This dissertation scrutinises the impact of pregnancy challenges on the mining industry, taking the right of equality and unfair discrimination into consideration. Pre-employment pregnancy testing is an acceptable practice within the current legal framework whereby the MHSA and section 26 of the BCEA place an obligation on the employer to protect employees before and after the birth of a child. This section provides that no work may be performed by an employee that is hazardous to her health or the health of her unborn child. The dissertation synthesises and reviews the practical implications of pregnancy and related challenges of underground employees and all the problems surrounding this matter are dissected. The liability of the employer and the failure of the employee to report her pregnancy status to the employer as soon as she becomes aware of it, can be justifiably treated as misconduct. The justification of the dismissal of an underground employee based on pregnancy is confirmed in light of the legislative obligations placed on the employer. Current legislative measures, which justify an automatically unfair dismissal due to pregnancy, cannot be implemented without considering the Constitution and the employers’ right to economical sustainability. A literature study will be done using current and relevant sources such as books, legislation, court decisions, conference papers and journal articles. Methodological issues will also render it necessary to weigh up different rights through literature sources. / Thesis (LLM (Labour Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

This dissertation scrutinises the impact of pregnancy challenges on the mining industry, taking the right of equality and unfair discrimination into consideration. Pre-employment pregnancy testing is an acceptable practice within the current legal framework whereby the MHSA and section 26 of the BCEA place an obligation on the employer to protect employees before and after the birth of a child. This section provides that no work may be performed by an employee that is hazardous to her health or the health of her unborn child. The dissertation synthesises and reviews the practical implications of pregnancy and related challenges of underground employees and all the problems surrounding this matter are dissected. The liability of the employer and the failure of the employee to report her pregnancy status to the employer as soon as she becomes aware of it, can be justifiably treated as misconduct. The justification of the dismissal of an underground employee based on pregnancy is confirmed in light of the legislative obligations placed on the employer. Current legislative measures, which justify an automatically unfair dismissal due to pregnancy, cannot be implemented without considering the Constitution and the employers’ right to economical sustainability. A literature study will be done using current and relevant sources such as books, legislation, court decisions, conference papers and journal articles. Methodological issues will also render it necessary to weigh up different rights through literature sources. / Thesis (LLM (Labour Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Human Resource personnel as part of their daily jobs provide a service to other employees within a mining industry. These service workers may experience dissonance between their actual feelings and the feelings they are expected to display. For these service workers to be more engaged at work, emotional intelligence and social support is vital. If these factors are not in place, their well-being may be in jeopardy. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence, Well-being and Social Support of service workers in a human resource field within a mining industry. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population (n = 229) consisted of human resource personnel in the Limpopo and North West Province. The Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale (GEIS), Frankfurt Emotion Work Scales, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Social Support Scale, as well as a biographical questionnaire, were used as measuring instruments. Cronbach alpha coefficients, factor analysis, inter-item correlation coefficients, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. An analysis of the data indicated that correlations between the following constructs are statistically and practically significant. The results show that Positive Display is statistically and positively practically significantly related (medium effect) to Interaction Control. Caring/Empathy is positively practically significantly related to Positive Display (medium effect). Furthermore the Control of Emotions (medium effect) and Emotion Management (large effect) are both positively practically significantly related to Caring/Empathy. Emotional Resilience however is negatively practically significantly related to Caring and Empathy (medium effect). Emotion Expression Recognition is positively practically significantly related to Control of Emotion (medium effect). However, both Exhaustion (medium effect) and Emotional Resilience (medium effect) are negatively practically significantly related to Control of Emotions. Engagement is positively practically significant (medium effect) to Emotion Management. Emotion Resilience (medium effect) positively correlates with Exhaustion while Engagement (medium effect) negatively correlates with Exhaustion. Engagement positively practically correlates with Resilience (medium effect). Social Support of both supervisor and co-workers positively relates to engagement to a medium effect. Principal component analysis performed on the GEIS resulted in a four-factor solution. The first factor was Caring and Empathy, which includes the willingness of an individual to help other people and understand others' feelings. The second factor was Control of Emotion, which is the ability of the individual to control and regulate emotions within themselves and others. Emotion Expression/Recognition, which is the ability of the individual to express and recognise his or her own emotional reactions, was the third factor, and the fourth was Emotion Management, which is the ability of an individual to process emotional information with regard to perception, assimilation, understanding and management of emotions. All four factors correlate with that of the GEIS originally developed by Tsaousis (2007) and accounted for 31% of the total variance in emotional intelligence. A Multiple Regression Analysis with Exhaustion as dependent variable was carried out. The results show that Emotion Work factors accounted for 2% of the total variance and Emotional Intelligence factors for 12% of the total variance. More specifically it seems that the lack of Caring and Empathy and Emotion Management predicted Exhaustion in this regard. However, when Emotional Intelligence factors were entered into the model, an increase of 10% variance was shown of the variance explained in Exhaustion. Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence and Social Support predicted 14% of the variance explained in the level of Exhaustion by participants. A Multiple Regression analysis with Emotional Resilience as dependent variable was carried out. The results show that Emotion Work factors accounted for 6% of the total variance. More specifically; it seems that Dissonance predicted the level of Emotional Resilience. When Emotional Intelligence factors were entered into the model, an increase of 15% was shown. Caring and Empathy and Control of Emotions predicted Emotional Intelligence the best. Lastly, when Social Support factors were entered into the regression analysis, the variance explained showed an increase of 5%. Support of Family and Others predicted Emotional Resilience the best. In total, Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence and Social Support factors explained 20% of the variance in Emotional Resilience. A Multiple Regression Analysis with Engagement as dependent variable with Emotion Work factors, Emotional Intelligence factors and Social Support as predictors of Engagement was done. Entry of Emotion Work factors at the first step of the regression analysis did not produce a statistically significant model and only accounted for 1% of the variance. However, when Emotional Intelligence factors were entered in the second step of the analysis, it accounted for approximately 7% of the variance. More specifically, it seems that Caring and Empathy predicted Engagement. When Social Support factors were entered into the third step of the analysis, an increase of 27% was found. All the Social Support factors (Social Support of Family and Others, Supervisors and Co-workers) accounted for 27% of the variance explained in Engagement. Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence and Social Support predicted 33% of the total variance explained in the level of Engagement. Limitations within the study were identified, and recommendations were made for human resource personnel in a mining industry, as well as for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Human Resource personnel as part of their daily jobs provide a service to other employees within a mining industry. These service workers may experience dissonance between their actual feelings and the feelings they are expected to display. For these service workers to be more engaged at work, emotional intelligence and social support is vital. If these factors are not in place, their well-being may be in jeopardy. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence, Well-being and Social Support of service workers in a human resource field within a mining industry. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population (n = 229) consisted of human resource personnel in the Limpopo and North West Province. The Greek Emotional Intelligence Scale (GEIS), Frankfurt Emotion Work Scales, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Social Support Scale, as well as a biographical questionnaire, were used as measuring instruments. Cronbach alpha coefficients, factor analysis, inter-item correlation coefficients, Pearson product moment correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data. An analysis of the data indicated that correlations between the following constructs are statistically and practically significant. The results show that Positive Display is statistically and positively practically significantly related (medium effect) to Interaction Control. Caring/Empathy is positively practically significantly related to Positive Display (medium effect). Furthermore the Control of Emotions (medium effect) and Emotion Management (large effect) are both positively practically significantly related to Caring/Empathy. Emotional Resilience however is negatively practically significantly related to Caring and Empathy (medium effect). Emotion Expression Recognition is positively practically significantly related to Control of Emotion (medium effect). However, both Exhaustion (medium effect) and Emotional Resilience (medium effect) are negatively practically significantly related to Control of Emotions. Engagement is positively practically significant (medium effect) to Emotion Management. Emotion Resilience (medium effect) positively correlates with Exhaustion while Engagement (medium effect) negatively correlates with Exhaustion. Engagement positively practically correlates with Resilience (medium effect). Social Support of both supervisor and co-workers positively relates to engagement to a medium effect. Principal component analysis performed on the GEIS resulted in a four-factor solution. The first factor was Caring and Empathy, which includes the willingness of an individual to help other people and understand others' feelings. The second factor was Control of Emotion, which is the ability of the individual to control and regulate emotions within themselves and others. Emotion Expression/Recognition, which is the ability of the individual to express and recognise his or her own emotional reactions, was the third factor, and the fourth was Emotion Management, which is the ability of an individual to process emotional information with regard to perception, assimilation, understanding and management of emotions. All four factors correlate with that of the GEIS originally developed by Tsaousis (2007) and accounted for 31% of the total variance in emotional intelligence. A Multiple Regression Analysis with Exhaustion as dependent variable was carried out. The results show that Emotion Work factors accounted for 2% of the total variance and Emotional Intelligence factors for 12% of the total variance. More specifically it seems that the lack of Caring and Empathy and Emotion Management predicted Exhaustion in this regard. However, when Emotional Intelligence factors were entered into the model, an increase of 10% variance was shown of the variance explained in Exhaustion. Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence and Social Support predicted 14% of the variance explained in the level of Exhaustion by participants. A Multiple Regression analysis with Emotional Resilience as dependent variable was carried out. The results show that Emotion Work factors accounted for 6% of the total variance. More specifically; it seems that Dissonance predicted the level of Emotional Resilience. When Emotional Intelligence factors were entered into the model, an increase of 15% was shown. Caring and Empathy and Control of Emotions predicted Emotional Intelligence the best. Lastly, when Social Support factors were entered into the regression analysis, the variance explained showed an increase of 5%. Support of Family and Others predicted Emotional Resilience the best. In total, Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence and Social Support factors explained 20% of the variance in Emotional Resilience. A Multiple Regression Analysis with Engagement as dependent variable with Emotion Work factors, Emotional Intelligence factors and Social Support as predictors of Engagement was done. Entry of Emotion Work factors at the first step of the regression analysis did not produce a statistically significant model and only accounted for 1% of the variance. However, when Emotional Intelligence factors were entered in the second step of the analysis, it accounted for approximately 7% of the variance. More specifically, it seems that Caring and Empathy predicted Engagement. When Social Support factors were entered into the third step of the analysis, an increase of 27% was found. All the Social Support factors (Social Support of Family and Others, Supervisors and Co-workers) accounted for 27% of the variance explained in Engagement. Emotion Work, Emotional Intelligence and Social Support predicted 33% of the total variance explained in the level of Engagement. Limitations within the study were identified, and recommendations were made for human resource personnel in a mining industry, as well as for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

The main question posed in this study is: How do black mineworkers in the goldmining industry conceptualise and experience fatherhood in present-day South Africa? The following four subsidiary research questions were formulated to address this: * How do the respondents characterise fatherhood? * What are the respondents' own recollections of being fathered? * How do migrant and resident respondents' experiences of fatherhood differ? * What influence do biological mothers or female partners have on father-child relationships as described by the respondents? The scripting perspective chosen underscores this study because it is a multilevel approach that takes the fathers' social milieu into account without ignoring their agency. This perspective focuses on three levels - cultural scenarios, interpersonal and intrapsychic scripting. During 2002 a qualitative study was undertaken by way of in-depth interviews conducted with 30 respondents, with ten being re-interviewed in 2003. These interviews were augmented with general observations and fact-finding interviews conducted with key informants. In terms of the first research question regarding the way in which the respondents characterise fatherhood, it was found that the breadwinner role is salient. However, traces of patriarchy and the so-called "new fatherhood" are often intertwined with the economic aspect of fatherhood. The respondents' own recollections of being fathered were found to include a stern disciplinarian pattern ("father is like a lion"), a "bad fatherhood" pattern and a "good fatherhood" pattern. Resident respondents related more involvement with their children compared with migrant respondents, although varying degrees of distant and involved fatherhood could be detected amongst the migrant respondents. Resident respondents conveyed active involvement in father-child activities such as giving guidance to children and playing with them. Some respondents have little contact with those children they fathered with a woman other than their current partner. Female partners tend to hinder any type of relationship with children born as a result of adulterous relationships but children born from previous relationships may be taken care of. However, respondents who openly stated double standards regarding sexual practices for men and women tend to take care of all their biological children and show little concern for their wives' views. / Sociology / D. Litt et Phil (Sociology)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Business competitiveness is increasingly linked to a sustainability-oriented management. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of sustainability-oriented management in the Brazilian mining industry. Sustainability-oriented management was analyzed under two perspectives. First, we tried to identify the conditions that favor the integration of sustainability in the business strategy from the model of Lacy et al. (2010). Next, we analyzed the sustainability-oriented management practices based on the ten principles of sustainable growth in the mining industry defined by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM, 2008). Business performance was evaluated based on performance indicators proposed by the Global Reporting Initiative GRI (2006, 2010b). The study was performed in two different methodological steps. The first phase of the study was characterized as qualitative and was conducted based on exploratory interviews with three companies in the mining industry in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Minas Gerais. The results of this phase indicated that, in the analyzed companies, the integration of sustainability with the strategy is