<p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p><strong> </strong><strong>Title: </strong>A messy story – a case study of Secorocs process flow of DTH-pipes</p><p><strong> </strong><strong>Presentation date: </strong>2010-06-02<strong> </strong></p><p><strong></strong><strong>Course: </strong>Bachelor thesis in business</p><p><strong></strong><strong>Author: </strong>Kristoffer Forsman</p><p><strong></strong><strong>Advisor: </strong>Kjell Gustafsson</p><p><strong></strong><strong>Keywords:</strong> Management control, process control, lean production, process flow analysis</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to develop an overview of the process flow for a specific product, and with the help of this mapping based on a lean production philosophy show possible improvement proposals and how these can lead to a more efficient process flow.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>I have used a case study of Secorocs DTH-pipes and my primary data are gathered through interviews and observations. I have used theoretical framework to establish a process flow analysis. This is to obtain data on process activities and whether they are creating value or not. This leads to a current mapping of the situation in Secoroc on DTH-pipes and then analyzed and suggestions for improvement are developed.</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>That by using the above mentioned mapping of process flow of DTH-pipes, problem areas could be illustrated. Subsequently proposals for improvement could be produced from a lean production philosophy. Process flow analysis showed the non-value-adding process activities as primarily transport and delay. These activities could be rationalized and eliminated from developed proposals for improvement which resulted in a layout flowchart (bilaga3) as a proposal on how a better flow might look for Secoroc.</p>

Abstract  Title: A messy story – a case study of Secorocs process flow of DTH-pipes  Presentation date: 2010-06-02  Course: Bachelor thesis in business Author: Kristoffer Forsman Advisor: Kjell Gustafsson Keywords: Management control, process control, lean production, process flow analysis Purpose: The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to develop an overview of the process flow for a specific product, and with the help of this mapping based on a lean production philosophy show possible improvement proposals and how these can lead to a more efficient process flow. Methodology: I have used a case study of Secorocs DTH-pipes and my primary data are gathered through interviews and observations. I have used theoretical framework to establish a process flow analysis. This is to obtain data on process activities and whether they are creating value or not. This leads to a current mapping of the situation in Secoroc on DTH-pipes and then analyzed and suggestions for improvement are developed. Conclusions: That by using the above mentioned mapping of process flow of DTH-pipes, problem areas could be illustrated. Subsequently proposals for improvement could be produced from a lean production philosophy. Process flow analysis showed the non-value-adding process activities as primarily transport and delay. These activities could be rationalized and eliminated from developed proposals for improvement which resulted in a layout flowchart (bilaga3) as a proposal on how a better flow might look for Secoroc.

Several analytical techniques including use case diagrams, process flow diagrams (PFDs), hierarchical task analysis (HTA), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), systematic human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA), hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP), heuristics, the Safe Living Guide and the Resident Assessment Instrument – Home Care (RAI-HC) are applied to data obtained from two pilot home visits to determine whether common failure modes, causes, effects and recommendations are yielded by the techniques. The time required to apply each analytical technique to processes uncovered from the pilot data was measured and outputs of the techniques were reviewed for commonality. Of the tools considered, SHERPA was found to return the most failure modes, effects and recommendations, while FMEA was the only human factors tool to yield causes. Additionally, FMEA and SHERPA provided a means of ranking potential failure modes based on severity and probability.

Several analytical techniques including use case diagrams, process flow diagrams (PFDs), hierarchical task analysis (HTA), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), systematic human error reduction and prediction approach (SHERPA), hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP), heuristics, the Safe Living Guide and the Resident Assessment Instrument – Home Care (RAI-HC) are applied to data obtained from two pilot home visits to determine whether common failure modes, causes, effects and recommendations are yielded by the techniques. The time required to apply each analytical technique to processes uncovered from the pilot data was measured and outputs of the techniques were reviewed for commonality. Of the tools considered, SHERPA was found to return the most failure modes, effects and recommendations, while FMEA was the only human factors tool to yield causes. Additionally, FMEA and SHERPA provided a means of ranking potential failure modes based on severity and probability.

