Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Sesotho / The study was inspired by the global phenomenon of failure rates of outsourcing ventures; yet, the outsourcing value proposition of 3PL providers is promising and potentially lucrative. The approach of the outsourcing venture was thus investigated, specifically how to align and integrate outsourcing parameters appropriately at the inception of the outsourcing venture in order to attain the benefits brought about by the outsourcing decision over the projected life of the outsourcing venture. To this effect, a strategic decision-making model, with the objective of ascertaining optimal alignment and integration was developed. The model comprises a dualistic development followed by a methodological process path to operationalise the strategic decision-making model. A services continuum (development one) is established, which is a permutation matrix that classifies four aspects of importance (service type, category of 3PL provider, strategic alignment and investment), in order to align the aspects optimally and enable appropriate model application. The services continuum is a conglomeration of nine models:  a capabilities matrix for 3PL provider services;  a framework for evaluating the supply chain role of 3PL providers;  a mathematical model;  a supplier selection and evaluation process;  a presentation of the Hayes–Wheelwright framework;  an outsourcing variables differentiated model;  four categories of the 3PL providers model;  an estimated path model; and  a process integration via survey data collection model. The services continuum was extended for utilisation with risk management practices, and an outsourcing risk matrix (development two) was established. The enablement of the outsource risk matrix is an element review, consisting of three categories: collaboration and integrated planning systems; performance measurement; and broad-based black economic empowerment. The strategic decision-making methodology process path was developed as having three phases, which operationalise the strategic decision-making model. The research was primarily focussed on literature reviews, with the models classified according to the services continuum. To a lesser extent, the research focussed on primary data, which served as model application input specifically for application requirements related to Sasol. The study established a universally applicable strategic decision-making model, as well as the application of the model for Sasol’s outbound (final packaged product) supply chain. / Thuto e ile ya kgothaletswa ke tshebetso ya lefatshe mabapi le maemo a ho hloleha ha ho nyaolwa/ntshuwa ha diprojeke kgwebong; leha ho le jwalo, tlhahiso ya boleng ba ditshebeletso tsa 3PL e a tshepisa ebile e ka ba le hlahiso ya tjhelete e ngata. Ka tsela eo, mokgwa wa ho tswa kgwebong o ile wa phenyekollwa, haholoholo mabapi le ho tsamaisana le ho kenyelletsa maemo a ho ntshetsa pele maruo ka mokgwa o nepahetseng ha ho thehwa kgwebo ya ho ntshetsa pele ho fumana melemo e tliswang ke qeto ya ho ntshetsa pele ka bophelo ba morero wa ho nyaolwa kgwebong. Ka lebaka lena, ho ntshetswa pele mokgwa/motlolo o motle wa ho etsa diqeto, ka sepheo sa ho netefatsa hore ho na le boemo bo nepahetseng le ho kopanngwa ho tsitsitseng. Motlolo ona o na le ntshetso pele e habedi e latelwang ke tshebetso ya mokgwa wa ho kenya tshebetsong tsela ya ho nka diqeto. Tatellano ya ditshebeletso e tswelang pele (ntshetsopele ya pele) e a thehwa, e leng phethoho ya tikoloho e kgethollang dikarolo tse nne tsa bohlokwa (mofuta oa tshebeletso, mokga wa mofani wa 3PL, kemiso ya moralo le matsete), e le ho dumellana le dintlha ka tsela e nepahetseng le ho etsa hore ho sebediswe motlolo hantle. Ditshebeletso tse tswelang pele ke kopano ya dimotlolo tse robong:  bokgoni ba maemo a tikoloho bakeng sa ditshebeletso tsa bafani ba 3PL;  sebopeho sa ho hlahloba phepelo ya tatellano ya ho nka karolo ha bafani ba 3PL;  mokgwa/motlolo wa mathemathiks;  kgetho ya mofani le mokgwa wa o hlahloba;  tlhaloso ya moralo wa Hayes-Wheelwright;  mefuta e fapaneng ya ho nyaola dikarolo tse fapaneng;  ntho tse mene tsa bafani ba 3PL;  mohlala wa tsela ya dimotlolo; le  mokgwa wa ho kopanya ka mokgwa wa ho bokella lesedi la dipatlisiso. Dishebeletso tse tswelang pele di ile tsa atoloswa bakeng sa tshebediso ya mekgwa ya taolo ya dikotsi, mme maemo a tikoloho a kotsing ya boipheliso (ntlafatso ya bobeli) a thehwa. Ho kengwa tshebetsong ha kotsi ya maemo a tikoloho ke ntho e shejwang botjha e nang le mekga e meraro: mekgwa ya ho sebedisana le meralo e kopanetsweng; tekanyo ya tshebetso; le ho matlafatsa bofuma ba batho batsho lehlakoreng la moruo. Mokgwa wa ho etsa diqeto o ile wa ntlafatswa e le o nang le mekgahlelo e meraro, e sebetsang ka mokgwa o motle wa ho etsa diqeto. Phuputso e ne e lebisitswe haholo ditabeng tsa tlhahlobo ya dingodilweng, le dimotlolo tse kgethollwang ho latela ditshebeletso tse tswelang pele. Ho ya ka tekanyo e nyenyane, dipatlisiso di lebisitse tlhokomelong ya lesedi la mantlha, le neng le sebetsa e le mokgwa wa ho kenya letsoho bakeng sa ditlhoko tsa kopo tse amanang le