M.Comm. / The South African economy requires effective low cost passenger transport in order to provide sufficient time and place utility for its population. The role that long distance passenger transport plays within this economic framework is important and ranges from inter city transport of passengers traveling for work and private purposes to that of metro transport. It is also important to note that long distance passenger transport plays an important role in the development of rural areas. Huge potential also exists for long distance passenger transport to assist in the development of the tourism industry. Long distance rail passenger transport forms an integrated part of the long distance passenger market. Due to the characteristics of long distance rail passenger transport this form of transport is specially conducive to providing low cost transport to low income groups. This situation enhances development and social interaction of the community in different geographical areas. Although long distance rail passenger transport plays an important role in the national economy the service has traditionally not generated a profit. The reasons for this situation are diverse and complex. This study addresses some of the traditional managerial approaches towards the business. A model is developed to enable management to focus on detailed service-level management that will enhance a higher service level with lower associated costs. This study focuses on service profitability management with the associated costing and pricing methods, and concomitant management information systems. During the discussion of these specific issues some of the cost and revenue deficiencies are identified, and possible solutions are proposed for these problems. Concerns with the traditional costing method are discussed in this study, where after a new model is developed to incorporate all costs that are necessary for product costing. The main reasons for adapting a different approach to costing of services are as follows'. Accurate costing of services enables management to decide on the improvement, continuation or discontinuation of a certain service. Service costing is used as a decision tool for the determination of fares for each service that is provided. The costing model incorporates the reclassification of expenses and costing of services according to their life cycle. For the purpose of arriving at a revenue level that should satisfy sustainable economical development and specific company requirements namely profitability, this study develops a method for calculating fares for long distance passenger rail transport. This method includes internal as well as external environmental issues. The primary requirement for a service profitability model is for management to obtain the relevant information that would enable such a model to function effectively. Due to the purpose of the study, namely to develop a decision model for management a project management approach for the development of a management information system is discussed. This model is related to a long distance rail passenger organization and highlights specific management information that is required for product profitability modeling. Finally this study recognizes that further research needs to be conducted to develop new strategies to decrease cost and increase revenue, with a satisfactory level of service.

Thesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / Railway organisations in South Africa are government parastatals. These organisations have embarked on mega modernisation programmes. Project and procurement process alignment is crucial to the successful implementation of such programmes, as the disconnect between the two processes may result in project cost overruns and escalations. Projects in the parastatal organisations are not completed on or executed according to the planned schedules. The two main research questions are stated as follows: i) What factors affect the alignment between procurement and project management processes in the South African railway organisation? ii) How can the parastatal organisation align the procurement and project management processes? For the research methodology, a subjectivist ontological and interpretivist epistemological stance was followed. The research approach is inductive, with a case study as strategy. Data collection was done on a non-random, purposively selected unit of analysis and observation. Purposive sampling allows the researcher to rely on his or her own judgement when choosing to participate in the study. Participants were selected based on characteristics of a population and the objectives of the study. The participants belong to three departments, namely IT, SCM, and the Project Management Office (Project Managers). These three departments were selected because of their relevance to the study. Interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires. The instrument used was interview guide. Data was analysed by firstly transcribing the interviews. To confirm the correctness of the interviews, the data was validated. Data was further analysed by means of summarising, categorising, and conducting a thematic analysis. Ethical principles were followed in accordance with the policies and procedure of CPUT. The study revealed that project and procurement process misalignment in the railway sector in South Africa does exists. A detailed discussion of factors contributing to this misalignment are discussed further in chapter five and chapter six is recommendations.

Thesis (M.Com. (Marketing Management and Information Systems))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Economic and Business Sciences, 2016. / It was realised that there are inefficiencies at Company X’s plant K shunting yard; service time was long and the idling time of the locomotives was long. Locomotives can be utilised for other purposes in the plant. This has implication in resource planning and productivity in the company. The study deals with the simulation of the Company X rail network in plant K. The focus is on how shunting and product transportation takes place. A background on the study is given, taking into consideration elements which have been included in the study. These include the locomotives and the Block Train Rail Tanker Cars (RTCs). These containers transport different products from Town L to Town M. The study focuses on the transportation of five products. The study also includes the domestic and international Product E trains arriving at the Product E loading and offloading zone. Simulation model which represents the current-state situation was developed, using SIMIO software package. The study examined how service speed during the process of loading and offloading of products in the plant can be improved. The study also focused on locomotives travelling speed and idling time. Conclusions and recommendations have been made on the model developed. The results obtained were also discussed and analysed. / DH2016

