignorant in designing a business model tailored for the BoP market. This research addresses the difficulties organisations face when they want to target the BoP by developing a framework that allows an organisation to successfully target the BoP population. This framework also fulfils the secondary objective of this research, which is to adhere to the three goals of Sustainable Development: • Fair treatment of all people: Giving all people, regardless of their level in the economic pyramid, equal access to products and services. This is the foundation for social equity. Including the BoP in economic activity by overcoming the constraints the BoP face; • To not degrade the environment through sustainable design; • Economic growth and development to ensure the organisation makes a profit. Four primary research fields – Sustainable Development, Bottom of the Pyramid literature, Business Models and Blue Ocean Strategy – were investigated and then aspects of these fields were merged to form the Business Model Development Strategy. This framework offers a systematic approach for organisations to first analyse and understand all aspects of the BoP and their environment, and then develop a business model that fulfils the core requirements of the BoP. It was found that if organisations want to successfully target the BoP, they have to fulfil the 4 A’s – Acceptability, Awareness, Availability and Affordability – which are the core needs and requirements of the BoP. Using the Business Model Development Strategy as guideline, organisations can design a business model that minimises the risk of failure when they target the BoP, while maintaining the principles of Sustainable Development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die term Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) verwys na diegene in die bevolking wie ‘n bestaan voer onder die armoedelyn. Vanweë die feitdat die nodige infrastruktuur nie aan hul behoeftes voldoen nie, en ook dat meeste organisasies hul uitdagings as oorweldigend en selfs onoorkombaar beskou, het die BoP bevolkingdikwelsnietoegang tot sekeredienste en produktenie, Die primêre doel van hierdie navorsingstuk is om ‘n raamwerkte skep wat organisasies deur ‘n unieke ontwerp van ‘n besigheids model sal lei. Hierdie model sal organisasies in staat stel om hul dienste uit te brei en sodoende ook die BoP bevolking te bereik. Organisasies ervaar gedurig druk om hul markaan deel en wins tevergroot en omtefloreer in onstuimigeekonomieseklimaat. Om hul mededingendheid te verseker, moet organisasies hul blik werp na ongewone en alternatiewe markte. Deur die BoP as ‘n potensiële ontluikende mark teerken, kan organisasies hul markaandeel vergroot, of selfs nuwe market betree en in die proses voordele skep vir organisasies sowel as die BoP. Hierdie navorsingstuk sal ook die redes ondersoek waarom organisasieson suksesvol is wanneer hulle die BoP mark betree; hierdie redes sluit in, ondermeer, dat organisasies aannames maak oor die BoP, hierdie mark glad nie verstaan nie, onbekwaam is wanneer hulle die BoP mark betree en nie weet hoe om ‘n besigheidsmodel te ontwerp spesifiek vir die BoP mark nie. Die navorsing vervat in hierdie tesis oorbrug die struikel bloke wat organisasies in die gesig staar wanneer hulle die BoP mark wil betree, deur die ontwerp van ‘n raamwerk wat sulke organisasies in staat stel om die BoP bevolking suksesvol te betree. Hierdie raamwerk voldoen ook aan die sekondêre doel van hierdie navorsingstuk, om die drie uitgangs punte van Volhoubare Ontwikkeling te ondersteun: • Die regverdige behandeling van alle mense: om aan alle mense, ongeag hul posisie binne die ekonomiese piramide, gelyke toegang te gee tot produkte en dienste. Hierdie is die beginsel van sosiale billikheid. Om verder die BoP in te sluit in ekonomiese aktiwiteite deur aan hul behoeftes te voorsien; • Om, deurmiddel van volhoubare ontwerp, geen skade aan die natuurlike omgewing aan te bring nie; • Om ekonomiese groei en ontwikkeling aan te moedig om te verseker dat die organisasie telkens ‘n wins maak Vier primêre navorsings gebiede – Volhoubare Ontwikkeling, ‘Bottom of the Pyramid’ literatuur, Besigheids modelle en ‘Blue Ocean’ Strategie – was ondersoek en bymekaar gebring om die Business Model Development Strategie te ontwikkel. Hierdie raamwerk bied ‘n sistematiese benadering aan organisasies om, eerstens, alle aspekte van die BoP en hul omgewing te analiseer en te verstaan, en omvervolgens ‘n besigheidsmodel te ontwikkel wat aan die kern vereistes van die BoP sal voldoen. Daar is bevind dat, indien organisasies suksesvol die BoP wil betree, hulle aan vier kern vereistes moet voldoen – Aanvaarbaarheid, Bewustheid, Beskikbaarheid en Bekostigbaarheid. Hierdie aspekte vorm die kern benodigdhede en vereistes van die BoP. Deur die Business Model Development Strategie as riglyn te gebruik, kan organisasies ‘n besigheidsmodel ontwerp wat die risiko van mislukking sal minimaliseer wanneer hulle die BoP mark betree, terwyl dit die beginsels van Volhoubare Ontwikkeling ten volle ondersteun.