Consulting Engineers worldwide, and in South Africa, render a professional service to clients consisting of project feasibility studies, planning reports, design, documentation and construction monitoring for infrastructure projects. In rendering this service, consulting engineers are subject to certain project risks that can have a huge influence on their company’s success and hence their profitability. Quality Management is an instrument through which the risks associated with consulting engineering can be mitigated to a certain degree, if a Quality Management System (QMS) is successfully introduced and continuously managed. The QMS must conform to the requirements of a recognized system like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and in this particular case ISO 9001, which is a model for quality assurance systems in design, development, production, installation and servicing. The quality system requirements of ISO 9001 are aimed at preventing nonconformity at all phases of the product life cycle from design and/or development to servicing. The study was carried out by obtaining a convenience sample of qualitative questionnaires among professional civil engineers in consulting management positions, testing their experience of a QMS. This study has indicated that a QMS can only be successful in a company if the users have a positive attitude towards the system, and if they believe in the benefits thereof. It is therefore required that the system be launched and maintained in a user-friendly manner, with the emphasis on real risk-reducing aspects. As one of the requirements of ISO 9001 is continuous improvement of the system, recommendations are made in this study towards improving the QMS of the particular company. The influence of a QMS on the frequency and extent of Professional Indemnity cases against a company was investigated and reported on by studying 20 case studies of projects that have experienced difficulties, and have resulted in lawsuits against the consulting engineer. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Consulting Engineers worldwide, and in South Africa, render a professional service to clients consisting of project feasibility studies, planning reports, design, documentation and construction monitoring for infrastructure projects. In rendering this service, consulting engineers are subject to certain project risks that can have a huge influence on their company’s success and hence their profitability. Quality Management is an instrument through which the risks associated with consulting engineering can be mitigated to a certain degree, if a Quality Management System (QMS) is successfully introduced and continuously managed. The QMS must conform to the requirements of a recognized system like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and in this particular case ISO 9001, which is a model for quality assurance systems in design, development, production, installation and servicing. The quality system requirements of ISO 9001 are aimed at preventing nonconformity at all phases of the product life cycle from design and/or development to servicing. The study was carried out by obtaining a convenience sample of qualitative questionnaires among professional civil engineers in consulting management positions, testing their experience of a QMS. This study has indicated that a QMS can only be successful in a company if the users have a positive attitude towards the system, and if they believe in the benefits thereof. It is therefore required that the system be launched and maintained in a user-friendly manner, with the emphasis on real risk-reducing aspects. As one of the requirements of ISO 9001 is continuous improvement of the system, recommendations are made in this study towards improving the QMS of the particular company. The influence of a QMS on the frequency and extent of Professional Indemnity cases against a company was investigated and reported on by studying 20 case studies of projects that have experienced difficulties, and have resulted in lawsuits against the consulting engineer. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The current state of Ontario???s electricity system and natural environment has prompted the provincial government to call for the province to adopt a ???culture of conservation.??? Answering this call will involve the promotion of a variety of solutions. Included in that will be the use of information and communication technology, which encompasses technologies such as home energy management system (HEMS). It is believed that the feedback and home automation features of the HEMS will enable its users to alter their electricity consumption behaviours, via net reductions and/or load shifting. This study has assessed the ability of HEMS to encourage reduction in total and on-peak electricity consumption while in a time-of-use pricing environment. Additional focus was on which consumers had the greatest success using the HEMS to adopt electricity conservation behaviours. Two hundred and sixteen participants of a Milton, Ontario HEMS pilot study were chosen to take part in this case study. These participants were divided into two equal groups: a sample group, those who received a HEMS, and a control group, those who did not receive a HEMS. Participants from both groups were asked to complete two surveys and allow their electricity consumption data to be analyzed. The initial survey was to establish some baseline information about the participants. The second survey was designed to determine if changes had occurred in the household since the initial baseline survey. Through the analysis of the survey and households electricity consumption data, conclusions were drawn on how participants used the HEMS. The study had a 2.9% relative reduction in total electricity consumption and a 13.2% relative reduction in on-peak electricity consumption. However, additional analysis of the results revealed promising findings with regard to the HEMS ability to catalyze conservation and demand management among recent time-of-use pricing adopters.

