Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A typical medium-sized service company in South Africa faces definite challenges and misses opportunities in optimising and managing its operational expenses in its sourcing and supply chain. Medium-sized companies generally do not have the benefit of sophisticated in-house procurement divisions and extensive buying power but they still have to optimise their expenses in order to ensure maximum profitability and business longevity. The study addresses these challenges and opportunities by developing and proposing a framework for a typical medium-sized service company that does not have a central procurement function related to the cost optimisation and management of the identified sourcing and supply-chain elements. The research process entails the development of a conceptual framework developed from literature analysis and a representational practical environment as well as the testing, reviewing and validating of the test implementation of the framework. The results flowing from the testing and implementation of the framework are excluded from the research project. The results are displayed in the form of a summary of specific relevant information around each framework element as well as a conceptual framework. Recommendations are made in relation to the implementation and practical adaptation of the framework. It is concluded that a medium-sized service company can successfully optimise and manage its costs in the sourcing and supply-chain elements in the absence of a central procurement function. This requires the effective implementation of the developed framework, which was adapted from sophisticated larger companies. Implementation and the measurement process need to be driven or, preferably, conducted by the medium-sized company owner or management. Buy-in of the framework and the processes around it needs to be obtained from employees, suppliers and other stakeholders. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Tipiese mediumgrootte diensverskaffingsonderneming in Suid-Afrika staar spesifieke uitdagings in die gesig en ontbeer geleenthede met betrekking tot die optimalisering en bestuur van die bedryfsuitgawes in sy aankoop- en verskaffingsketting. Mediumgrootte ondernemings beskik in die algemeen nie oor die voordeel van ’n gesofistikeerde interne aankoopafdeling en groot aankoopkrag nie, maar hierdie ondernemings moet nog steeds hulle koste-uitgawes optimaliseer in die nastreef van maksimale wins en besigheidsukses. Die navorsingstudie neem hierdie uitdagings en geleenthede onder die loep deur die ontwikkeling en aanbeveling van ’n raamwerk vir ’n tipiese mediumgrootte diensverskaffingsonderneming wat nie oor ’n sentrale interne aankoopafdeling beskik nie. Die raamwerk is gebaseer op koste-optimalisering en -bestuur van die geïdentifiseerde aankoop- en verskaffingskettingelemente. Die navorsingsproses behels die ontwikkeling van ’n konseptuele raamwerk deur literatuuranalise en ’n verteenwoordigende praktiese omgewing, sowel as die toetsing, hersiening en geldigverklaring van die raamwerk tydens die toets-implementering daarvan in die praktiese omgewing. Die resultate van die toets en implementering van die raamwerk vorm nie deel van hierdie studie nie. Die navorsingsresultate word ten toon gestel in die vorm van ’n opsomming van die relevante raamwerkelemente sowel as ’n ontwikkelde raamwerk. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van die implementering en praktiese aanpassing van die raamwerk word dan gemaak. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat ’n mediumgrootte diensverskaffingsonderneming wel in die afwesigheid van ’n sentrale interne aankoopafdeling sy kostes in die aankoop- en verskaffingsketting suksesvol kan optimaliseer en bestuur. Dit kan gedoen word deur die doeltreffende implementering en aanwending van die ontwikkelde raamwerk wat vanaf groter ondernemings aangepas is. Die raamwerk se implementering- en metingsproses moet deur die eienaar of bestuur van die mediumgrootte onderneming gelei, of verkieslik uitgevoer, word. Die werknemers, verskaffers en ander belanghebbendes se ondersteuning vir die raamwerk en gepaardgaande prosesse is baie belangrik vir die implementering en sukses van die raamwerk.

