Thesis (M.A.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iii, 78 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-72).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1959. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 397-408).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison,1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

O tema desta dissertação consiste no desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para comparar o desempenho de diferentes unidades industriais, abordados em usinas de um grupo siderúrgico. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é, utilizando indicadores que melhor avaliem o desempenho industrial, definir benchmarks entre as unidades, comparar as boas práticas existentes e direcionar ações para a gestão da rotina e da melhoria. Para tanto foram escolhidos os indicadores industriais mais representativos dentro do processo em estudo, e a partir deles desenvolveu-se uma ferramenta de comparação, baseada em conceitos estatísticos, calculou-se o desempenho comparativo entre diferentes unidades do grupo, indicando um procedimento de benchmarking interno. Conclui-se que há a possibilidade de avaliar a sustentabilidade do desempenho utilizando indicadores parametrizados, capazes de revelar quaisquer alterações no desempenho, além da aplicação do método estruturado de benchmarking para ajudar na priorização de investimentos, recursos para projetos e demais ações de rotina e de melhoria. / The subject of this work is the application of a methodology to compare the different industrial units performance, covered in mills of a steel group. The main objective of this work is, using indicators that best evaluates the industrial performance, define benchmarks between mills, and compare best practices and direct actions to routine and improvement management. Therefore, the most representative industrial indicators has been choose in the process in study, and based on this, a comparable tool has been deployed, and using statistics concepts, the performance between mills of the steel group has been calculated, using internal benchmarking. In conclusion is possible evaluate the sustainability of performance using parameterized indicators, revealing any change in the performance, beside the application of the methodology of benchmarking to help on prioritization of investments, resources for projects and others routine and improvement actions.

O tema desta dissertação consiste no desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para comparar o desempenho de diferentes unidades industriais, abordados em usinas de um grupo siderúrgico. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é, utilizando indicadores que melhor avaliem o desempenho industrial, definir benchmarks entre as unidades, comparar as boas práticas existentes e direcionar ações para a gestão da rotina e da melhoria. Para tanto foram escolhidos os indicadores industriais mais representativos dentro do processo em estudo, e a partir deles desenvolveu-se uma ferramenta de comparação, baseada em conceitos estatísticos, calculou-se o desempenho comparativo entre diferentes unidades do grupo, indicando um procedimento de benchmarking interno. Conclui-se que há a possibilidade de avaliar a sustentabilidade do desempenho utilizando indicadores parametrizados, capazes de revelar quaisquer alterações no desempenho, além da aplicação do método estruturado de benchmarking para ajudar na priorização de investimentos, recursos para projetos e demais ações de rotina e de melhoria. / The subject of this work is the application of a methodology to compare the different industrial units performance, covered in mills of a steel group. The main objective of this work is, using indicators that best evaluates the industrial performance, define benchmarks between mills, and compare best practices and direct actions to routine and improvement management. Therefore, the most representative industrial indicators has been choose in the process in study, and based on this, a comparable tool has been deployed, and using statistics concepts, the performance between mills of the steel group has been calculated, using internal benchmarking. In conclusion is possible evaluate the sustainability of performance using parameterized indicators, revealing any change in the performance, beside the application of the methodology of benchmarking to help on prioritization of investments, resources for projects and others routine and improvement actions.

The purpose of this study was to revise the industry's reported depreciation allowances to a current replacement cost basis; to measure the industry's real profits and profitability; to assess the relationships between depreciation shortfall and real financial performance; and to evaluate the implications of depreciation shortfall for the steel industry.

M.Ing. / This dissertation covers a literature survey of materials handling and plant layout in the steel fabrication environment. It covers some of the elements and principles of materials handling and how they interact with and influence the effective flow of materials in an operation. Some of the current materials handling methods and systems of a specific South African steel fabrication operation are then investigated. By using the information from the literature study, an evaluation is done on some of these handling methods and systems. The implementation of materials handling elements and principles is investigated in the form of a case study, by using methods proposed in the literature survey. This investigation identifies current materials handling problems in the steel fabrication environment. Recommendations are made that may aid the improvement of materials flow and production output in this particular steel fabrication operation.