Performance management at all levels of employees within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) is a key challenge, currently only applicable to senior managers. The employer was proactive in introducing the Ekurhuleni Excellence Awards to the gap that is created by the legislation, but the effort seems not to be working as employees do not understand the criteria that are used for nominations. The empirical study entailed 54 respondents who completed the questionnaire, in five different departments which are Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Administration. In this study, the Performance Management System (PMS) of the EMM was analysed, and the biggest challenge being faced by the EMM is the inability of the EMM to address staff retention (at 57%) and succession when employees leave the EMM (at 62%). The two challenges identified by the study are most crucial for the success of the PMS. The PMS of municipalities is legislated by different Acts, and in order to address service delivery challenges, the Acts need to be reviewed to include all levels of employees. National and Provincial Government have implemented the PMS so that municipalities, as another sphere of Government, will improve service delivery as well as employee motivation. The EMM senior managers, together with the Human Resources department, should craft a strategy or action for the future in order to successfully cascade the PMS to other levels of employees. The EMM Performance Management Policy that is currently operational is in line with the Municipal Regulation no. R805, so the Policy complies fully with the legislation. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

Performance management at all levels of employees within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) is a key challenge, currently only applicable to senior managers. The employer was proactive in introducing the Ekurhuleni Excellence Awards to the gap that is created by the legislation, but the effort seems not to be working as employees do not understand the criteria that are used for nominations. The empirical study entailed 54 respondents who completed the questionnaire, in five different departments which are Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal and Administration. In this study, the Performance Management System (PMS) of the EMM was analysed, and the biggest challenge being faced by the EMM is the inability of the EMM to address staff retention (at 57%) and succession when employees leave the EMM (at 62%). The two challenges identified by the study are most crucial for the success of the PMS. The PMS of municipalities is legislated by different Acts, and in order to address service delivery challenges, the Acts need to be reviewed to include all levels of employees. National and Provincial Government have implemented the PMS so that municipalities, as another sphere of Government, will improve service delivery as well as employee motivation. The EMM senior managers, together with the Human Resources department, should craft a strategy or action for the future in order to successfully cascade the PMS to other levels of employees. The EMM Performance Management Policy that is currently operational is in line with the Municipal Regulation no. R805, so the Policy complies fully with the legislation. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

Today, companies face a variety of environmental challenges, especially when it comes to evaluating energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact. This thesis examines how environmental management systems affects energy efficiency, and if it could contribute to sustainable development and increase corporate social responsibility. A case study research method was conducted on a multinational company and the empirical material is collected from the company's operations in China. The theoretical framework includes sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and environmental management systems. The results provide a model of calculation, in order to evaluate how the environmental management system affects energy efficiency. The analysis shows that the environmental management system has contributed to CSR practices in supporting the organization with guidelines toward continuous improvement of environmental impact, increased personal knowledge and some changes of production equipment. This has lead to that the case study company has managed to increase energy efficiency with respect to all energy sources, except water. / Företag stöter på allt fler utmaningar inom miljöområdet och inte minst när det gäller att utvärdera energianvändning och minimera miljöpåverkan. Denna uppsats handlar om hur miljöledningssystemet påverkar energieffektivitet samt om det kan bidra till en hållbar utveckling och kan leda till ett ökat samhällsansvar. Metodiken utgörs av en fallstudie på ett multinationellt företag, och det empiriska materialet är hämtat från en av koncernens fabriker i Kina. Det teoretiska ramverket omfattar huvudsakligen följande tre konsept: hållbar utveckling, företags samhällsansvar samt miljöledningssystem. Uppsatsen resulterar i ett förslag på beräkningsmodell för att utvärdera hur miljöledningssystemet har påverkat energieffektiviteten. Denna modell samt vilka faktorer som ligger bakom förändringar i energieffektivitet analyseras genom det empiriska materialet. Slutsatsen är att fallstudieföretaget har, genom ökad personalträning och uppgraderad produktionsanläggning, lyckats att öka energieffektiviteten med avseende på alla energikällor förutom vatten. / 企业面临更多的挑战在环境领域，尤其当涉及到评估能源使用，并尽量减少对环境的影响。这份报告是关于如何管理环境影响能源效率，这有助于实现可持续发展，并可能导致更大的社会责任。使用的方法是多的国际企业的案例研究和实证材料取自该公司在中国的业务。该理论框架包括可持续发展，企业社会责任和环境管理。论文导致提出的模型计算来评估环境管理体系影响能源效率。这种模式的背后改变能源效率的因素是由经验材料进行分析。得出的结论是，案例研究公司，通过增加人员培训和升级生产设施，管理，以提高能源利用效率相对于除水以外的所有来源。