still a recent concern and is targeted primarily to meeting legal requirements. We can noticed a greater targeting of the companies analyzed in respect to the adoption of social management practices. The environmental management practices seek to basically meet the legal and market requirements. We further observed that there is no standardization or consolidation regarding the use of indicators for performance evaluation and dissemination of social and environmental actions of companies in the mining industry. The second stage of the study was characterized as quantitative and included carrying out a survey to examine the relationship between the adoption of management practices for sustainability and business performance. Overall, we found that there are positive associations between factors related to management practices for sustainability and business performance. Comparing the larger and smaller companies, it was not possible to find differences in the number of associations, however differences were found in the types of associated factors. / A competitividade empresarial está cada vez mais relacionada a uma gestão orientada para a sustentabilidade. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a influência da gestão para a sustentabilidade no desempenho em empresas do setor mineral brasileiro. A gestão para a sustentabilidade foi analisada sob duas perspectivas. Primeiramente, buscou-se identificar as condições que favorecem a integração da sustentabilidade à estratégia organizacional a partir do modelo de Lacy et al. (2010). A seguir, foram analisadas as práticas de gestão para a sustentabilidade, com base nos dez princípios para o desenvolvimento sustentável na indústria mineral definidos pelo International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM, 2008). O desempenho empresarial foi avaliado a partir dos indicadores de desempenho propostos pelo Global Reporting Initiative - GRI (2006, 2010b). O estudo foi realizado em duas fases metodologicamente distintas. A primeira fase do estudo caracterizou-se como qualitativa e foi conduzida a partir da realização de entrevistas exploratórias com três empresas do setor mineral dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e Minas Gerais. Os resultados dessa fase permitiram concluir que, nas empresas analisadas, a integração da sustentabilidade com a estratégia ainda se trata de uma preocupação recente e orientada primordialmente para o atendimento das exigências legais. Percebeu-se um maior direcionamento das empresas analisadas no que se refere à adoção de práticas de gestão social. As práticas de gestão ambiental adotadas buscam basicamente atender aos requisitos legais e às exigências mercadológicas. Constatou-se ainda que não há padronização e consolidação com relação ao uso de indicadores para avaliação do desempenho e divulgação das ações socioambientais nas empresas do setor mineral. A segunda etapa do estudo caracterizou-se como quantitativa e compreendeu a realização de uma pesquisa survey a fim de analisar a relação entre a adoção de práticas de gestão para a sustentabilidade e o desempenho empresarial. De modo geral, verificou-se que existem associações positivas entre alguns dos fatores relacionados às práticas de gestão para a sustentabilidade e o desempenho empresarial. Na comparação entre as empresas de maior e menor porte, não foi possível verificar diferenças no número de associações, contudo foram encontradas diferenças nos tipos de fatores associados.

In choosing the subject of this degree work I was led by the effort to give an exhaustive integral report on the development in the sphere of the social and health care and to analyze the facilities for social sevices in the region of Příbram. As it is not possible to evaluate the facilities for social services without the description of basic historical events, of current demographic indexes and without the indication of the future development, the historical part together with the specification of particular groups threatened with social exclusion (seniors and handicapped people) forms an indispensable chapter of the theoretical part of this degree work. In connection with the fact that the region of Příbram is a specific industrial locality with signs of changes in the original structure of the population, it is possible to state that the people moved herein show less family solidarity and unity with each other. For that reason more facilities for social services are at disposal in this region. It is the unity care service rendered not only in own homes but directly in the houses of the clients as well, that has the oldest tradition among all providers The family nursing care rendered by one of two organizations has already the tradition of more than 15 years too. As to the care of seniors, the most significant provider that is the allowance organization "Pečovatelská služba města Příbram". This organization offers field care service and runs the home for seniors.The service, that supports especially the security of the seniors in their households, that is AREÍON-Život 90 with about 50-60 clients.A great advantage is also the fact that a part of providers of social and associated services have the seat at the same place, in the Community Centre. As to the care of handicapped people the strongest point are the family care CHOPS and SANCO, the field care service and other services rendered by "Pečovatelská služba města Příbram", the activities of unions and organizations associating handicapped people, assistance services and consultancy, community centre Příbram VII, day centre in the town nursery school and in the rehabilitation short stay hospital It is not simple to prognosticate further development as to rendering social services a relatively active social policy on the local level and a large extent of collaboration among particular groups of those, who provide social services, are promising and hopeful for the future.An important role will play the fact whether these organizations will obtain sufficient financial means needed for ensuring the services, they offer, within the sphere of multisorce financing. The demand for services and staffs meeting the requirements fixed by the Act on social services will be of great importance too.

