Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 1994. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-156).

Tesis (licenciatura en economia)--Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Before the formation of Union in 1910 there were a few scattered boot and shoe factories in South Africa. Unfortunately, owing to lack of statistics, it is impossible to tell which of these establishments were actually manufacturing boots and shoes, and which were only engaged in repair work.

The study explores the problems faced by the Pieterrnaritzburg-Msunduzi footwear industry as a consequence of globalization. International examples of policies regarded as possible solutions to the problems being experienced are reviewed. The study, a literature review, is based on the findings listed in Stilwell (1999) in which the problems which the Pieterrnaritzburg-Msundusi footwear industry faced were described. The current study extended and expanded on this work by not only looking at the causes of the problems being experienced by the industry, but by evaluating policies which could improve the situation with reference to Pieterrnaritzburg-Msundusi. The primary research objectives of the study were to analyse the local footwear industry's situation, gathering information concerning the levels of employment and output using original data from the most recent Census ofManufacturing. This data was interpreted to reveal changes that had taken place in the local footwear industry to establish what the main causes ofthese changes were. The secondary objective was to evaluate flexible manufacturing and the footwear cluster as possible solutions to the problems which have been identified. The importance of the SN11'v1E in aiding the industry's plight was also highlighted and the significance of these smaller industries discussed. The study concludes with recommendations for pursuing the footwear cluster concept in Pieterrnaritzburg-Msunduzi. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

This article proposes a production method that aims to increase the manufacturing capacity of a footwear small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to reduce backorders. Therefore, an assessment is carried out and delays in production processes, excess product transport time, defective products, and inefficient work methods are identified. This article proposes designing a Lean manufacturing method using the change management approach, whose methodology is composed of six phases. In phase 0, change management is carried out; in phase 1, the company's current situation is reviewed using the Value Stream Mapping (VSM); in phase 2, the work area is reorganized (implementing SLP and 5S); in phase 3, production is balanced (implementing Line Balancing); in phase 4, continual improvement is established using the Kaizen tool; and finally, in phase 5, the results are evaluated. Through validation, it was possible to confirm that Lean manufacturing tools along with change management increased order deliveries by 82%.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 1990. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [1]-14, 2nd group).

The general production control practices of the shoe industry are basically similar to the production planning of other small businesses in the consumer field. This study will reduce to concrete form the types of production control used by the shoe industry of Texas.

Some urban centres in KwaZulu -Natal are threatened with loss of function due to economic restructuring. Many studies argue that the problem of declining centres can be mediated by programmes of Local Economic Development. However it. is important to note that economic restructuring is a complex process that needs an understanding of broader economic processes as most of the problems are created by global forces that are outside the control of localities. The research aims to investigate the factors that underpin t he threat of function in an attempt to establish whether centres have a future potential. Directly linked to this is the level of awareness and readiness of development institutions to these changes, as this is important if they are going to make appropriate and strategic responses. Using the case of the manufacturing sector in Pietermaritzburg a twofold approach to the study was adopted. The f irst part examines the impact of restructuring on localities. vthis is used as a framework to interpret the threatened status of the ' manufacturing sector in Pietermaritzburg. The conclusion reached is that the footwear sector is threatened by global competition. The second part of the dissertation attempts to investigate how Pitermaritzburg-Msunduzi Transitional Local Council is responding to the challenge posed by economic restructuring. In this regard it is concluded that Pietermaritzburg's ability to respond appropriately is hampered by the problems within the local government. / Thesis (M.T.R.P.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1996.

While the South African footwear industry is a relatively modest contributor to both GDP and employment in the South African economy, it has historically played a dominant role in the economy of Pietermaritzburg. The opening up of South Africa's markets to the import of cheap shoes from the Far East, particularly China, together with large quantities of shoes smuggled into the country, has had a catastrophic impact upon the South African footwear industry. Due to its relative concentration of footwear manufacturers, the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry has been particularly hard hit by these developments and has suffered a decline in both production and employment. The well-documented success of footwear clusters in Italy, Brazil and Mexico have lead local researchers and policy-makers to conclude that clustering provides a potential solution to the challenges facing the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry. The discussion concerning the future development of the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry has, to date, simply assumed that it is a cluster without any actual research to verify this assumption. In addition, the concept of clustering is often used by these authors without defining what is meant by the term or how the concept of clustering can practically be applied in the context of the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry. This study seeks to address this deficiency by firstly examining the theory pertaining to the clustering concept, particularly what a cluster is, what types of clusters exist and how clusters can be developed, and secondly by conducting exploratory research to evaluate to what extent the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry can be viewed as a cluster, and if so what type of a cluster, and what steps are required to develop it as a cluster. Secondary data analysis was performed on material relating to the South African footwear industry in general and the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry in particular. This analysis was combined with primary data gathered by means of interviews conducted with stakeholders in the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry to assess the industry's conformity to the theoretical definition of a cluster. A sample of thirty-three individuals, including manufacturers, suppliers and trade union representatives, was interviewed using a non-scheduled structured interview technique. The study concluded that the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry exhibits a high degree of geographic concentration and active business channels that do achieve significant synergies in certain areas. However, it was found that the industry does not meet the final characteristic of collective action. As a result it is argued that the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry would appear to show sufficient conformity to the requirements to warrant its description as a cluster but that it probably conforms most closely to the 'latent' or 'underachieving' cluster classification. Finally, the dissertation presents a number of recommendations for policy-makers and other role players for the development of the Pietermaritzburg footwear industry as a cluster. Salient recommendations include the importance of conducting research that can be used to persuade manufacturers of the benefit of clustering together; the need to appoint an experienced broker to actively facilitate the development of the cluster concept; and the importance of addressing gaps in the supply-chain. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.