In an intensely competitive retail market, keeping consumers satisfied has never been more important than currently. Retailers need to understand how to satisfy their customers in order to enhance their appeal and increase consumer loyalty. Globally people’s lifestyles are changing rapidly. Advances in technology, more flexi-time of customers, and the many other social and economic changes affecting family and home life are some of the reasons why, specifically in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry, it is important to act fast to service customers. In South Africa, there is indication of strong competition between the most dominant firms’ in the FMCG market, which include Pick ‘n Pay Holdings Limited (23.8 percent), Shoprite Holdings Limited (23.8 percent), the Spar Group Limited (14.9 percent), and Woolworths Holdings Limited (9.0 percent). As a result, it is unmistakable that in order for FMCG firms to grow and survive in the constantly changing, and competitive retail environment of South Africa, they must have a clear understanding of consumer’s expectations, as well as their actual shopping experiences. As stated, service quality for retailers of FMCG is of utmost importance to their level of success and ability to successfully cater for the market’s needs. Closely linked to this, is the focus of this study, namely to investigate consumers’ perceived levels of product quality, as well as the overall level of satisfaction experienced by customers. The purpose of this analytical research project is twofold: Firstly, to empirically test the hypothetical model and the associated hypotheses (as phrased in Section 1.4) by using confirmatory statistical techniques. Secondly, based on the findings of the research, to craft appropriate retail marketing strategies within the FMCG market that are suitable for implementation to address potential mismatches (gaps) of perceived product quality and consumers’ satisfaction. By the crafting of appropriate retail strategies, the potential to develop the FMCG industry in South Africa will be enhanced. Given the purpose and nature of the research in question, a positivistic research paradigm was adopted. The utilization of a Likert seven-point scale enabled primary data to be sourced from 301 consumers’ (respondents), who shared their perceptions on the expectations and actual experiences about the product quality of FMCG in South Africa. The statistical analysis of quantitative data comprised seven distinct phases. Firstly, the data was subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis to validate the measurement model by assessing the construct (convergent, discriminant and nomological) validity of the pre-specified (predicted) factors. Secondly, the reliability (internal consistency) of the research instrument was assessed by means of Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients. This phase was followed by a multiple linear regression analyses which were used to test the impact of independent variables on the intervening variable. In order to test the second set of hypotheses (null and alternative hypotheses dealing with consumers’ expected product quality and their actual experiences) matched paired t-tests were utilized. Additionally, mean scores and relative percentage ratings on consumers’ expected and perceived product quality levels were also calculated and interpreted. Finally, bivariate linear regression analyses were used to test the third set of hypotheses (impact of consumers perceived product quality on consumers overall level of satisfaction). The findings of the multiple linear regression analyses required that the hypothetical model be reconstructed. Two variables were removed from the hypothetical model, namely, ‘South African culture’ and ‘service promises’. The findings of the matched pair t-tests show that significant statistical differences do exist between the ‘expectations’ and ‘actual experiences’ of consumers’ perceived product quality to support the hypothesis H3.A, namely: “There are no perceived differences between consumers’ expectations and their perceptions (actual experience) of product quality”. Besides the matched pair t-tests, further descriptive statistical analyses were also performed to assess the magnitude of the “gap” between expectations and actual experiences of consumers on South African FMCG product quality, such as the values for Cohen’s d and relative percentage ratings. The findings reveal that the consumers’ were not completely satisfied with their actual experiences. Three sets of conclusions and recommendations were identified for this research. Firstly, conclusions emanating from secondary sources on product quality and consumers’ satisfaction literature were provided, such as consumer satisfaction is seen more as a psychological state, which reveals an overall feeling of consumers’ purchase and consumption experience with FMCG. Secondly, the conclusions linked to the interpretation of the empirical findings revealed significant statistical differences between the expectations and perceptions (actual experiences) of consumers’ on perceived product quality. Finally, recommendations on relevant FMCG retail marketing strategies can be grouped into five domains:  To build customer-led firms which adhere to the principles of true marketing orientation where the focus is on consumers and their needs and wants.  Identify and clearly define the FMCG market in South Africa which comprises different market segments that are of great importance for the retail firms.  