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.

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.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / ABSTRACT Supply chain management, is the active management of supply chain activities to maximise customer value and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. It represents a conscious effort by the supply chain firms to develop and run supply chains in the most effective and efficient ways possible. Supply chain activities cover everything from product development, sourcing, production, and logistics, as well as the information systems needed to coordinate these activities. Currently, supply chain management has evolved into a complex system where there is a need for redesign and integration into the corporate strategy for strategic fit. The study focuses on: • establishing and analysing corporate strategies used by select FMCGs in KZN South Africa; • examining the challenges impacting on achieving competitive advantage; and • determining performance measures for ensuring consistency between customer satisfaction and the supply chain capabilities (strategic fit). The study followed an exploratory case study design and employed a descriptive, evaluative quantitative analysis method. The results showed that across supply chain companies, the ultimate goal of integration has still to be achieved. There is a lack of trust and companies operate in separate silos. A major recommendation is that supply companies should revisit their supply chain designs to synchronise with intra-intercompany integration built on achieving competitiveness and sustainable profitability through incremental continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. The study concluded that it is imperative that all the elements of McKinsey’s 7- s resource capability model stay interconnected as a web to ensure the successful implementation of integration for strategic fit and superior business performance / D

Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / The aim of this research project was to study the basic understanding the decision makers of construction companies in KwaZulu-Natal had of the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) initiative. This initiative has evolved from its origins as a form of affirmative action in the early 1990s into the broad-based initiative embodied in the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act promulgated in 2003 and gazetted in 2007. Research was conducted using a questionnaire to assess the targeted population’s understanding of BBBEE. A census of the 259 construction companies affiliated with the KwaZulu-Natal Master Builders Association (NMBA) at the time of the research was used. The questionnaire was distributed primarily by email and the returns were assessed using statistical methods. The results were also tested as a cross-tabulation based on the demographics and the BBBEE rating of the respondents. The findings showed that although most of the respondents knew about the BBBEE initiative and indicated a level of understanding of this policy, certain of their perceived understandings were misguided. The way in which the Act was intended to be implemented and was intended to benefit those who were previously disadvantaged had been misread by all parties. The way in which the government has rolled out its BBBEE initiative has not been effective. This needs to be addressed by both training and partnering with those SMMEs that can most effect change to implement the Act. This study only scratched the surface of the effects the BBBEE legislation will have on small to medium-sized businesses. It has highlighted the need for further research into both the trickle-down effect of this initiative and into the availability of skilled personnel to grow the economy in the way the BBBEE Act intended.

The performance of small businesses contribute substantially to the South African economy. In recent years the South African Government has prioritised the development of township retail industries by implementing numerous initiatives. The primary objective of this study was to determine how formal independent small retail businesses in Soweto manage their logistical supply chain drivers, namely facilities, inventory and transportation, in terms of responsiveness and cost-efficiency in order to survive. The logistical supply chain drivers should not only be managed as a cohesive unit, but also be aligned with the orientation of the selected supply chain strategy, in terms of responsiveness and cost-efficiency. During 2014, a quantitative survey was conducted among 650 formal independent small Sowetan businesses of which the responses of 556 retailers were analysed in terms of responsiveness and cost-efficiency. The study also investigated the role of the relevant industry group in the management of the logistical supply chain drivers by the business owners. The data was analysed and tested by the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Pearson Chi-square test and factor analyses were performed. Two binary logistic regression models were developed to determine the influence of the management of the logistical supply chain drivers on the small retailers’ odds of survival. The results showed that the small retailers manage facilities and inventory focused more towards responsiveness, whereas transportation is managed focused on either cost-efficiency or responsiveness. The study concluded that age and growth in income can predict the odds of survival for small businesses. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)