This thesis responds to the need of the company ILLKO, s.r.o. to develop and unify the decision-making process for cases when there is a customer request for a special or extraordinary type of product. In the thesis, the business area of the company, supplier and customer spectrum are described as well as a summary of the company’s capacity and capabilities. The output is a formalized decision-making process reflecting both theoretical knowledge based on the academic bibliography and long-term approved experience gained from the business practice. This process is clearly illustrated in schematic flow charts which are described in detail in corresponding chapters. The developed methodological procedure will help the top management of the company to facilitate, automate and improve future decision-making on the specific customer requirements.

El presente trabajo de investigación plantea una propuesta de solución para la línea de procesamiento y empaque de paltas frescas para la empresa agroexportadora Expo de Sur SAC, empresa con más de 20 años en el negocio de la agroexportación de frutas y hortalizas frescas, que le permita aprovechar la infraestructura de proceso instala con el objetivo de procesar sus cítricos (mandarinas frescas). Cultivo en el que la empresa ha incursionado con el propósito de diversificar la oferta de su portafolio. La falta de disponibilidad de centros de procesamiento y empaque para cítricos en la provincia de Majes, región Arequipa, y las extensas distancias de recorrido que la fruta debe realizar hasta las empresas proveedoras del servicio de procesamiento y empaque en la ciudad de Ica. Asumiendo el demérito en la calidad de las materias primas con tasas de deshidratación del 2%, y con costos por servicios transporte y de procesamiento y empaque, y los precios altos por estos servicios, han impulsado la necesidad de la compañía en la mejora e implementación de su línea de proceso, evaluar su factibilidad y puesta en marcha de una línea de proceso y empaque multiproducto, que les permita adoptar estrategias de calidad, procesos y reducción de sus costos de operación. Priorizando la rentabilidad de sus cultivos de cítricos. Estos costos asumidos por las operaciones de transporte, calidad, y servicios contratados por parte de la empresa ascienden a montos que van de 142,400 dólares americanos hasta 382,500 dólares americanos, en un periodo de 5 años. La propuesta de valor seleccionada, línea de procesamiento y empaque multiproducto para paltas y cítricos, permite reducir los costos incurridos mencionados por estas operaciones. Así mismo, permite maximizar el uso de los equipos o activos de la compañía. Permitiendo establecer dos turnos de trabajo para cumplir con las necesidades de producción de la empresa. El proyecto seleccionado en el presente trabajo de investigación está basado en una inversión de US$ 147,866.80, distribuidos en 30% de aporte propio, y 70% mediante financiamiento bancario. Aporte de Inversionista: US$ 44,359.74 y un monto por financiar de: US$ 103,506.06 En el análisis del presente trabajo de investigación se identifica el valor actual neto económico (VAN), el cual se emplea como un indicador financiero del proyecto, con el objetivo de determinar su viabilidad, es decir, si luego de medir los flujos de ingresos y egresos del proyecto y descontar la inversión inicial queda alguna ganancia (VAN > 0). El proyecto es viable y rentable, pues arroja un VANE de 7,200,945.04 dólares americanos y un VANF de 7,274,886.90 dólares americanos, una TIRE de 406% y una TIRF de 1255%. / This research work presents a solution proposal for the fresh avocado processing and packaging line for the agro-export company Expo de Sur SAC, a company with more than 20 years in the business of agro-export of fresh fruits and vegetables, which allows Take advantage of the process infrastructure installed to process your citrus fruits (fresh mandarins). Crop in which the company has ventured to diversify the offer of its portfolio. The lack of availability of processing and packaging centers for citrus fruits in the province of Majes, Arequipa region, and the long distances that the fruit must travel to the companies that provide the processing and packaging services in the city of Ica. Assuming the demerit in the quality of raw materials with dehydration rates of 2%, and with costs for transportation and processing and packaging services, and the high prices for these services, have driven the need of the company in the improvement and implementation of their process line, evaluate their feasibility and start-up of a multi-product process and packaging line, which allows them to adopt quality strategies, processes, and reduction of their operating costs. Prioritizing the profitability of your citrus crops. These costs assumed by the transport, quality, and services contracted by the company amount to amounts ranging from 142,400 US dollars to 382,500 US dollars, in a period of 5 years. The selected value proposition, multiproduct processing and packaging line for avocados and citrus fruits, allows reducing the incurred costs mentioned by these operations. Likewise, it allows maximizing the use of the company's equipment or assets. Allowing to establish two work shifts to meet the production needs of the company. The project selected in this research work is based on an investment of US $ 147,866.80, distributed in 30% of its own contribution, and 70% through bank financing. Investor Contribution: US $ 44,359.74 and an amount to be financed of: US $ 103,506.06 In the analysis of this research work, the economic net present value (NPV) is identified, which is used as a financial indicator of the project, to determine its viability, that is, if after measuring the income flows and project expenses and discounting the initial investment is some profit (NPV> 0). The project is viable and profitable, as it yields a VANE of 7,200,945.04 US dollars and a VANF of 7,274,886.90 US dollars, an IRR of 406% and an IRR of 1255%. / Tesis