The decision on a proper positioning strategy entails the choice of the target market segments, which will determine where and how the FMCG firm competes and the choice of differential advantages.  Retailers should apply suitable marketing strategies to benefit optimally from their FMCG retail marketing strategies.  A sound feedback system is a necessary component in the strategic marketing plan to obtain proper feedback that would contribute to the “management by exception” principle. It further will facilitate performance evaluation of product quality and service delivery, as well as and enable corrective actions to be taken in the case of deviations from the norm.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Constitutional Court in the Republic of South African indicated in 2006 (Laugh It Off Promotions CC v SAB International (Finance) BV t/a Sabmark International (Freedom of Expression Institute as amicus curiae), 2006 (1) SA 144 (CC)) that a senior trademark cannot be provided with anti-dilution protection if the senior trademark cannot demonstrate a probability of substantial economic harm. In the United States of America, legislation (Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2006) corrected an earlier Supreme Court decision (Moseley v Victoria's Secret Catalogue, Inc., 537 U.S. 418 (2003)), and as a result evidence of a probability of dilution is now required to provide a senior trademark with anti-dilution protection. Senior trademarks experienced mixed success in courts in the Republic of South Africa as well as the United States of America when requesting anti-dilution protection. The reason is that when empirical evidence is offered of trademark dilution the nature of the evidence is usually limited and the method of obtaining it is often flawed. The response of brand managers to trademark infringement also seems to be limited to decisions contemplating litigation. Therefore, to assist both the legal and marketing fraternity when trademark infringement is thought to occur, this study investigates the nature and extent of trademark dilution. A literature review revealed the elements and forms (tarnishing and blurring) of trademark dilution and the motivation for using the concept ‘brand’ and the construct ‘brand equity’ to conceptualise trademark value. The limitations of previous research in measuring trademark dilution and commentary on court decisions provided the basis of the conceptualisation of trademark dilution as an undesirable effect on customer-based brand equity, operationalised as brand attitude. Brand attitude is a higher level brand value creator and five sub-components (affect, cognition, attitude valence and stability, attitude accessibility, purchase intention) were identified that measures brand attitude accurately. Brand attitude is also preceded by brand familiarity and leads to brand loyalty. Furthermore, brand attitudes can also be explained according to four types of decision-making processes: the type of decisions (high and low involvement) and type of motivations (informational and transformational). The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and extent of trademark dilution, (tarnishing and blurring) on components of customer-based brand equity. The study used an experimental research strategy and an electronic survey instrument (Qualtrics) with self-administered questionnaires. Six hypotheses were formulated to assess whether trademark tarnishing and blurring had an effect on any component of customer-based brand equity when trademarks/brands were considered collectively and individually. The study was designed as a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment. It consisted of three factors (type of dilution; type of decision; type of motivation) with different levels (undiluted/tarnish/blur; high involvement/low involvement; informational/transformational). Twelve different questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 3 441 potential respondents. The data generated by the 12 questionnaires was analysed using ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U tests. The results suggested that trademark tarnishing did have statistically significant effects on components of customer-brand equity as far all trademarks/brands were concerned and that the effect of trademark tarnishing and blurring were different when all trademarks/brands were considered together. Tarnishing and blurring had statistically significant effects on components of customer-based brand equity when individual trademarks/brands were considered, but the effect seemed to be specific to the type of decision (high/low involvement) taken and not the type of motivation (informational/transformational) involved. Tarnishing and blurring, when compared, had different and similar, but varying in intensity, effects on components of customer-based brand equity for individual trademarks/brands. Tarnishing and blurring, when considered separately, had different and similar, but varying in intensity, effects on components of customer-based brand equity. The study made a theoretical contribution which should be of value to members of the legal and marketing fraternity. The study showed in the first instance that trademark tarnishing and blurring are independent constructs that had different or similar, but varying in intensity, effects on components of customer-based brand equity. The effect of trademark dilution, tarnishing and blurring, is not limited to brand recall and recognition and brand attitude accessibility. Trademark tarnishing also had different or similar, but varying in strength, effects on individual