The purpose of the study was to explore barriers to supplier development encountered by SMEs as suppliers in the South African railway industry. The first objective was to identify barriers faced by SMEs to be suppliers of large OEMs in the South African railway industry. The second objective was to establish the challenges that lead to failure in the supplier development process. The third objective was to describe the activities done by SMEs to position themselves in becoming preferred supplier development candidates for OEMs in the South African railway industry. SMEs as suppliers in the railway industry were interviewed through an explorative interview. The interview targeted suppliers who were involved in the railway industry and who are actively seeking contracts with the South African railway operators. The findings are that new suppliers are experiencing barriers to enter the railway industry. The key barriers for new suppliers are industry human capital, industry regulation, capabilities, ineffective government intervention and lack of resources. The main challenges identified during the supplier development process are the long bureaucratic process related to supplier development on-boarding, miscommunication and lack of transparency. Suppliers also faced challenges in the way they position themselves in becoming preferred suppliers development candidates for OEMs in the South African railway industry. Recruiting railway expertise and innovating compliant products were the most effective measures taken by suppliers in becoming a preferred supplier. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lmgibs2015 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / Unrestricted

Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-64). / In Camera Lucida Roland Barthes (1980: 64-66), describes the process of looking through his mother's photographs after her death. He weighs up how much of her he recognises in the images he comes across. He evaluates the versions of her that are portrayed and deduces that "none seem to be really 'right':" neither as photographic performances nor as existing recurrences of "the beloved face" that he carries in his psyche. He talks about trying to find her, and achieves only part satisfaction in pinpointing fragments in each image that seem to depict parts of the mother he knows. He concludes that by being partially true, the total representation in each image is false. He suggests that the physical details and direct documentations of his mother's physical self, do not contain the sense of her, as he knows her.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Engineering: Industrial Date: 11 October 2016 / This research investigates Transnet‟s Foundry Quality System, focusing on the quality issues in the Foundry. This includes determining the total cost of quality for the business, investigating the impact of the specific defects on the productivity of the business. Two products were analysed namely, the top centre casting and the brake shoe holders. Root cause analysis was done on each stage of the Foundry process to understand the causes of defects. Data was collected and analysed and most of the defects that occur were found to be the result of poor quality management which consequently causes low productivity and low profits. Also identified was a lack of skilled personnel in specific areas in the Foundry. Furthermore data collection as part of the quality system in the Foundry is not effectively executed and this implies that performance cannot be fully measured. Non Compliance reports from customers were analysed and the total cost of quality was calculated to be R1 214 690.73 based on the data that was available. The impact of defects on productivity was also analysed for the financial year 2014/2015 and it was calculated to be 47% for the brake shoe holders. The target for the Foundry for the financial year was R4 048 799.30 for the actual productivity in sales amounted to R 1 915 510.60. For the top centre the estimated target for the financial year 2014/2015 was R6 271 500.00 and the actual productivity amounted to R3 305 250.00. Statistical process control charts were drawn and it was discovered that some of the machines owned by the business are not capable of producing to specification. Qualifound was identified as a framework to improve the Transnet foundry quality system. It is recommended that top management be educated in the concept of cost of quality and its impact on business profitability and that skilled quality coordinators be appointed to facilitate continuous quality maintenance. / MT2017