Municipal solid waste management is a public service which, when it fails, can rapidly become overwhelming for communities and authorities. It is also during the deepest crisis that incentives change and new practices emerge. Lebanon went through an 8-months waste crisis after the closure of the country’s main landfill. Facing the incapacity of restoring basic services, the monopolistic centralised system was questioned: civil society, social businesses and municipalities organised, at a smaller scale, their own waste management. The thesis aims were to identify the role of the new waste stakeholders in the broader picture, assess the efficiency and needs of municipal projects and suggest some priorities for the country’s solid waste policies. The use of process-flow diagrams and a contextualised classification of actors were used to describe the Lebanese system. Case studies of recent initiatives were made using an adapted ISWM framework. The investigations have shown that, since the crisis, waste management is organised around three complementary systems, with their own legitimacy, supporters and challenges, but overall lacking of cooperation and mutual recognition. The nascent decentralised waste management tends to achieve better than the traditional central system, especially in terms of landfill space saved, resource management and inclusivity of users. However, it faces issues when tackling final disposal, energy recovery and financing. Any future waste policy should include all waste actors, set clear targets and reject any “one-size-fits-all” solution benefiting private corrupted interests. / Hushållsavfallshantering är ett offentligt verktyg som, när det misslyckas, snabbt kan bli överväldigande för samhällen och myndigheter att hantera. Det är också under de djupaste kriserna som incitament förändras och nya metoder utvecklas. Libanon gick igenom en avfallskris som varade i 8 månader, efter stängningen av landets största deponi. På grund av oförmågan att återställa grundläggande tjänster, blev det monopolistiska centraliserade systemet ifrågasatt: det civila samhället, sociala företag och kommuner organiserade, i mindre skala, sina egen avfallshantering. Examensarbetets mål var att identifiera vilken roll nya intressenter av avfallshantering får i ett brett perspektiv, bedöma effektiviteten och behovet av kommunala projekt samt föreslå prioriteringar för landets politik gällande fast avfall. Ett processflödesschema och en kontextberoende klassificering av aktörer användes för att beskriva det libanesiska systemet. En fallstudie gjordes med hjälp av ett ramverk för integrerad avfallshantering över de senaste initiativen som tagits på området. Undersökningarna har visat att avfallshanteringen är organiserad kring tre kompletterande system, som har de egna rättigheterna, anhängare och utmaningar, men det saknas tydligt samarbete och ömsesidigt erkännande. Den nya decentraliserade avfallshanteringen tenderar att uppnå bättre resultat än det traditionella centrala systemet gjort. Det gäller särskilt när deponiutrymme kan sparas, resurshantering förbättras och användarna integreras i processen. Dock kvarstår problem när det kommer till att hantera slutförvaring, energiåtervinning, och även finansiering. Framtida avfallspolitik bör inkludera alla avfallsaktörer, fastställa klara mål och avvisa alla "one-size-fits-all" lösningar som gynnar privata intressen.