trademarks/brands, as did trademark blurring. The type of decision (high or low) and type of motivation (informational or transformational) therefore play a role in the unique effect trademark tarnishing or blurring will have on components of customer-based brand equity. Secondly, the effect of trademark tarnishing and blurring may not be unfavourable by implication. In fact, blurring had a positive effect on components of customer-based brand equity, at least after a single exposure. This finding implies that trademark tarnishing has a more severe and faster effect on customer-based brand equity compared to trademark blurring. A brand manager will, as a result of the study, know how to respond, if at all, when a junior mark emerges that is similar to their senior trademark and seemingly dilutes the senior trademark. An attorney whose client requests anti-dilution protection will know, as a result of the study, whether litigation is indeed the answer to the problem. The study provides insight, not only regarding the nature of trademark dilution, as explained by the impact of trademark tarnishing and blurring on specific components of customer-based brand equity, but also regarding the extent of trademark dilution. Trademark dilution has an effect on trademarks/brands, but the effect, be it in respect of a specific component or the intensity of the effect on the component, may not be what is expected. Based on the results of this study several recommendations can be offered to brand managers and trademark attorneys. Brand managers (senior trademarks) should not respond to junior marks using their brands (senior trademarks) without first assessing the nature and extent of the effect of the junior mark on the senior trademark’s customer-based brand equity. Similarly, attorneys should also first examine the nature and extent of trademark dilution and advise their clients accordingly. Once the nature and extent of trademark dilution have been determined, a brand manager can customise his response according to the component of customer-based brand equity affected as well as the intensity of the effect. Attorneys can support at least part of their arguments to obtain anti-dilution protection for their clients, on very exact indications of the effect of use by a junior mark on customer-based brand equity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Konstitusionele Hof van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika het in 2006 (“Laugh it Off Promotions CC vs SAB International (Finance) BV t/a Sabmark International (Freedom of Expression Institute as amicus curiae),” 2006 (1) SA 144 (CC)) bevind dat ‘n senior handelsmerk nie anti-skendingsbeskerming kan geniet tensy die senior handelsmerk ‘n waarskynlikheid van wesenlike finansiële skade kan demonstreer nie. In die Verenigde State van Amerika het wetgewing ‘n Hooggeregshof-uitspraak (“Moseley v Victoria’s Secret Catalogue, Inc.,” 537 U.S. 418 (2003)) gekorrigeer sodat sederdien slegs bewys van ‘n waarskynlikheid van skending nou benodig word vir ‘n senior handelsmerk om anti-skendingsbeskerming te kan geniet. Senior handelsmerke het gemengde welslae in beide die Republiek van Suid-Afrika sowel as die Verenigde State van Amerika behaal wanneer hulle anti-skendingsbeskerming versoek het omrede die empiriese bewyse wat normaalweg aangebied is, beperkend van aard was en die data-insamelingsmetode gebrekkig. Die reaksie van handelsmerkbestuurders op handelsmerk-oortreding was tot dusver beperk tot besluite ten gunste van litigasie al dan nie. Derhalwe ondersoek hierdie studie die aard en omvang van handelsmerk-skending om sodoende beide die regskundige en bemarkingsgemeenskappe te ondersteun wanneer handelsmerk-oortreding vermoed word. ‘n Literatuur oorsig het die elemente en vorme (besmetting en verdowwing) van handelsmerk-skending geidentifiseer asook die motivering om die konsep van ‘handelsmerk’ en die konstruk van ‘handelsmerkwaarde’ te gebruik. Die beperkings van vorige navorsing om handelsmerk-skending te meet en kommentaar op hofbeslissings het die basis van die voorstelling van handelsmerk-skending as ‘n ongewenste effek op kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde neergelê en dit geoperasionaliseer as handelsmerk-ingesteldheid. Handelsmerk-ingesteldheid is ‘n hoë-vlak handelsmerkwaardeskepper en vyf subkomponente (gevoelsinhoud/emosie; denke/kennis; polariteit en stabiliteit van ingesteldheid; ingesteldheidstoeganklikheid/reaksie latentheid; aankoopvoorneme) is geïdentifiseer wat handelsmerk-ingesteldheid akkuraat meet. Handelsmerk-ingesteldheid word voorafgegaan deur handelsmerk-bekendheid en gevolg deur handelsmerk-lojaliteit. Verder kan handelsmerk-ingesteldheid ook verklaar word aan die hand van vier soorte besluitnemingsprosesse: die tipe besluit (hoë betrokkenheid of lae betrokkenheid) en die tipe motivering (informatief of transformerend). Die doel van die studie was om die aard en omvang van handelsmerk-skending, (besmetting en verdowwing) op die komponente van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde te ondersoek. Die studie het ‘n eksperimentele navorsingstrategie gevolg en van ‘n elektroniese opname-instrument (Qualtrics) met self-geadministreerde vraelyste gebruik gemaak. Ses hipoteses is geformuleer om vas te stel of besmetting of verdowwing ‘n effek op enige komponent van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde het wanneer alle handelsmerke gesamentlik beskou word sowel as afsonderlik. Die studie was ontwerp as ‘n 3 x 2 x 2 faktoriale eksperiment. Dit het bestaan uit drie faktore (tipe skending; tipe besluit; tipe