Huang Hongyan. / "February 2002." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 134-142). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Research report presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Public Policy in the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management at the University of Witwatersrand Degree of Confidentiality: A Date: March 2017 / This dissertation is set out to investigate corruption-related challenges within the procurement and Supply Chain Management practices in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality that hinder good practices and the promotion of good governance and offers insight on how those challenges could be addressed. A research design adopted is descriptive case study through a qualitative method approach which was influenced by the nature of the research problems understudy, in order to uncover trends in thought and opinions, and dive deeper into the problem, using in-depth interviews. The findings of the study or the identified challenges that are associated with procurement and SCM processes in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality are a lack of capacity (skilled), inconsistent Bid Committee processes, lack of appraisal systems, ineffective technologically advanced SCM systems (E-procurement), lack of SCM monitoring tools, and lack of training programs for personnel. The study was meant to investigate corruption-related challenges within the procurement and Supply Chain Management practices in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality that hinder good practices and the promotion of good governance, with the focus being on issues of accountability, rule of law, ethics and integrity, and transparency as principles of good governance and elements of anti-corruption measures in curbing corruption. The findings highlight the challenges that are likely to hinder good governance; and with a clear bigger picture of what the challenges are, then that would pave a way for what could to be done, especially in the procurement and Supply Chain Management Unit of the Municipality to abate corruption-related activities. / MT2017

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), 2012 / This study focused on the impact of implementation of Supply Chain Management Policy (SCM) in Limpopo Department of Local Government and Housing (The Department of Local Government and Housing is officially known as the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional affairs as from the 16 August 2011).The study analyzed the impact of implementation of SCM policy including the implications of non-compliance with this policy. The study also provides an analysis of the perceptions of officials of the Department of Local Government and Housing with regard to the impact of implementation of Supply Chain Management policy. The study also looked at Supply Chain Management in a public sector context including mechanisms that can be employed in order to improve implementation of Supply Chain Management policy. Qualitative research methods were used in this study. This means that primary data was collected using interviews and questionnaires. The findings from the study indicated that the Department experienced challenges in implementing the SCM policy and that there was a significant change in the behavioural patterns of the certain employees after the SCM policy was implemented. The study also revealed that the implementation of SCM policy had both positive and negative effects on the employees of the Department, service providers as well as the public. Furthermore, the research revealed that violation of SCM policy has a negative impact on service delivery. The study has provided answers to both the main research question and sub-questions. From the findings made, the study concluded that the implementation of Supply Chain Management policy has both the negative and positive impact on the Department.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M.S.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2008. / Directed by Nancy Hodges; submitted to the Dept. of Consumer Apparel and Retail Studies. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Apr. 13, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 131-139).

Managing a sustainable service business rests on two critical customer perceptions: Firstly, the perceived sufficiency of the value of the service, and secondly the level of value differentiation between the current service provider other service providers in the market. (DeSarbo, Ebbs, Fong & Snow, 2010; Parasuraman & Grewal, 2000) The direction for this study was prompted by the limited research available around service quality for Supply Logistics within the global automotive industry. The study identified the key factors that logistics service providers need to focus on when aligning their perceptions of service quality to that of their customers. The service gaps between customer and service provider perceptions are uncovered. Particular focus was given to: The definition gaps in service quality, The perceived level of service quality, and The size of service quality differentiation between service providers. The key finding of the study is that service differentiation is influenced by the ability of the Logistics Service Provider (LSP) to deliver a quality of service in line with the level of importance the various elements hold to the customer. The causal relationships offered a step wise understanding of improving the perceptions of customers. This perception forming process is outlined as follows: Firstly, create a common understanding of the definition of service quality and establish the comparative importance of the various elements. Having an understanding of how customers’ value service quality is a critical first step in delivering superior service. A proposed Service Quality Framework for multi-national Supply Logistics providers in the South African automotive industry Secondly, align efforts to achieve in accordance to the level of importance of the service elements. If this is achieved, LSP’s will retain positive differentiation to its competitors irrespective of the actions of those competitors. Lastly, LSP’s need to regularly review if their own perception of the service level (per element) is in line with that of the customer. The study created a service quality framework of 22 different service elements grouped in four service factors. The relative importance of these elements were uncovered. This offered insight for organizing the business around key service elements. Within Supply Logistics the operational-management-tools, engineering-skills, processes-stability and management-structure are typical elements around which customers form their perceptions. The quality of the direct staff holds the key to sustained customer satisfaction, much more so than the commercial arrangements, industry innovations and the prestige of the brand behind the service. This study laid a foundation from which future research can deeper explore the unique slant that geographical, organisational designation or customer brand lines hold on the service quality perception.