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The evolution of the university’s role in national innovation systems has lately received increasing attention in international academic circles, with emphasis on its role in stimulating and sustaining national and regional economic growth. Universities in leading economies have adopted economic development as a third mission, along with the traditional objectives of teaching and research, directly leading to the inception of a technology transfer facilitator as an institutional unit. Translating this mission shift into the context of the Innovation Life Cycle, it seems that universities are involved in a larger part of the innovation process, rather than simply supplying inputs for the innovation funnel of industry. The subsequent need to gain maximum value from research has led innovation management practitioners to consider ways in which the innovation capability of universities can be improved. Several approaches have been documented to improve the performance of a university’s technology transfer office as an isolated entity. Most of these studies, however, have neglected to consider the technology transfer office in the context of the organisation-wide innovation process. The aim of this research is therefore to evaluate the innovation capability of a research institution to enable the improvement of their research commercialisation system. As a foundation the state of research commercialisation, innovation, and the relationship between the two are investigated. This process resulted in the validation that research commercialisation can be modelled by utilising an innovation model. The Innovation Capability Maturity Model version 2 (ICMMv2) of Essmann (1) is subsequently investigated with the aim of applying the model. This in turn leads to the application of the Innovation Capability Improvement Methodology accompanying the ICMMv2 in case study format on Stellenbosch University. The results obtained from the case study are presented in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of the innovation capability of the University. The results were found to be an accurate description of the current issues in the commercialisation system at Stellenbosch University. The latter was validated by individuals tasked with the execution of the research commercialisation process at the University. This, in turn, validates the use of the Innovation Capability Maturity Model for the identification of any aspects that need improvement in order to streamline a university’s research commercialisation efforts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die evolusie van die universiteit se rol in nasionale innovasie stelsels kry toenemend aandag in internasionale akademiese kringe. Dit beklemtoon universiteite se rol in die stimulering en handhawing van nasionale en plaaslike ekonomiese groei. Universiteite in voorste ekonomieë het ekonomiese ontwikkeling aangeneem as 'n derde missie, saam met die tradisionele missies van onderrig en navorsing. Dit het direk gelei tot die inlywing van ‘n tegnologie-oordrag fasiliteerder as 'n institusionele eenheid. Die verskuiwing van missie in die konteks van die Innovasie lewensiklus, dui daarop dat universiteite betrokke raak in 'n groter deel van die innovasie proses, eerder as om net die verskaffer van insette vir die innovasie tregter van die industrie te wees. Die daaropvolgende vereiste om maksimum waarde te verkry uit navorsing, het veroorsaak dat innovasie bestuur praktisyns verskeie maniere ondersoek waarop die innovasie vermoë van universiteite verbeter kan word. Verskeie benaderings om die prestasie van 'n universiteit se tegnologie-oordrag eenheid as 'n geïsoleerde entiteit te verbeter, is gedokumenteer. Die meeste van hierdie studies het egter nagelaat om die tegnologie-oordrag eenheid te oorweeg in die konteks van die organisasie-wye innovasie proses. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is dus om die innovasie vermoë van 'n navorsingsinrigting te evalueer om die verbetering van hul navorsing kommersialisering stelsel moontlik te maak. As 'n basis word die stand van navorsing kommersialisering, innovasie en die verhouding tussen die twee ondersoek. Hierdie proses het gelei tot die validasie dat navorsing kommersialisering gemodelleer kan word deur middel van 'n innovasie model. Daarna is die Innovation Capability Maturity Model weergawe 2 (ICMMv2) van Essmann(1) ondersoek om ten einde die model toe te pas. Dit word gevolg deur die uitvoering van die Innovation Capability Improvement metodologie, as deel van die ICMMv2, op die Universiteit van Stellenbosch, in ‘n gevallestudie-formaat. Die resultate wat verkry is uit die gevallestudie word in terme van sterk en swak punte met betrekking tot die innovasie vermoë van die Universiteit bespreek. Die resultate is bevind om 'n akkurate beskrywing van die huidige kwessies in die kommersialiseringstelsel by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch te wees. Dit is dan ook bevestig deur sekere individue gemoeid met die uitvoering van die navorsing kommersialiseringproses by die Universiteit. Dit op sy beurt, bekragtig die gebruik van die ICMMv2 vir die identifisering van die aspekte wat verbeter moet word om 'n universiteit se navorsing kommersialiseringpoging vaartbelyn te maak.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Telemedicine is a rapidly developing field in the medical sector that utilises modern day technology to provide improved health services to rural and remote areas. Telemedicine can also provide specialist support and remote consultation to facilities where there is a lack of resources. In South Africa, where a large percentage of the population live in rural and remote areas, telemedicine has the potential to alleviate the burden on national health resources, whilst improving the quality of healthcare. Various telemedicine projects have been piloted in South Africa from its inception in 1998, with the primary objective being to address the inequalities of healthcare delivery in South Africa. Most of these projects did not get past their initial pilot phase. It is often difficult to determine the factors that contribute to a telemedicine project’s success or demise, due to the unavailability of documentation for projects. The purpose of this research project is to contribute towards sustained implementation of telemedicine projects, by assisting the Medical Research Council (MRC) in their current efforts. This has been done through the development of an information management system which can record and store relevant information regarding telemedicine projects in South Africa. The system allows users to document telemedicine projects, whilst also giving them access to technical- and descriptive information. A total of 102 projects from the international academic domain were used to perform a meta-study, in order to determine the nature of telemedicine projects. Articles documenting various telemedicine projects were selected from the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. The telemedicine process data was then extracted and uploaded from these articles to the first version of the information system developed in this thesis. The meta-study was also used as the first phase of verification for the information system being developed. Changes were made to the information system after the meta-study was completed. These changes included alterations to the database and the interface of the information system. Additional tables were added to the database of the information system, to store the data required by the MRC, in order to document telemedicine projects in South Africa. The verification of the information system consisted of two testing phases. The first testing phase, the alpha test, was performed as part of the meta-study. The second testing phase was conducted after changes were incorporated into the information system, as necessitated by the alpha test and meta-study. In this phase of testing users could access the information system via the Internet. The information system was validated in two phases. Firstly it was shown that the information system met the objectives set out for this project. Secondly it was shown that the