Sasol. Phuputso ena e thehile mokgwa wa ho etsa diqeto tse amohelehang lefatsheng ka bophara, hammoho le ho sebediswa ha setshwantsho sa phepelo ya tlhahiso ya Sasol (thlahiso ya ho qetela). / Dié studie is deur die globale verskynsel van die falingstempo van uitkontrakteringsondernemings geïnspireer; ten spyte hiervan lyk die uitkontrakteringswaardevoorstel van 3PL-verskaffers belowend en is dit potensieel winsgewend. Die benadering wat die uitkontrakteringonderneming volg, is derhalwe ondersoek en in die besonder hoe om die uitkontrakteringparameters by die aanvang van die uitkontrakteringonderneming toepaslik in lyn te stel en te integreer om die voordele te benut van die uitkontrakteringsbesluit oor die geprojekteerde lewe van die uitkontrakteringsonderneming. ’n Strategiesebesluitnemingsmodel wat ten doel het om optimale inlynstelling en integrasie te verseker, is dus ontwikkel. Die model bestaan uit ’n dualistiese ontwikkeling, gevolg deur ’n metodologiese prosesbaan om die strategiese besluitnemingsmodel te operasionaliseer. ’n Dienstekontinuum (ontwikkeling een) is op die been gebring, wat ’n permutasiematriks is wat vier aspekte van belangrikheid (dienssoort, kategorie van die 3PL-verskaffer, strategiese inlynstelling en investering) klassifiseer, ten einde die aspekte optimaal in lyn te stel en toepaslike modeltoepassing moontlik te maak. Die dienstekontinuum bestaan uit ’n versameling van nege modelle:  ’n bekwaamheidsmatriks vir 3PL-diensverskafferdienste;  ’n raamwerk om die voorsieningskettingsrol van 3PL-verskaffers te evalueer;  ’n wiskundige model;  ’n verskafferseleksie en evalueringsproses;  ’n aanbieding van die Hayes-Wheelwright-raamwerk;  ’n uitkontrakteringsveranderlike-gedifferensieerde model;  vier kategorieë van die 3PL-verskaffersmodel;  ’n geraamde baanmodel; en  prosesintegrasie deur middel van ’n ondersoekdata-insamelingsmodel. Die dienstekontinuum is uitgebrei vir gebruik by risikobestuurspraktyke en ’n uitkontrakteringrisikomatriks (ontwikkeling twee) is op die been gebring. Die bemagtiging van die uitkontrakteringsrisikomatriks is ’n elementhersiening, wat uit drie kategorieë bestaan: samewerkings- en geïntegreerdebeplanningstelsels; prestasiemeting; en breë swart ekonomiese bemagtiging. Die strategiese besluitnemingsmetodologieprosesbaan is met drie fases ontwikkel, wat die strategiese besluitnemingsmodel operasionaliseer. Die navorsing het hoofsaaklik op literatuuroorsigte gefokus, met die modelle wat volgens die dienstekontinuum geklassifiseer is. Die navorsing het in ’n mindere mata op die primêre data gekonsentreer, wat as die modeltoepassingsinset gedien het, in die besonder vir die toepassingsvereistes wat op Sasol betrekking het. Die studie het ’n universele, toepaslike strategiesebesluitnemingsmodel daargestel, asook die aanwending van die model op Sasol se uitgaande voorsieningsketting (finaal verpakte produk). / Business Management / D. Phil. (Management Studies)

Este trabalho considera uma cadeia de suprimentos (CS) que opera com logística reversa. A modelagem da CS foi adaptada de um modelo de Programação Linear Inteira Mista (PLIM) da literatura que maximiza o valor presente líquido (VPL) esperado para o caso de uma empresa brasileira. Esta adaptação considera uma CS de menor complexidade, com um número menor de nós e produtos em relação à aplicação da literatura. A estrutura da CS considerada é formada por duas fábricas, dois centros de distribuição, dois pontos varejistas e quatro mercados consumidores, assim como fluxos de transporte direto e reverso de produtos. A modelagem da CS considera ainda incertezas na demanda e cenários com e sem tributação. Os resultados mostram os fluxos de transporte de produtos no sentido direto e reverso, estoques ao longo da CS, assim como aspectos econômicos segundo regras tributárias e incentivos fiscais. Estes aspectos econômicos são utilizados para justificar o investimento na logística reversa. Embora a incerteza na demanda altere o VPL esperado, que é maior quando cenários otimistas de demanda são considerados, resultados obtidos para diversos cenários de demanda mostram que esta alteração não é significativa. / This dissertation considers a supply chain (SC) with reverse logistics. The SC modeling has been modified for a Brazilian company from a MILP model which maximizes the expected net present value (NPV) found in the literature. This modification considers a low complexity SC with fewer number of nodes and products than the application of the literature.The SC structure is composed by two factories, two warehouses, two retailers, and four markets as well as direct and reverse flows of products. The SC modeling also considers demand uncertainty and cenarios with and without taxes. The results show direct and reverse flows of products, inventories, and economic aspects according to tax rules and incentives. These economic aspects are used to justify the investment in reverse logistics. Although the demand uncertainty changes the expected NPV, which is big for cenarios with optimistic demand, the results obtained for several cenarios of demand show that the expected NPV is not quite affected.