Univ., Diss.--Bamberg,, 2003.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1992. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [281]-295).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-12-11Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:34:08Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 serra_jr_me_bauru.pdf: 417392 bytes, checksum: 082a2790e1d1266b3a4c9aeb22cb7a1b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar e analisar os benefícios e dificuldades da gestão ambiental em empresas industriais certificadas segundo a norma ISO 14001 no Estado de São Paulo. Para realização deste estudo adotou-se a pesquisa qualitativa complementada pela pesquisa quantitativa, tendo como base a realização de um estudo de caso com função exploratória, por permitir uma visão geral referente a determinado fato e possibilitar a apreensão da experiência, sua relação com referências teóricas e compreensão de outras situações significativas. O estudo de caso foi realizado em uma empresa de baterias automotivas localizada no município de Bauru, SP, com um sistema de gestão ambiental tendo como base a norma ISO 14001 implantado em 2005. A realização do estudo de caso permitiu verificar os vários benefícios obtidos com essa implantação, representados principalmente por aumento da demanda e redução da poluição ambiental. Uma das dificuldades na gestão do SGA é proveniente do aumento de custos, de um modo geral, para a empresa. A pesquisa quantitativa foi realizada por meio de survey com uso de questionário enviado pela Internet para empresas do Estado de São Paulo, certificadas pela norma ISO 14001, com apoio do site da Faculdade de Engenharia de Produção, UNESP - Bauru. Antes do envio, foram feitos contatos por telefone com as pessoas responsáveis pelo SGA nas organizações. As perguntas foram elaboradas de acordo com a escala de Likert, que permitiu medir o grau de concordância ou discordância em relação às afirmações sobre os benefícios e dificuldades apresentadas na gestão da ISO 14001. O número de empresas que respondeu o questionário representou 35,6% do total das certificadas e atendeu as estimativas da amostra. Os resultados das pesquisas mostraram que as hipóteses sobre os benefícios e dificuldades. Os resultados das pesquisas... / The objective of this work is to identify and to analyze the benefits and difficulties of the environmental management in certified industrial companies according to the norm ISO 14001 in the state of São Paulo. For accomplishment of this study the qualitative research was adopted complemented by the quantitative research, tends as base the accomplishment of a case study with exploratory function, for to allow a general vision regarding certain fact and to make possible the apprehension of the experience, your relationship with theoretical references and understanding of other significant situations. The case study was accomplished in a company of automotive batteries located in the city of Bauru, SP, with an environmental management system tends as base the norm ISO 14001 implanted in 2005. The accomplishment of the case study allowed to verify the several benefits obtained with that implantation, represented mainly by increase of the demand and reduction of the environmental pollution. One of the difficulties in the management of SGA is originating from the increase of costs, in a general way, for the company. The quantitative research was accomplished through survey with questionnaire use sent by internet for companies of the state of São Paulo, certified for the norm ISO 14001, with support of the site of University of Engineering of Production, UNESP - Bauru. Before the sending, they were made contacts by telephone with the responsible people for SGA in the organizations. The questions were elaborated in agreement with the scale of Likert, that allowed to measure the agreement degree or disagreement in relation to the statements about the benefits and difficulties present in the management of ISO 14001. The number of companies that answered the questionnaire represented 35,6% of the total of the certified ones and he/she assisted the estimates of the sample. The results of the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-04-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:29:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ranzani_c_me_bauru.pdf: 2094729 bytes, checksum: c210f6a979b7defe9f252348fef04a1c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Para que as organizações sejam competitivas e aumentem as chances de sobrevivência no mercado competitivo, é necessária a gestão do processo produtivo cada vez mais eficiente. Nesta gestão são utilizados sistemas focados em qualidade, meio ambiente, segurança e saúde no trabalho, entre outros. A integração desses sistemas otimizam recursos, processos e melhoram a imagem da organização, influenciando, assim, a lucratividade. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo formular diretrizes para o planejamento e implementação de sistema de gestão integrada em empresas da construção civil. Para a elaboração deste trabalho, foi adotada a pesquisa qualitativa, exploratória, bibliográfica com a realização de dois estudos de caso sobre os elementos do sistema de gestão integrada de duas construtoras certificadas em ISO 9001, ISO 4001 e OHSAS 18001 fazendo com que o pesquisador, se ambiente ao universo de estudo. Um referencial teórico foi apresentado sobre as características do processo produtivo, sistema de gestão da qualidade, meio ambiente, saúde e segurança no trabalho e integração desses. Conclui-se que, o objetivo traçado, foi devidamente alcançado, pois foram apresentados os elementos do sistema de gestão integrada nas duas construtoras, sendo identificadas as boas práticas e pode-se propor, diretrizes para o planejamento e implamentação do sistema de gestão integrada em empresas da construção civil / To ensure that organizations are competitive and increase the changes of survival in competitive market, it is necessary to management of the productive process ever more efficiently. This management systems are used raised in quality, environment, health and safety at work, among others. The integration of these systems optimize resources, process, and improve the image of the organization, influencing, thus, the profitability. This dissertation has like objetctive, formulate guidelines for the planning and implementation of integrated management system in civil construction companies. For this work was adopted the qualitative research, exploratory, bibliographic with the achievement of two case studies about the elements of the integrated management system of two construction companies certifieds in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 making the researcher, environment the universe of study. A theoretical reference was presented about the characteristics of the production process, a system of quality management, environment, health and safety at work and integration of these. It concludes that, the outlined objective was duly achieved, because the elements of integrated management system were submitted in the two construction companies, being identified the good practices and could propose, guidelines for the planning and implementation of integrated management system in civil construction companies