AFRIKAANS: As gevolg van die verhoogde eise wat aan die voorman, as eerste vlak van bestuur, in die staalbedryf gestel word, is ondersoek ingestel om 'n keuringsprogram te ontwikkel vir die identifisering van geskikte kandidate vir opleiding as voormanne. Aangesien daar nie definitiewe riglyne in die beskikbare literatuur verkry kon word oor watter sielkundige voorspellers en kriteria nagevors moes word nie, is taakontledings van verskeie voormanposte gevolglik uitgevoer en gebaseer hierop, tesame met resultate van sommige ondersoeke wat in die literatuur opgespoor is, is 'n eksperimentele keuringsprogram saamgestel wat uit kognitiewe- sowel as persoonlikheidstoetse bestaan het. Beoordeling van werkprestasie, gebaseer op Flanagan se kritiese insidentetegniek, is as kriterium van werksukses aangewend terwyl 'n tweede kriterium, naamlik dienstydperk, ook in die proses wetenskaplik bestudeer is. 'n Totaal van 142 proefpersone, te wete 82 produksie- en 60 instandhoudingsvoormanne, is aan sielkundige toetsing onderwerp. Die statistiese verwerkings het korrelasieberekenings, regressieontledings, diskriminantontleding, t-toetse en die bepaling van persentielwaardes, onder andere, ingesluit. Deur gebruikmaking van die t-toets is 'n aantal statisties betekenisvolle verskille tussen die twee groepe voormanne gevind wat saaklik bespreek word. Nadat 'n meervoudige regressieontleding vir die totale groep voormanne bereken is, is afsonderlike regressieontledings vir die twee voormangroepe bereken en beter resultate is hiermee behaal ten opsigte van die statisties betekenisvolle verband tussen 'n aantal veranderlikes, oorwegend persoonlikheidsfaktore, en albei kriteria. By wyse van 'n diskriminantontleding waarmee proefpersone se groeplidmaatskap op grond van sielkundige hoedanighede voorspel word, is 76,50% van die voormanne korrek geklassifiseer as óf produksie- óf instandhoudingsvoormanne. Die voorspellingsdoeltreffendheid van die keuringsprogram insake klassifikasie, prestasiebeoordeling en dienstydperk van potensiele voormanne is dus bo alle redelike twyfel bewys. Die resultate van die huidige ondersoek is oor die algemeen beter as dié wat in verwante ondersoeke verkry is. Dit kan enersyds te wyte wees aan die aard van die sielkundige voorspellers en die criteria wat beoordeel is en andersyds aan die aanwending van diskriminantontleding en afsonderlike voorspellingsmodelle betreffende die twee voormangroepe. Die finale keuringsprogram bestaan uit biografiese gegewens asook toetse van intelligensie, meganiese insig en persoonlikheid. Ten slotte het die ondersoek bewys gelewer dat daar tog met behulp van persoonlikheidsfaktore 'n voorspelling gemaak kan word van die werksukses en dienstydperk van albei soort voormanne in die staalbedryf en dat die bestaansreg van persoonlikheidsmeting, net soos die van kognitiewe eienskappe, geregverdig is in personeelkeuring. ENGLISH: As a result of the increased demands made on the foreman, representing the first level of management in the steel industry, an investigation was conducted to devise a selection programme to identify suitable candidates for training as foremen. Since no definite guidance could be obtained from the available literature regarding which psychological predictors and criteria should be investigated, job analyses of various foremen posts had to be conducted. The findings of these analyses, as well as a certain amount of information derived from the literature, were used as a basis in compiling an experimental selection programme consisting of cognitive as well as personality tests. Ratings of job performance, based on Flanagan's critical incident technique, were used as criteria of job success, while a second criterion, viz. length of service, was also scientifically studied in the process. A total of 142 subjects, namely 82 production foremen and 60 maintenance foremen, were subjected to psychological testing. The statistical processing included, inter alia, the computation of correlations, regression analyses, discriminant analysis, t-tests and the computation of percentile values. By utilising the t-test a number of statistically significant differences were identified between the two groups of foremen, and these are discussed concisely. After a multiple regression analysis had been computed for the two groups of foremen, separate regression analyses were calculated for them and greatly improved results were obtained in respect of the statistically significant relationship between a number of variables, predominantly personality factors and both criteria. By means of a discriminant analysis by which the group membership of subjects is predicted on the basis of psychological attributes, 76,50% of the foremen were correctly classified as either production or maintenance foremen. The predictive effectiveness of the selection programme regarding classification, performance rating and length of service of potential foremen was, therefore, proved beyond any reasonable doubt. The results of the present study are in general better than those obtained in related studies. This can, on the one hand, be due to the nature of the psychological predictors and the criteria which were utilised and, on the other hand, to the application of discriminant analysis and separate prediction models for the two groups of foremen. The final selection battery consists of biographical data as well as tests of intelligence, mechanical comprehension and personality. In conclusion, this study has proven firstly that, with the aid of personality factors, a prediction can indeed be made of the job success and length of service of both types of foremen in the steel industry and secondly that the application of personality measurement, as is the case with cognitive characteristics, is justified in personnel selection. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Psychology / unrestricted

M.Tech. / Owing to the difficulties in the procurement of internationally certified reference materials for iron and steel, local firms are using their own standards manufactured by casting techniques. It is necessary to assess the integrity of these materials using international standards as control to these in-house reference materials. Macro and micro-examination were carried out to reveal the nature of reference materials and hence evaluate their quality. The consistency of chemical composition of standard materials and the accuracy of the analyses based on the in-house standards were evaluated. The results showed that local standards were characterised by gross casting defects. In comparison the imported standards had micro-structural uniformity and free from casting defects. This shows the essential difference in production method. Casting has severe limitations when it comes to the production of components of low segregation and internal soundness. First, the partitioning of solutes between solid and liquid phases invariably leads to segregation and loss of homogeneity. Second, the volumetric change accompanying solidification results in shrinkage cavities. If stringent production controls are not observed, the proprietary standards are bound to have a widely varying chemical composition. In this regard, the calibration and standardisation would essentially be flawed. Hence the subsequent chemical analyses of standards cannot be reliable. It is necessary to establish an analytical methodology that yields reliable results. Standards used for calibration should have a high degree of chemical purity and homogeneity. The study covers other possible production options for standards that can be used for accurate calibration and standardisation of spectrometers for chemical analysis of iron and steel. The use of vacuum melting followed by rapid casting in special chill mould is recommended.