In 1946 a rich gold reef was discovered on the farm Geduld in the vicinity of Odendaalsrus and approximately 3 miles (4, 8 km) from the town. At that stage it was recognised as the richest gold reef in the world. The discovery led to further and progressive explorations in the Goldfields and finally resulted in the coming of many people to settle in the area. As the mining sector developed, the need for certain infrastructure on socio-economic and the social precinct had deepened. The proceeding development of the mining sector had led to the establishment of Welkom, because Odendaalsrus could not comply with the expectations of mining magnates like Ernest Oppenheimer. Consequently, the establishment and layout of Welkom made provision for such requirements like infrastructure, etc. Likewise, with the surrounding mining industry of Anglo-American, Welkom had become the metropolis in the Goldfields. Thereby equal to the mining industry, secondary industry developed on an increasing scale in the Goldfields. Odendaalsrus played on the other hand an important role in the emergence and developing processes of the Dutch Reformed Churches, since the Volksraad of the O.F.S. gave distinct consent on the 26 April 1899 for the layout of the town on the farm of Kalkkuil. Inclusively, the founding and development of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika), also started with their church activities during the early years of the gold discovery near Odendaalsrus. None the less, the Reformed Church of South Africa (Ned. Hervormde Kerk van Suid-Afrika) also had been founded and church activities escalated during the same time in the Goldfields, and more specifically in St. Helena, a well-known established suburb of Welkom. In the same way, it is necessary to emphasise the Evangelical Reformed Church of South Africa (Evangelies-Gereformeerde Kerk van Suid-Afrika) which founded on May 1960 in Welkom, although the members of the church were active with church activities in Welkom long before their congregation was finally established. The culminating factor of the economic power regarding the mining industry may not be overlooked in its influence on the emergence of the various church congregations in the Goldfields. The constant influx of mineworkers to the Goldfields made the existence of the church inevitable for its member’s spiritual well-being. Naturally, the church had to overcome major obstacles, namely: the expansion to new residential areas, the availability of finances, planning schemes for church amenities, the purchase of church estates, the need of ministers, knowledgeable church councillors and general encompassing assistance, etc. Furthermore, the church encountered during the pioneering years all sorts of social disorders, while the minister at times had the working load of approximately two congregations to handle at the same time. Accordingly, it was virtually impossible for the minister to cope with such a strenuous working load effectively, and consequently some issues were at times inevitably neglected in the congregation. The demands of the time and difficult circumstances without proper roads, communication networks like direct telephone systems, the lack of church buildings, manses, the long distances between the central point of worship and some visiting areas within the confinements of the congregation had necessarily complicated the task of the minister. Nevertheless, the church continued and gave concrete stature to its calling by virtue of the founding congregations for meaningful and efficacious spiritual care to its members. Herein, the church was successful because the focus of faith remained on God. All the praise and glory is due to Him. / Thesis (DPhil (Church History and Church Polity))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Church History and Church Polity / unrestricted

One of the means South Africa has adopted to redress the social ills of the past is corporate social responsibility. This essentially places the onus on the business community within the country to take accountability of the social ills within the country and implement practices within their organizations to address these ills in a structured and sustainable manner. The extent to which and the manner in which this social obligation is discharged within the mining industry which represents one of the larger industries in the country formed the basis of this research.To this extent, secondary economic data was used of listed mining companies over a five year period to understand the extent to which these companies have been contributing towards the cause of socio-economic upliftment. This data was contrasted against general industry data in an attempt to gauge mining company’s commitment against the other industries operating within the country. In order to understand how CSI is interpreted and executed, 6 specialist interviews were held with senior management officials from different mining companies whilst 2 specific mining projects were considered to test the aspect of sustainability.Based on the results, mining companies similar to other companies within South Africa have demonstrated real commitment to CSI through higher annual year on year contributions. The internal processes and resources committed to CSI signal that companies have recognized the importance of CSI as a key element to their own sustainability. The research further reveals that whilst a lot is being done and continues to be done, it clearly is not enough and the country as a collective needs to consider how best to exploit its CSI resources to ensure it reaches the appropriate needs areas and further focuses more on enterprise development.