M.Sc. / It is estimated that there are approximately 6.9 million vehicles operating on South African roads, four million (58%) of which represent passenger cars. (Mbendi, 2002a). The number of vehicles operating on national roads increase annually. For motor vehicle engines to perform optimally, among other components, they require engine oil. Nationally in 2002, approximately 40 million litres of motor oil were sold at service station forecourts. For the same period, Gauteng motor oil sales exceeded 17.5 million litres while 76% of these sales occurred in Johannesburg (Maneveld, 2003b). When motor oil is poured into an engine there is always an amount of oil that remains in the container. In this study the author quantifies the amount of unused motor oil that is discarded into the environment via the containers that carry it and makes an assessment of the associated environmental implications. In the South African context, no documented data regarding this problem exists. Chapter one provides the background and motivation to the study, an explicit description of the problem being researched, objectives of the research, the study area and a brief description of the research methodology. This chapter defines the parameters within which the research took place. Chapter two briefly describes the South African oil and lubricants industry. It also focuses on lubricant manufacture, blending, composition, use and properties of lubricants. Chapter three details the research methodology and data collection procedures. This is followed by an analysis of the pilot and main study encompassing statistical interpretation and synthesis. Graphical and photographic illustrations are used. Conclusions were reached on the basis of factual information. Chapter four collates the information from previous chapters, which enables the author to make projections and quantify the amount of unused oil discarded into the environment. An assessment of the associated environmental implications is then determined. In the last chapter, limitations of the study are discussed. This is followed by concluding statements, proposals for further research and recommendations to address the research problem.

by Ha Fu-Lam. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 61-63.

by Yin Wai Yin, Juanna. / Questionnairies in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-108). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Methodology --- p.5 / The Interviews --- p.5 / The Questionnaire Survey --- p.6 / Chapter II. --- BACKGROUND ANALYSIS --- p.7 / The Company --- p.7 / The Royal Dutch/Shell Group --- p.7 / The lubricant division --- p.8 / Willie --- p.9 / The Market --- p.10 / Market Size --- p.10 / For initial fill --- p.10 / For testing purpose --- p.11 / For oil change --- p.11 / Market Share --- p.13 / At the manufacturers' and traders' level --- p.13 / At the end users' level --- p.15 / Hydraulic Oil Distribution Channels --- p.17 / Machine Manufactures' Buying Channels --- p.17 / Traders' Buying Channels --- p.18 / End-users' buying channels --- p.18 / Shell Tellus Hydraulic Oil --- p.19 / Strengths of Shell Tellus Oil --- p.19 / Weaknesses of Shell Tellus Oil --- p.20 / Opportunities of Shell Tellus Oil --- p.21 / Threat of Shell Tellus Oil --- p.21 / Competitors --- p.22 / Strengths of Competitors --- p.22 / Weaknesses of Competitors --- p.23 / Marketing Programs of Competitors --- p.23 / Price of Competitors --- p.24 / The Customer --- p.25 / Who are our customers ？ --- p.25 / Machine Manufacturers (Or called builders by the insider) --- p.25 / Machine Traders --- p.25 / End-users --- p.25 / Purchase Decision --- p.26 / For initial fill --- p.27 / For oil change --- p.27 / Buying Criteria --- p.28 / Machine builders / traders --- p.28 / End-users --- p.28 / Customers' and Non-customers' General Perception --- p.29 / Machine Builders / Traders --- p.29 / End-users --- p.31 / How do customers compare Shell with competitors ？ --- p.32 / Overall impression --- p.32 / Opinions on specific items --- p.32 / Other Environmental Factors --- p.34 / Export --- p.34 / The stagnant plastic industry --- p.35 / The increasing import tax of China --- p.35 / Re-export --- p.37 / Import --- p.37 / Chapter III. --- CHANNEL CONFLICTS --- p.38 / New and Existing Relationships --- p.40 / Relationship Reevaluation Triggers --- p.41 / The role of perceptions and behaviors --- p.41 / Asymmetrical power relationships --- p.42 / Performance of channel members --- p.43 / Goal incongruity --- p.44 / External influences on conflict --- p.44 / Partnership Advantage Evaluation --- p.45 / Marketing enhancements --- p.45 / Cost reductions --- p.46 / "Managing uncertainty (Williamson, 1981)" --- p.46 / "Protection of specific assets (Williamson, 1981)" --- p.47 / Formulating Channel Strategies --- p.47 / Relationship Components --- p.48 / The role of manufacturer - Shell --- p.48 / The role of distributors --- p.49 / The role of account managers --- p.50 / Programs and Action Plans --- p.52 / Essential elements --- p.53 / Capability-building programs --- p.54 / Incentive programs --- p.55 / Measuring Performance --- p.56 / Feedback --- p.57 / Chapter IV. --- THE MARKETING PLAN --- p.58 / Marketing Objectives --- p.59 / Product --- p.60 / Objectives --- p.60 / Strategy --- p.60 / The product itself --- p.60 / The services --- p.62 / Price --- p.63 / Objective --- p.63 / Strategy --- p.63 / Price setting --- p.63 / Reselling price control --- p.64 / Place --- p.65 / Objectives --- p.65 / Strategy --- p.65 / Promotion --- p.66 / Objectives --- p.66 / Strategies --- p.66 / Advertising --- p.67 / Sales promotion --- p.68 / Public relations --- p.69 / Chapter V. --- CONCLUSION --- p.71 / APPENDIX --- p.73 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.106