motivering) met verskillende vlakke (onbenadeel/besmet/verdof; hoë betrokkenheid/lae betrokkenheid; informatief/transformerend). Twaalf verskillende vraelyste is aan ‘n geriefsteekproef van 3 441 moontlike respondente gestuur. Die data word deur die 12 vraelyste gegenereer is met behulp van ANOVA en Mann Whitney U toetse ontleed. Die resultate het aangetoon dat besmetting ‘n statisties betekenisvolle effek op die komponente van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde het wanneer die handelsmerke gesamentlik beskou word, asook dat die effek van besmetting en verdowwing verskillend is wanneer al die handelsmerke gesamentlik beskou word. Bemetting en verdowwing het statisties betekenisvolle effekte op die komponente van handelsmerkwaarde wanneer handelsmerke afsonderlik beskou word, maar die effek blyk verwant aan die tipe besluit (hoë betrokkenheid/lae betrokkenheid) te wees en nie aan die tipe motivering (informatief/transformerend) nie. Besmetting en verdowwing, wanneer dit vergelyk word, het verskillende of soortgelyke, maar veranderend invloede ten opsigte van intensiteit, effekte op die komponente van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde. Die studie lewer ‘n teoretiese bydrae gelewer aan lede van die regskundige-en bemarkingsgemeenskappe. Die studie het ten eerste getoon dat handelsmerk-besmetting en –verdowwing onafhanklike konstrukte is wat verskillende of soortgelyke, maar veranderend in intensiteit, effekte op kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde het. Die effek van handelsmerk-skending, besmetting en verdowwing, is nie net beperk tot handelsmerk-herroeping en -herkenning en handelsmerk-ingesteldheidstoeganklikheid nie. Handelsmerk-besmetting het ook verskillende of soortgelyke, maar verskillend in intensiteit, effekte op die handelsmerke afsonderlik, wat ook geld in handelsmerk-verdowwing. Die tipe besluit (hoë betrokkenheid of lae betrokkenheid) en tipe motivering (informatief of transformerend) speel derhalwe ‘n rol in die unieke effek wat besmetting of verdowwing op die komponente van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde het. Tweedens is die effek van besmetting en verdowwing nie noodwendig ongunstig nie. Trouens, verdowwing het ‘n versterkende effek op sommige komponente van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde gehad, ten minste ná ‘n enkele blootstelling. Dit impliseer dat besmetting ‘n veel erger en vinniger effek op kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde as verdowwing het. ‘n Handelsmerkbestuurder sal na aanleiding van die studie weet hoe om te reageer, indien enigsins, wanneer ‘n junior merk verskyn wat soortgelyk aan die senior handelsmerk is. ‘n Prokureur wie se kliënt anti-skendingsbeskerming versoek sal weet, na aanleiding van die studie, of litigasie inderdaad die antwoord op die probleem is. Die studie verskaf insig, nie net ten opsigte van die aard van handelsmerkskending soos beskryf deur die impak van handelsmerkbesmetting en –verdowwing op sekere komponente van kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde nie, maar ook ten opsigte van die omvang van handelsmerkskending. Handelsmerkskending het ‘n effek op handelsmerke, maar die effek, of dit op ‘n sekere komponent of op die intensiteit van die effek op die kompenent mag wees, is moontlik anders as wat verwag is. Gabaseer op die resultate kan verskeie aanbevelings aan handelsmerkbestuurders en handelsmerkprokureurs gemaak word. Handelsmerkbestuurders (senior handelsmerke) behoort nie te reageer op junior merke wat hul merk (senior handelsmerk) gebruik sonder om die aard en omvang van die effek van die junior merk op die senior handelsmerk se kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde te bepaal nie. Eweneens behoort handelsmerkprokureurs eers die aard en omvang van die handelsmerkskending te bepaal en hul kliënte dienooreenkomstig adviseer. Sodra die aard en omvang van handelsmerkskending bepaal is, kan ‘n handelsmerkbestuurder sy reaksie volgens die geaffekteerde komponent van die handelsmerk, sowel as die intensiteit daarvan, aanpas. Prokureurs kan ten minste sommige van hul argumente om anti-skendingsbeskerming vir hul kliënte te verkry, ondersteun deur baie duidelike aanduidings van die effek van die gebruik van ‘n junior merk op kliënt-gebaseerde handelsmerkwaarde.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The globalisation is increasing the complexity of product development in terms of product variants and the range of technologies implemented. It emphasises the requirement for developing various design information support systems for the world market. However, small and medium enterprises that employ a wide range of design procedures may not be able to afford customised information support systems, with the result that there is a need for flexible, i.e. easily adaptable, design support tools. Four case studies were carried out to investigate the requirements for an information support system aimed at the design process and design documents. They indicated that a design information support system aimed at supporting design teams in the pre-detail mechanical design phases should be able to adapt various design methods and handle design information in a flexible way. Flexible here means being applicable over a wide range of contexts and extendable without affecting data already captured. Ontology based approaches are widely applied where diverse information has to be handled. The development of the Internet today also makes a distributed design approach more and more popular for mechanical design. An