information system has the capacity to assist in planning, development, implementation, and research through retrospectively examining two telemedicine projects in which Dr. Sam Surka (senior scientist and clinical manager at the MRC) was involved. Outcomes of the project indicated that the information system is a useful tool for identifying similar telemedicine projects, and for assisting stakeholders in telemedicine projects. Finally the research process was reflected upon to identify future work in terms of collecting telemedicine process data, as well as the assistance of telemedicine research within the South African context / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Telemedisyne is 'n vinnig ontwikkelende veld in die mediese sektor wat gebruik maak van moderne tegnologie om verbeterde gesondheidsdienste te verskaf aan landelike en afgeleë gebiede. Telemedisyne kan ook spesialis-ondersteuning en afstandsraadgewing bied aan fasiliteite waar daar 'n gebrek aan hulpbronne is. In Suid-Afrika, waar 'n groot persentasie van die bevolking in landelike en afgeleë gebiede woon, het telemedisyne die potensiaal om die las te verlig op nasionale gesondheid hulpbronne, asook die gehalte van gesondheidsorg te verbeter. Verskeie telemedisyne projekte is in Suid-Afrika geloods vanaf 1998, met die primêre doel om die ongelykhede van gesondheidsorg in Suid-Afrika aan te spreek. Meeste van hierdie projekte het egter nie voortbestaan na hul aanvanklike proeffase nie. Dit is dikwels moeilik om die bydraende faktore te bepaal wat 'n telemedisyne projek se sukses of ondergang veroorsaak, as gevolg van die onbeskikbaarheid van dokumentasie vir die projekte. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om ‘n bydrae te lewer tot die volhoubare implementering van telemedisyne projekte deur hulp te verleen aan die Mediese Navorsingsraad (MNR) se huidige ondernemings. Dit is gedoen deur 'n inligtingstelsel te ontwikkel wat relevante inligting opneem en stoor ten opsigte van telemedisyne projekte in Suid-Afrika. Die stelsel laat gebruikers toe om telemedisyne projekte te dokumenteer, asook toegang te bekom tot tegniese en beskrywende inligting. 'n Totaal van 102 projekte van die internasionale akademiese omgewing is gebruik om 'n meta-studie uit te voer ten einde die aard van telemedisyne projekte te bepaal. Artikels wat verskeie telemedisyne projekte dokumenteer is gekies uit die “Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare”. Die telemedisyne proses data is vanuit hierdie artikels onttrek en opgelaai na die eerste weergawe van die inligtingstelsel wat in hierdie tesis ontwikkel is. Die meta-studie is ook gebruik as die eerste fase van verifikasie vir die inligting stelsel wat ontwikkel word. Veranderinge was aangebring aan die inligtingstelsel na die meta-studie voltooi was. Hierdie veranderinge sluit in die uitbreiding van die databasis en die koppelvlak van die inligtingstelsel. Addisionele tabelle is bygevoeg tot die databasis van die inligtingstelsel om die addisionele data te stoor soos vereis deur die Mediese Navorsingsraad (MNR), ten einde die telemedisyne projekte in Suid-Afrika te dokumenteer. Die verifikasie van die inligtingstelsel bestaan uit twee toets fases. Die eerste toetsfase, die alfa toets, was uitgevoer as deel van die meta-studie. Die tweede toetsfase was uitgevoer na veranderinge aan die inligtingstelsel gemaak is, soos genoodsaak deur die alfa toets en meta-studie. In hierdie toetsfase kon gebruikers toegang tot die inligtingstelsel kry deur die Internet. Die inligtingstelsel was bekragtig in twee fases. Eerstens, dit is aangetoon dat die inligtingstelsel die doelwitte bereik het, soos uiteengesit vir hierdie projek. Tweedens was aangetoon dat die inligtingstelsel die vermoë het om te help met die beplanning, ontwikkeling, implementering, en navorsing deur twee telemedisyne projekte te ondersoek waarin Dr. Sam Surka (senior wetenskaplike en kliniese bestuurder by die MNR) betrokke was. Uitkomste van die projek het aangedui dat die inligtingstelsel 'n nuttige hulpmiddel is vir die identifisering van soortgelyke telemedisyne projekte, terwyl dit ook belanghebbendes van telemedisyne projekte ondersteun. Ten slotte was daar besin oor die navorsingsproses om toekomstige werk te identifiseer in terme van die versameling van telemedisyne proses data, asook die ondersteuning van telemedisyne navorsing binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.