Este trabalho considera uma cadeia de suprimentos (CS) que opera com logística reversa. A modelagem da CS foi adaptada de um modelo de Programação Linear Inteira Mista (PLIM) da literatura que maximiza o valor presente líquido (VPL) esperado para o caso de uma empresa brasileira. Esta adaptação considera uma CS de menor complexidade, com um número menor de nós e produtos em relação à aplicação da literatura. A estrutura da CS considerada é formada por duas fábricas, dois centros de distribuição, dois pontos varejistas e quatro mercados consumidores, assim como fluxos de transporte direto e reverso de produtos. A modelagem da CS considera ainda incertezas na demanda e cenários com e sem tributação. Os resultados mostram os fluxos de transporte de produtos no sentido direto e reverso, estoques ao longo da CS, assim como aspectos econômicos segundo regras tributárias e incentivos fiscais. Estes aspectos econômicos são utilizados para justificar o investimento na logística reversa. Embora a incerteza na demanda altere o VPL esperado, que é maior quando cenários otimistas de demanda são considerados, resultados obtidos para diversos cenários de demanda mostram que esta alteração não é significativa. / This dissertation considers a supply chain (SC) with reverse logistics. The SC modeling has been modified for a Brazilian company from a MILP model which maximizes the expected net present value (NPV) found in the literature. This modification considers a low complexity SC with fewer number of nodes and products than the application of the literature.The SC structure is composed by two factories, two warehouses, two retailers, and four markets as well as direct and reverse flows of products. The SC modeling also considers demand uncertainty and cenarios with and without taxes. The results show direct and reverse flows of products, inventories, and economic aspects according to tax rules and incentives. These economic aspects are used to justify the investment in reverse logistics. Although the demand uncertainty changes the expected NPV, which is big for cenarios with optimistic demand, the results obtained for several cenarios of demand show that the expected NPV is not quite affected.

Reverse logistics is an important process that is often misunderstood. Reverse logistics can cause considerable cost, but provide numerous opportunities. Many organisations do not understand the correct processes and procedures to follow and how to manage reverse logistics efficiently. The focus of this study was on best practices in reverse logistics. A best practice framework was developed to help organisations overcome problems and manage their reverse logistics more efficiently. This study adopted a mixed method research approach with both qualitative and quantitative elements. A comprehensive literature study was conducted to develop a conceptual best practice framework in reverse logistics and a survey was conducted to seek inputs from industry in South Africa to refine the framework into a workable instrument in practice. The study concluded that the best practices identified in literature have proven to be important in practice, and applying such practices will enable organisations to manage their reverse logistics more efficiently. / Business Management / M. Com. (Logistics)

The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the brokered transport costs of road and rail transport for the independent timber growers of NCT Forestry Co-operative Limited in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Reliability, flexibility, visibility, rates and total transport time were evaluated for each mode of transport. The impact of the carbon emissions was also considered and the option of performance based standard vehicles investigated. During the period 2000 to 2003, rail was the dominant mode of transport. However from 2004 onwards, due to the diminishing service levels and the high tariff structures of rail transport, road became the preferred mode of transport. The results of the survey conducted for the purposes of this study showed that although road transport outperformed rail transport, rail transport scored significantly higher than road transport as a cost-effective mode of transportation. Rail transport was shown to be a far less carbon intensive mode of transport than road transport, while there were substantial cost savings and benefits from performance based standard vehicles. / Transport Economics, Logistics and Tourism / M. Com. (Logistics)