internet-based design support system called DiDeas II (Distributed Design assistant) was developed here with an ontologybased approach implemented to provide distributed and flexible assistance during concept generation in small companies. The DiDeas II has separate server side and client side programs, which communicate through a TCP/IP connection. DiDeas II allows design teams to manage their design information according to various design methods, to decrease time-delays and to improve communication between team members. These benefits were confirmed in two case studies carried out to evaluate DiDeas II. Keywords: Distributed design; ontology; concept design, web-based system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Globalisering verhoog die kompleksiteit van produkontwikkeling, in terme van produk variante en die bereik van tegnologieë wat geïmplementeer word. Dit beklemtoon die behoefte om verskeie ontwerp-inligting-ondersteuningstelsels vir die wêreldmark te ontwikkel. Klein en medium ondernemings wat 'n wye spektrum ontwerpsprosedures gebruik, kan egter nie doelgemaakte inligting-ondersteuningstelsels bekostig nie, met die gevolg dat daar 'n behoefte vir maklik-aanpasbare ontwerp ondersteuningstelsels is. Vier gevallestudies is uitgevoer om die vereistes vir 'n inligting-ondersteuningstelsel gemik op die ontwerpproses en ontwerp dokumente, te ondersoek. Dit het aangetoon dat 'n ontwerp-inligting-ondersteuningstelsel, wat ontwerpspanne in die voor-detail meganiese ontwerp fases moet ondersteun, by verskeie ontwerpmetodes moet kan aanpas en ontwerpsinligting op 'n aanpasbare manier kan hanteer. Aanpasbaarheid in hierdie konteks beteken toepaslik oor 'n wye spektrum kontekste en uitbreibaar sonder om data wat alreeds ingevoer is, te beïnvloed. Ontologie-gebaseerde benaderings word wyd toegepas waar diverse inligting hanteer moet word. Die ontwikkeling van die Internet maak 'n verspreide-ontwerpbenadering meer en meer gewild vir meganiese ontwerp. 'n Internet-gebaseerde ontwerpondersteuningstelstel genaamd DiDeas II (Distributed Design assistant) is hier ontwikkel met 'n ontologie-gebaseerde benadering wat daarop gemik is om verspreide, aanpasbare hulp te verleen aan klein maatskappye gedurende konsep- ontwikkeling. Die DiDeas II stelsel het afsonderlike bediener en kliënt programme wat deur 'n TCP/IP verbinding kommunikeer. DiDeas II laat ontwerpspanne toe om hulle ontwerp inligting volgens verskeie ontwerpmetodes te bestuur, tydvertragings te verminder en om kommunikasie tussen spanlede te verbeter. Hierdie voordele is bevestig in twee gevallestudies wat uitgevoer is om DiDeas II te evalueer. Sleutelwoorde: Verspreide ontwerp; ontologie; konsepontwerp; web-gebaseerde stelsel.

As producers of national and international brands, manufacturers and service providers were the focus of brand management literature. However, as retailers have become major players nationally and internationally, managing retailers as brands have become a major challenge. The retailer unique business nature, and managerial needs as well as its ever-changing business environment render managing the retail brand a unique and complex task. For the retail brand to embrace and adapt to its managerial challenges, a multitude of brand management approaches should be employed. However, when addressing retailers as brands, the retail management literature has failed to account for this multiplicity exposing a gap in the literature. To fill this gap, a communal retail brand management model is proposed to help retailers embrace and adapt to their various branding requirements inflicted by their business challenges. To build the model, a common core among the various approaches involved in managing retail brands should be identified so as to simplify, by forming a unified approach, yet maintain the essence of each approach. The holistic, humanitarian and managerial orientations of the concept of organizational culture identify it as the common core and thus act as the backbone on which the model will be built. Since the model will be built through cultural interpretation, the ethnographic tradition of qualitative inquiry is utilized because it provides an emic perspective, which is the best strategy (that consequently provides best tools) for interpreting cultures. Besides, the flexibility of the ethnographic tradition allows the adoption of other qualitative traditions of enquiry to aid in building the model. Thus, the case study tradition is employed to confine the study within the precincts of a single retail brand in order to conduct deep analysis for several stakeholders simultaneously. Additionally, the analytical technique of the grounded theory tradition is employed to capitalize on its systematic ability to form conceptual themes out of raw data that, ultimately, become the model's building blocks. In light of conducting a five-months participant observation study in two grocery stores of a leading supermarket brand in two countries (Sainsbury's stores in the UK and Egypt), the findings revealed that modelling the retail brand culture resembles, metaphorically, a tree. The culture symbols resemble the tree attractive leaves, the rituals & local heroes resemble the supportive trunk, and values resemble the roots that anchor in the soil, which, in turn, resembles the cultures in which the retailer operates. The thesis concludes that the Tree- Model is a road map that guides retailers to build and manage their brand identity and consequently enable them to embrace and adapt to the various branding requirements dictated by their business challenges.