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the academic requirements for the Masters degree in Technology, Chemistry department, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / The focus of most lubricating grease testing has been based on performance and appearance rather than determining the concentration of chemical components. The primary reason being lubricating grease is a difficult matrix to work with from the perspective of the analytical laboratory. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple, reproducible method for elemental determination in lubricating grease and to apply the developed method to work out a flushing procedure for the filling lines in a grease manufacturing plant. The first part of the experimental work focused on developing a suitable and efficient sample preparation technique. Three techniques were explored: direct dilution, microwave assisted acid digestion and emulsification. Direct dilution involved shear mixing the lubricating grease with metal free base oil and diluting it with an organic solvent. Use of these solvents caused plasma destabilization or even plasma extinction and their use posed health risks for laboratory personnel. Microwave digestion involved mineralising the lubricating grease using an optimised microwave assisted acid digestion procedure. In the third sample preparation technique, microemulsions were formed by mixing the lubricating grease with a relatively small volume of a strong mineral acid mixture followed by the surfactant (triton X-100) at room temperature and pressure (RTP). This approach does not require the destruction of the organic matter or the use of large amounts of organic solvents. For all three techniques the sample was subsequently analysed for Al, B, Ba, Ca, Li, Na, S, Mo and Zn. All analysis was performed using an Optima ICP-OES with previously optimised parameters. The direct dilution method gave the most inconsistent results with relative standard deviation (RSD) as high as 56% for calcium, 79% for boron and 66% for lithium. Microwave digestion and emulsification gave comparable results, with the calibration curves of oil emulsions not differing significantly from aqueous ones. For microwave assisted acid digestion the limits of detection ranged from 0.028 mg/L for sodium to 0.255 mg/L for boron. Correlation coefficient values (r2) of all the elements were greater than 0.99. Likewise the limits of detection for emulsification ranged from 0.03 mg/L for aluminium to 0.37 mg/L for sulphur. The correlation coefficients for all the elements were greater than 0.99 and this indicates that the calibration curves were sufficient for analysing the digested grease samples. Five quality assurance samples were analysed using both methods and in addition a t-test performed at the 99.9% confidence level and 4 degrees of freedom showed that the two sample preparation techniques gave similar results. Emulsification has several advantages over microwave digestion technique and superior analytical performance over direct sample dilution using solvents, and hence was chosen as the method of choice for routine analysis of lubricating grease. The second part of the experimental work focused on developing a flushing procedure for filling lines in a lubricating grease plant. A flushing procedure is essential in order to minimise waste, which will in turn minimise production costs and avoids incurring disposal costs. In this series of experiments, the microwave digestion sample preparation technique was utilised for the subsequent determination of the flushing mass required in between product changes. The flushing procedure was implemented and monitored by the use of statistical quality control tools for a specified period of time, and as indicated by Shewart Control charts, the process was in statistical control.