<p/> / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The   purpose   of   this   pilot   study   was   to   identify   and   evaluate   different   business   cases   for   Epiroc’s  Parts   &amp;   Services   Division   (PSD)   regarding   the   use   of   additive   manufacturing   (AM),   also   known   as  3D   printing,   for   their   spare   parts   within   the   mining   industry.    This   study   presents   an   approach   for  how   spare   parts   promising   for   AM   can   be   identified   and   shows   the   difficulties   with   AM.   The   study  follows   the   design   research   methodology   (DRM)   standard   for   research   within   product   and   process  development.   Through   interviews   and   literature   searches,   a   "top-down"   approach   was   applied.   A  developed   cost-benefit   model   accompanied   this   approach   and   was   used   to   identify   and   evaluate  potential   spare   parts   for   AM   from   Epiroc’s   current   spare   parts   portfolio.   The   results   were   evaluated  as   promising   for   several   of   the   spare   parts   in   terms   of   reduced   manufacturing,   procurement,   tool  cost,   and   lead   time   reduction,   which   results   in   increased   uptime   for   the   customer.   With   reduced   lead  times,   the   availability   increases   for   the   customer,   who   may   increase   Epiroc’s   sales   and   aftermarket  revenues   in   the   long   run.   There   is   also   great   potential   for   reducing   the   costs   for   warehousing,   where  spare   parts   of   low   demand   can   have   their   stocks   reduced   or   eliminated   by   securing   supply   through  on-demand   manufacturing.   Although   many   exciting   business   cases   have   been   identified   and  evaluated,   it   has   been   acknowledged   that   CNC-machining   in   many   cases   is   the   cheaper   alternative.  Despite   this,   it   is   worth   investing   in   AM   from   a   strategic   point   of   view   as   it   is   seen   as   a   tool   for   the  future.   Before   it   can   be   adopted   and   implemented,   Epiroc   should   do   test   trials   with   companies  offering   AM   services.   These   can   be   used   to   update   and   tune   the   cost-benefit   model   accordingly   to  increase   its   reliability   and   validity.   The   model   could   also   be   developed   further   to   incorporate   AM’s  additional   benefits,   such   as   weight   and   material   reduction   through   design   for   additive  manufacturing   (DfAM). / Syftet   med   denna   förstudie   var   att   identifiera   och   utvärdera   olika   affärsmöjligheter   för   Epirocs   Parts  &amp;   Services-division   (PSD)   gällande   användningen   av   additiv   tillverkning   (AM),   även   känd   som  3D-printning,   för   deras   reservdelar   inom   gruvindustrin.   Denna   studie   presenterar   ett  tillvägagångssätt   för   hur   reservdelar   passande   för   AM   kan   identifieras   och   visar   på   svårigheterna  med   AM.   Studien   följer   "design   research   methodology"   (DRM),   vilket   kan   översättas   till  designforsknings-metodologin,   som   är   vanligt   förekommande   vid   forskning   inom   produkt-   och  processutveckling.   Genom   intervjuer   och   litteratursökningar   tillämpades   en   "top-down"-metod.  Detta   åtföljdes   av   en   utvecklad   kostnadsnyttomodell   som   tillsammans   användes   för   att   identifiera  och   utvärdera   potentiella   reservdelar   för   AM   från   Epirocs   nuvarande   reservdelsportfölj.   Resultaten  utvärderades   som   lovande   för   flertalet   av   reservdelarna   vad   gäller   reducerad   kostnad   för  tillverkning,   inköp,   verktyg   och   minskad   ledtid,   vilket   resulterar   i   ökad   drifttid   för   kunden.   Med  minskade   ledtider   ökar   tillgängligheten   för   kunden,   som   kan   öka   Epirocs   försäljning   och  eftermarknadsintäkter   på   lång   sikt.   Det   finns   också   en   stor   potential   i   att   minska   kostnaderna   för  lagerhållning,   där   reservdelar   med   låg   efterfrågan   kan   få   sina   lager   att   reduceras   eller   elimineras  genom   att   säkra   utbudet   genom   tillverkning   vid   behov.   Även   om   många   intressanta  affärsmöjligheter   har   identifierats   och   utvärderats   har   det   uppmärksammats   att   CNC-bearbetning   i  många   fall   kan   vara   det   billigare   alternativet.   Trots   detta   är   det   värt   att   investera   i   AM   ur   en  strategisk   synvinkel   eftersom   det   ses   som   ett   verktyg   för   framtiden.   Innan   AM   kan   anammas   och  implementeras   bör   Epiroc   göra   testförsök   med   företag   som   erbjuder   AM-tjänster.   Dessa   kan  användas   för   att   uppdatera   och   justera   kostnadsnyttomodellen   i   enlighet   med   detta   för   att   öka   dess  validitet   och   reliabilitet.   Modellen   kan   också   utvecklas   vidare   för   att   införliva   AM:s   ytterligare  fördelar,   såsom   vikt-   och   materialreduktion   genom   design   för   additiv   tillverkning   (DfAM).