Every time a good is produced, waste occurs as an unwanted by-product. Waste has become a real environmental issue across the world, contributing to the degradation of the environment and human health. As part of a local and international effort to lessen industrial pollution, a concept to reduce waste production at source was introduced to companies in the early 1990s. Pioneered in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (UK), this concept has been termed 'waste minimisation'. Waste minimisation is achieved by implementing changes to business practices and processes, such as improved housekeeping (e.g. prevention of spills), and changes to equipment that is less wasteful. It is often undertaken by a group of organisations, including for example service providers, manufacturing companies and regulators that join a waste minimisation club (WMC). This provides an opportunity in which training can be received by, waste minimisation assessments made on, and information and ideas about waste reduction at source exchanged by member companies. WMCs have been used successfully in Europe to achieve waste minimisation in industry and residential communities. This study aims to contribute to the development of a sustainable WMC model in South Africa. It analyses the WMC support structures in South Africa and compares them to support structures offered in the UK. This offers a point of reference from which the impact of South African support structures on WMCs in general, and the Pietermaritzburg Waste Minimisation Club (PWMC) in particular, can be established. The PWMC consists of small and medium companies across sectors, each with less than 200 employees and with an annual turnover less than 40 million rand. The club was initiated by the Pollution Research Group of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). It was the first of its kind in South Africa, having been facilitated on a small budget by staff and students from the UKZN. The study found that the self-help approach adopted by the PWMC was only partially successful. The PWMC was successful in terms of raising awareness of its members to waste minimisation issues. The study also found that member companies, both from the PWMC and WMCs generally, need to be shown in practical terms that 2 waste minimisation can result in financial savings before management buy-in can be attained. If more University manpower had been allocated, in the form of students for instance, to identify and orchestrate implementation of sustainable waste minimisation solutions, the PWMC member adoption rate of waste minimisation may have been raised. The small PWMC budget may have made this impossible, however. Lack of funding may also have prevented facilitators putting together a large support team, as has been done for a similar and more successful project in England. This demonstrates that self-help WMCs need an initial funding boost to be successful. This funding should be invested in gaining buy-in from company personnel rather than to drive the waste minimisation process on behalf of member companies. Driving waste minimisation on behalf of companies or 'hand-holding' leads to a passive acceptance of waste minimisation as is currently the case in South Africa, as well as 'shirking' as has been observed in the UK. Such a facilitated self-help approach can then lay the basis for WMCs, which use the support infrastructure established by their predecessors. Studies of WMCs in England and Wales based on a self-help approach showed that they achieved financial savings that are comparable to those in demonstration clubs. The promotion of such sustainable WMCs in South Africa needs to be performed by a central support agency such as the British Envirowise. Envirowise was seen to successfully promote waste minimisation among those it reached. However, it reached only a small percentage of overall industry. A successful South African agency therefore needs to promote itself effectively and nation-wide. A successful South African Envirowise organisation should also facilitate the creation of WMCs by leading a forum of industry, service providers, higher education and waste minimisation champions of proven worth, to create an action plan for WMC development for each province. Each province would then allocate funds for a waste minimisation champion who, in conjunction with the local development agency, would create a provincial action plan for the development of facilitated self-help WMCs. The local support and expertise recruited to form and manage WMCs would decrease costs and leverage income. This kind of support agency needs to be upheld by waste management legislation based on the concept of sustainable development, recognising the need for environmental protection alongside that of economic growth. To date no such legislation is in place in South Africa. It is hoped that the White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management, which endorses the principle of sustainable development alongside with the necessity to reduce waste at source, will form the basis for a successful South African WMC culture. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

This research examines tensions between Latino/a farmworkers, who rely on the seasonal harvest of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens [W. Bartram] Small) berries for increased livelihood security, and conservationists and land-managers who view harvesting as detrimental for wildlife. Informal harvesting occurs on public and private lands, sometimes without permission. Berries, though ubiquitous on the landscape, have become a contested resource. The rapid conversion of rural wildlife habitat into suburban development has increased State urgency to bring natural areas into protection along the Florida Ecological Greenways Network. Habitat infringement and associated pressures on wildlife by development has led to the promotion of the state-wide Florida Wildlife Corridor, based on the FEGN. This corridor would connect isolated Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) populations and Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) with other populations. The scale of the commercial berry industry is unknown, but is estimated at millions of pounds annually. State and wildlife conservationists are increasingly concerned with the perceived scale of the harvest and its possible associated effects on wildlife, particularly Florida black bears. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (DBA)--Macquarie University, Graduate School of Management, 2008. / Bibliography: p. 267-292. / The telecommunications industry ('Telco'), a service provider business, is undergoing significant changes such as deregulations, technology changes and increasing competition. Managers face increased pressure to bring new products with the latest technology into the market faster. Few previous studies have analysed New Product Development (NPD) projects in this hypercompetitive industry. This research addresses this gap by investigating Telco NPD projects and the associated skill sets needed by successful project managers.