This dissertation reports the investigation and combination of optimization methodologies and the result of implementing them within a production environment. A literature survey was conducted on the optimization methodologies Lean Manufacturing and theory of constraints (TOC). A number of production optimization methodologies were studied and considered for application to the case study organisation. Due to the small size and relative simplicity of the operation, these methodologies had to be simplified and combined into a more relevant form. A refractory manufacturer was used as a case study for the investigation into the optimization of the dry batch plant. Lean Manufacturing and TOC are optimization methodologies that could be employed to optimize the dry batch plant. Tools from these methodologies were used to investigate problems identified within the production process that were causing the batching plant to perform non-optimally. A time and motion study was conducted and a process flow chart was created to understand the production process. Wasteful activities were identified using a value stream map and a flow process chart was used to visualise the movement within the production process. A 5-Why analysis was conducted to determine the root causes. An optimization plan was created to eliminate the wasteful activities and the operational measures, that is throughput, inventory and operating expense, were used as to determine what the effect the optimization plan would have on the wasteful activities (Lean Manufacturing) found within the batching plant and the organisation. The results of the combined effect of the optimization plan are discussed focusing on the improvements in the operational measures and the increase in profit from sales. Future research is suggested to improve the benchmarking of the optimization plan and any future improvements that the organisation might implement. / MSc (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This dissertation reports the investigation and combination of optimization methodologies and the result of implementing them within a production environment. A literature survey was conducted on the optimization methodologies Lean Manufacturing and theory of constraints (TOC). A number of production optimization methodologies were studied and considered for application to the case study organisation. Due to the small size and relative simplicity of the operation, these methodologies had to be simplified and combined into a more relevant form. A refractory manufacturer was used as a case study for the investigation into the optimization of the dry batch plant. Lean Manufacturing and TOC are optimization methodologies that could be employed to optimize the dry batch plant. Tools from these methodologies were used to investigate problems identified within the production process that were causing the batching plant to perform non-optimally. A time and motion study was conducted and a process flow chart was created to understand the production process. Wasteful activities were identified using a value stream map and a flow process chart was used to visualise the movement within the production process. A 5-Why analysis was conducted to determine the root causes. An optimization plan was created to eliminate the wasteful activities and the operational measures, that is throughput, inventory and operating expense, were used as to determine what the effect the optimization plan would have on the wasteful activities (Lean Manufacturing) found within the batching plant and the organisation. The results of the combined effect of the optimization plan are discussed focusing on the improvements in the operational measures and the increase in profit from sales. Future research is suggested to improve the benchmarking of the optimization plan and any future improvements that the organisation might implement. / MSc (Development and Management Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The aim of this study was to evaluate employee commitment to achieve the primary objective, which was to evaluate employee commitment towards product and process quality. Employees who are engaged in their work and committed to their organisations give companies crucial competitive advantages – including higher productivity, better quality products and lower employee turnover. A thorough literature study was conducted by using the views of different authors and combining them. The concept of quality was defined by making use of the five quality gurus; Deming, Juran, Feigenbaum, Crosby and Ishikawa. The fourteen principles of quality, developed by Deming, were presented in Table 2.1. These principles had the goal of increased productivity, with less rework, less waste of manpower and material resources, resulting in a reduction of costs, to in turn give the organisation greater market share and ultimately better competitive position, by improving the overall quality of an organisation’s work processes. The concept of employee and organisational commitment was defined, and from this study it is evident that employee commitment towards the company is positive and therefore should have a positive effect on their operating environment. The product process flow for this manufacturing concern were discussed to give an overall view of the production processes used in this organisation. An empirical study was completed using a questionnaire survey to determine employee commitment at a manufacturing concern in Gauteng. The questionnaire used for this study was designed to focus on commitment towards internal quality only, to specifically evaluate employee perspective towards product quality, as well as the commitment towards the organisation. Analysis of the responses showed the questionnaire to be reliable and valid. Respondents indicated that they are committed towards the organisation in general across all constructs, but a lack in management trust was a predominant sentiment. The quantitative analysis showed that after a factor analysis was done on the two sections of the questionnaire, four factors for each section were considered as meaningful. These factors were: Affinity, quality awareness, autonomy and corporate image (employee commitment - section B) and employee commitment, task performance, job satisfaction and contextual performance (company relationship – section C). This indicated strong employee commitment towards the organisation. The qualitative results had four areas that all respondents felt needed some attention, and loaded negative towards the organisation. These were HR (trust in management, competency, communication and company culture), skills development, employee development and BBBEE. Thus, drawing conclusions from quantitative results alone could give a company a false sense of employee commitment towards the company and therefore overlook the importance of the roles that employees play in executing strategic plans. Conclusions regarding the findings of the research study were presented and recommendations for this organisation were made. These recommendations are merely a guideline that correlates directly to the empirical analysis made. The research study was evaluated against the primary and secondary objectives with the conclusion that both were achieved. / Thesis (MBA)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.