M.Comm. / The modern business environment is characterised by a new focus on strategies towards competitiveness and customer service. This includes efficient and effective logistical systems to support just-in-time, shorter production run strategies of customers. Furthermore, the outsourcing of non-core functions to third party service providers, is an increasing tendency. Transport providers are strategically positioned within logistical processes to provide value-adding services. Historically, the transport industry was a highly regulated arena which changed to a competitive deregulated industry. PROBLEM STATEMENT: With the deregulation of the transport industry, rail transport lost market share in the total land freight market. Other than deregulation, the following: In contrast with road, rail is responsible for the accomplishment of transport infrastructure and the maintenance thereof; the differences in the competitive traits of rail and road; and the increasing nature of change within the dynamic marketplace itself. After 200 years, the rail transport mode is confronted with the challenge of relevancy in the twenty first century. The main objective of the study is founded on systematic literary research of land transport within the RSA. The focus is on the role logistics plays in obtaining competitive advantage from a rail perspective. In order to achieve this, the following were investigated: the economics of transport; an evaluation of the competitiveness of the RSA road and rail industry; logistics as an approach to add value and differentiate the transport product; and suitable strategies specifically for rail in support of value adding and competitiveness. FINDINGS: The study finds that logistics can create competitive advantage for rail transport with an unique marketing orientation. This can be maximised by differentiating the rail transport product alignment with market share in the different segments and positioning in the product life cycle. The manufacturing higher value segment represents the biggest growth opportunity in market share. Innovation and quality improvements are prerequisites within rail, whilst selective divestiture strategies on non-profitable business must be considered. The requirement is to provide logistical services within the total supply chain which add value to customers products. Rail transport must therefore find a balance between cost leadership and differentiating strategies. Rail transport in the RSA is aware of the importance to provide logistical value in the freight market. However, it was found that the transformation to make logistics an integrated part of its business is lacking. In contrast, road transport rapidly developed the provision of complete logistical solutions in the freight market. Lastly, it was found that the outsourcing of logistics is a world trend, especially in respect of the USA and Europe.

M.Com. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Architecture, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Urban Design. / The fountainhead of the tramways in South African cities occurred a century ago, when Johannesburg, in particular, experienced horse-drawn trams in the early 1890's. From a rough Babylon, this city has henceforth experienced significant changes in time and space, failing to avoid the desecration of racial segregation and the associated spatial ramifications. The contemporary city hs thus charged with the task of reconstruction and integration to redress the effects of past actions. In parallel, the renslssance of the tramway worldwide, in the form of rapid transit, has brought to light an opportunity to be exploited in the process of re-assembling the fragmented urban form. The catalytic and associated rtpple effects of rapid transit on the urban environment in nearby proximity is, considered critical to both the sustainability of the system and to the environment through which it operates. The underlying approach incorporates the notion of linking history and precedent as a means of instructing future designs. The process Is concerned w!th definition, decomposition, analysis of intermutual links, and re-assembling the whole, to achieve a higher level conceptual abstractlon and understanding. Such an understanding could facilitate the urban designer to maximise the catalytic benefits of a revived urban element. / Andrew Chakane 2018

Thesis (Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / South Africa’s railway system is the most highly developed in Africa. There are different kinds of transport systems in South Africa but rail transport is considered as one of an important element of the country’s transport infrastructure. In South Africa, over 2.4 million passengers make use of rail transport to get them to their destinations. However, evidence shows that train accidents have become a common occurrence across the country. Train-related accidents such as collision, derailments, platform change incidents and commuter accidents, cost South Africa over R400 million per year. The analysis of derailments indicates that the most significant single contributor to derailments is rail breaks. This contrasts considerably with prescribed relevant local and international benchmarks, which show a much lower percentage of derailments due to rail break. The frequency of derailments due to rail breaks in South Africa seems to be higher in the northern than the southern region. Furthermore, the proportion of rail breaks that result in derailment is considerably higher than the set benchmarks and therefore, if there is a rail break, then the probability of this translating into a derailment is astonishingly high. Equally, the high incidence of derailments due to rail breaks is affected by the train length and axle load and further exacerbated by the absence of track circuitry. Since derailments are a direct function of the incidence of rail breaks, focus is required to characterize the factors causing defects on rail lines. This study investigated steel rail material by characterising the piece of the damaged rail with the aim to gain a better understanding of the wear mechanism. Chemical composition analysis of steel rail sample was conducted with the use of a Scanning Electron microscopy. Hardness of steel rail was measured with a Vickers hardness tester. An Optical Microscopy was used to examine the microstructure features of the worn rail samples. This study discovered that the worn out rail, which was produced from high carbon steel with pearlite and ferrite microstructure, undergoes decarburization and a plastic deformation process. The decarburization process happens when the rail track is heated to 700 oC and above when the carbon atoms at the surface interact with the atmospheric gases and are removed from the steel as a gaseous phase. Plastic deformation is created when the iron atoms are heated above the elastic point resulting in the permanent movement of iron atoms.