--The study evaluated how project managers' various skills contribute to project management success. Incorporating clear definitions grounded in the recent literature on NPD, management and leadership, the research proposed a new organising framework of four groups of skill sets: technical, leadership, managerial and administrative. Technical skills are the knowledge of technologies on which the project work is based. Leadership skills involve influencing project stakeholders to deliver a quality product within time and budget. Managerial skills are needed to develop and execute project plans and to get project work done. Administrative skills include understanding an organisation's structure, culture, policies, processes, methods and tools.--Previous classifications for Telco NPD projects have over-emphasised product innovation and undervalued the process aspects. While small projects provide fewer management challenges, this study found that project managers of large and complex projects require all four skill sets. Managerial skills are mandatory. Technical and administrative skills enhance understanding of the technology and business processes. Leadership skills are limited at an operational level. Managerial and administrative skills are essential for developing and implementing project plans; technical skills are important in the initial project stages; leadership skills are needed from the beginning until delivering a new product.--The research outcomes can be used when hiring and developing NPD project manager professionals in the Telco industry to complement current project manager competency standards, which do not cover all the skill sets. Findings may be applicable to Telco companies in other countries new to such market conditions. Furthermore, other industries may adapt the skill set framework to suit their own particular requirements. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xvi, 336 p. ill

A modelagem do processo de negócio é uma abordagem da década de 1990 para melhoria do desempenho das organizações, que volta atualmente como forte contribuinte para a melhoria de desempenho das organizações. É com essa abordagem que esta pesquisa realiza a modelagem de um Processo Desenvolvimento de Produtos (PDP) de uma empresa de fabricação mecânica, que manufatura máquinas e equipamentos para apoiar a produção em frigoríficos, na região oeste Catarinense. A modelagem do PDP utiliza o padrão Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) apoiada pelo aplicativo Intalio BPMS. O objetivo da pesquisa é avaliar a modelagem com BPMN para a formalização do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos e como tratar as complexidades e interações intrínsecas deste processo, em pequenas empresas de fabricação mecânica. A modelagem com BPMN é estruturada na avalição do PDP de uma empresa selecionada e de observações in loco da execução do processo. A metodologia adotada para desenvolvimento da modelagem do PDP da empresa considerou os seguintes aspectos: i) estudo de uma empresa; ii) modelagem informacional; iii) automação do modelo e execução; iv) implementação do modelo do PDP na empresa. Também são apresentadas as características do Modelo Unificado de Rozenfeld et al. (2006), usado como referência para sistematizar a modelagem do Processo de Desenvolvimento de Produtos da empresa, através de avaliação do processo da empresa. Uma breve descrição é feita para apresentar as características dos principais padrões usados na Modelagem de Processos de Negócios, incluindo os principais aplicativos computacionais usados para apoiar os padrões de modelagem. Os resultados foram divididos em duas partes, em modelos abstratos estáticos e dinâmicos. O modelo abstrato estático tem caráter informacional, apresentando riqueza de detalhes, na forma de um mapa detalhado do processo. Para automação, esse modelo estático foi desdobrado em outros dois modelos abstratos, que são configurados para se tornarem dinâmicos, visando a implementação e execução de forma a atender satisfatoriamente a realidade da execução do processo na empresa. O primeiro modelo abstrato dinâmico implementado e executado define o produto e finaliza com a decisão do cliente sobre o orçamento solicitado ao setor de vendas da empresa. O segundo modelo abstrato dinâmico inicia com a aprovação do orçamento pelo cliente, dado início a atividades de projeto informacional e finaliza com a liberação para produção. Essa abordagem visa minimizar as complexidades de modelagem do processo e das particularidades especificas da empresa. A modelagem do PDP com o modelo de referência e a aplicação do padrão BPMN apoiado pelo Intalio BPMS permitiu relatar boas práticas, lições aprendidas, dificuldades e facilidades encontradas. Além disso, o PDP formalizado pela modelagem com BPMN e Intalio BPMS proporcionou mudanças significativas na execução atual do processo, contribuindo para maior integração entre os participantes. / Modeling the business process and an approach of the 1990s to improve the performance of organizations, this currently returns as a strong contributor to the improvement of performance of organizations Packing Company, in the region west of Santa Catarina State. Modeling the PDP uses the standard Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) supported by the application Intalio BPMS. The objective of the research and evaluate the modeling with BPMN for the formalization of the development process of products and how to deal with the complexities and intrinsic interactions of this process, in small companies of mechanical manufacturing. The modeling with BPMN and structured in evaluation of PDP a company selected and comments on the site of the work, the execution of the process. The methodology adopted for the development of modeling PDP the company considered the following aspects: (i) study of a company; (ii) informational modeling; (iii) the automation model and implementation; (iv) implementation of the model of the PDP in the company. Also presented are the characteristics of Unified Model of Rozenfeld et al. (2006), used as a reference to systematize the modeling of the Products Development Process of the company, through evaluation of the process of the company. A brief description and made to have the characteristics of the major standards used in the modeling of business processes, including the main computational applications used to support the standards of modeling. The results were divided into two parts, in abstract models static and dynamic. The abstract model has static informational character, presenting richness of detail, in the form of a detailed map of the process. For automation, this static model was unfolded in two other abstract models, which are configured to become dynamic, aiming at the implementation and execution in order to meet satisfactorily the reality of the implementation of the process in the company. The first abstract model dynamic implemented and executed defines the product and finishes with the customer's decision on the budget requested the sales of the company. The second abstract model dynamic starts with the approval of the budget by the customer, initiated the activities of project informational and ends with the release to production. This approach aims to minimize the complexities of modeling the process and the specific peculiarities of the company. Modeling the PDP with the reference model and the application of standard BPMN supported by Intalio BPMS allowed report best practices, lessons learned, difficulties and facilities found. In addition, the PDP formalized by modeling with BPMN and Intalio BPMS provided significant changes in the implementation of the current process, contributing to greater integration between the participants.