Thesis (MTech (Quality))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011. / This research project in Procurement Quality Engineering was conducted at a Nuclear Power Generation Company in the Western Cape, South Africa. During the past decade, quality management has become increasingly recognised as highly desirable for all organisations at all levels. All organisations, to varied degrees, can benefit from the application of quality management skills in some parts of their daily operations. The research project will investigate the impact or effect of late deliveries of spares on the operational cost of the organisation. The organisation is not aware what impact the delivery of spares has on operating costs. Against the above background, the problem to be researched within the ambit of this dissertation reads as follows: "Poor product and / or service delivery from Vendors and / or Suppliers have an adverse impact on the output of the Procurement Quality Department" .The primary research objectives of this study are the following: ~ To emphasise the importance of quality within the supply chain. ~ To investigate the impact of non-conforming items delivered to a Nuclear Power Plant. ~ To determine measures which can be put in place to improve communication between suppliers, vendors, buyers and procurement quality engineering. ~ To determine or investigate the cost of poor quality in the organisation. ~ To improve the quality of goods and services through the application of a quality management system within the supply chain. The research method used in this research project involved both qualitative and quantitative research processes. Questionnaires and statistical techniques were used to analyse the data, and to draw conclusions and recommend possible areas for improvement. The research methodology falls within the ambit of a case study.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Problems with stock control have arisen since the amalgamation of the four local governments in the Helderberg Basin. Management and control of stock are important as stock is considered as cash. It is therefore necessary that local governments pay attention to the continuous upgrading of existing systems for the purchase and storage of stock as well as the control of it and the facilities. The purpose of stock control is to ensure that the existing stock levels are sufficient to enable the local government to execute its functions effectively. This study points out that problems experienced are minimised and could even be eliminated by applying the JIT (Just-in-Time) principle. Statistics have shown that the JIT principle could be applied with great success within the Helderberg Municipality and that approximately R4,36m could be available for alternative application. For the Helderberg Administration JIT could mean minimising excess stock in such a way that mostly stock items with re-order times of eight weeks will have to be kept in stock. * Since 5 December 2000 the Helderberg Municipality is included in the City of Cape Town and is now known as Helderberg Administation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ná amalgamasie van die vier munisipaliteite in die Helderbergkom word probleme met voorraadbestuur ondervind. Voorraadbestuur is belangrik omdat voorraad as kontant beskou word. Dit is daarom noodsaaklik dat munisipaliteite voortdurend aan die opknapping van bestaande stelsels van voorraadaankope en opberging, asook aan voorraadbeheer en fasiliteite aandag sal skenk. Die doel van voorraadbestuur is om te verseker dat die beskikbare voorraad voldoende is om die plaaslike owerheid in staat te stelom funksies effektief uit te voer. Hierdie navorsing dui daarop dat probleme wat ondervind word, verminder en selfs uitgeskakel sal kan word deur toepassing van die JIT(Just-in-Time)-beginsel. Statistiek dui daarop dat die JIT-beginsel met groot sukses binne die Helderberg Munisipaliteit toegepas sal kan word en ook bykans R4.36m. beskikbaar kan stel vir alternatiewe aanwending. Vir die Helderberg Administrasie kan JIT beteken dat oorbodige voorraad so geminimaliseer word dat meestal voorraaditems met herbesteltye van ag weke in voorraad gehou hoef te word. * Helderberg Munisipaliteit is vanaf 5 Desember 2000 deel van die Munisipaliteit van Stad Kaapstad en staan tans bekend as Helderberg Administrasie.

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