M.Tech (Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology / In the world of research and development, the ability to rapidly manufacture a prototype or part has become a significant part of the manufacturing process. This requirement has given rise to some unique manufacturing technologies. One of these technologies is Additive Manufacturing (AM), or also more commonly known as 3D printing. There are several AM technologies available and can be divided into three major AM categories namely: liquid, powder and solid sheet based. For this research study, the primary focus will be on powder-based technologies. Powder-based technologies make use of materials in powder form and use different fusion techniques to fuse the powder particles together. All the powder bed fusion technologies consist of the same basic components, namely a powder chamber, build chamber, re-coater and a powder fusion system. For each layer of the build, the re-coater applies a new layer of powder from the powder chamber to the build chamber, and then the specific type of powder fusion system will fuse the powder particles together. This process will then be repeated until the entire build has completed. Currently, powder bed fusion AM platforms do not have re-coating quality feedback into the printing system. Thus, when errors or defects occur on the powder bed surface during the re-coating process, they can affect the structural integrity of the parts. Parts must then be reprinted, which becomes costly due to wasted raw materials, electricity and time. Raw material and sundry wastage was some of the key factors that reduces the overall efficiency of the identified AM technology. Due to the increased problem with wasted materials, the need arose to develop a re-coater monitoring system, which could be used to increase the overall efficiency of a powder-based system. For the development of a re-coater monitoring system, a review of three different types of monitoring technologies such as computer vision, laser scanning and a time-offlight camera was conducted. Based upon the relatively low cost, low computer resource requirements and high accuracy, computer vision was considered as the best suited technology for development of the monitoring system. To select the correct camera to capture images of the powder bed, the required specifications for the camera, lens and mounting position were determined mathematically. A software program was then developed to autonomously detect re-coating errors on the captured image after each re-coating cycle using image processing techniques. Each of the captured powder bed images were divided into 16 equal sized quadrants, where each quadrant was processed individually. Each of the quadrants was examined using an edge detection algorithm to detect any changes in contrast that would indicate a defect or re-coating error. The probability of a possible re-coating error or defect was calculated for each quadrant and displayed as a percentage value. The active re-coater monitoring system was also integrated into the Voxeljet VX500 to validate the system’s operation. The system was used to monitor a total of seven build jobs on the Voxeljet VX500. However, the first three build jobs could not be successfully monitored as some parameters of the system had to be re-adjusted to ensure proper operation. The last four build jobs were monitored successfully and recorded results that proved that the active re-coater monitoring system could indeed detect defects and re-coating errors when they occurred.

There are many optimistic and pessimistic views on integrated quality management systems based on international standards. Many businesses have not benefited in terms of operational, quality or business performance, while many others have indicated that the implementation of integrated quality management systems based on an international system standard or other standards has led to improved operational performance and quality, which in turn has resulted in improved business results. The main research problem is therefore to identify the effect of an IQMS on a fishing company and, secondly, to determine whether such a system is compatible with the fishing industry as a whole. By addressing these questions, a perception of the value of an IQMS for the fishing company under study was be obtained. The main research question was: “What is the effect of an integrated quality management system on a leading fish product manufacturer Different research approaches were used to determining the value of such an IQMS in a leading fish product manufacture. The study confirmed that the IQMS has a positive effect on the fish product manufacturer. / Business Management / M. Tech. (Business Administration)