Training is often delivered before training needs analyses were completed for affected employees. The overall purpose of the study was to identify gaps in the perceived training needs between managers and employees. The first gap found that managers differ in how they perceived employees’ training needs. The second gap was found amongst employees about their own training needs. The managers responded through an electronic questionnaire and a conference, while employees completed their questionnaires at their business premises. The unique approach to this study lies in the fact that the employees were involved in the research while it is more common only to allow managers to complete questionnaires. Globally there is a shortage of supply chain management skills. Following the 2008 global recession, well-trained staff could allow businesses to recover economically. However the literature revealed that a lack of existing qualifications rendered employees vulnerable to lay-offs. For decades, governments, businesses and tertiary institutions have been mismatched in meeting their existing/future skills requirements. The research outcomes could help to prevent wasting resources required to train employees. The goal was accomplished by testing nine hypotheses against empirical evidence gathered in supply chain industries. The findings confirmed that managers and employees do not always share the same perceptions. Hypotheses testing on the following variables: the types of training, the format of training, motivating/demotivating variables for attending training, revealed differences. Other variables include respondents’ existing educational qualifications, their gender, age and career tenure. The respondents were questioned about signing contracts before being sent on training programs. This thesis reported and analysed the findings of three questionnaires. The study was in-field for four months in 2011. By using supply chain professional associations to target respondents the study yielded a more credible reflection of industry phenomena. The research contribution lies in the fact that it is a multi-disciplinary study trying to identify whether gaps exist in perceived training needs amongst respondents and why. It integrates theory from the disciplines of human resources, training and businesses management in structured supply chain networks. Future training programs can thus be tailored towards meeting actual employee training needs to align organisational with personal objectives. This study can help alleviate the skills shortage by emphasizing training needs analyses before the commencement of training programs. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Business Management / unrestricted

The objective of this research is to determine if the generally accepted supply chain competency frameworks are in fact applicable to dynamic markets. Many studies into supply chain competencies have been conducted but these have largely focussed on developed markets. With the onset of globalisation and emerging economies competing for a bigger piece of the global economy, supply chain skills have become even more critical as supply chains, rather than organisations, compete. A survey was done amongst supply chain practitioners in both dynamic and developed markets. The survey was issued to test the extent to which the widely accepted supply chain competencies are important to supply chain practitioners in dynamic markets. After confirming the reliability of the results, it was found that respondents in dynamic markets accepted that the competencies as articulated in supply chain competency frameworks were in fact applicable and relevant to supply chain practitioners in dynamic markets. The study also found that while there is strong dynamic market alignment with the competencies, supply chain practitioners differed with their developed world counterparts about the importance of some of the individual competencies. Even though this research has some limitations due to a relatively small sample that is essentially localised to the mining industry, its implications for supply chain practitioners should not be ignored. Also, there is a possibility that the APICS competency model may not have accurately reflected the competency requirements that are characteristic of the supply chain practitioners in dynamic markets. This study can be used as a basis for future research; for example: the perceptions of supply chain practitioners across multiple industries and organisations can be compared. Also, a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis could be used to gain an in-depth understanding of the requisite supply chain skills and competencies / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / pagibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

The paper is to explore a model of supply chain management organic coffee in San Martin Region, which was by a long-term research project for organic coffee supply chain management in Peru. The investigation was consolidated with items of researchers who have experiences in the evaluation and analysis of the supply chain of agricultural products worldwide; on the other hand, it is also taken into account the risks affecting the development and fluency through whole supply chain. The contributions here is proposed model of supply chain management organic coffee is suitable for exploring external and internal problems encountered decrease the efficiency of the supply chain. The model is important to analyze and require observations of specialists to collaborate to perform basic modeling that can help solve the problems that improving processes and organizations in the coffee farmers’ cooperatives in the domestic and foreign market, and achieve recognition for their quality and sustainability in Peru.

This diploma thesis has been created based on the demand of the management of DHL Exel Supply Chain and Swindon Pressings Limited to increase the efficiency and utilization of resources employed within they operations. The theoretical introduction part is first of dealing with the terms "logistics" and "supply chain management" in the perspective of their use in the contemporary logistics theory, comparison of their meaning (are there differences) and explanation of their use in this thesis. Subsequently I am explaining "reverse logistic" and its position in the structures of corporations and logistics itself. Supply chain management and the concept of lean manufacturing combined with the six sigma approach are, from my point of view, essential for today's supplier-customer relationships. That is why those topics are examined in the last part of the theoretical chapter. Returnable packaging and the transport process are key elements of the second part -- practical part, the reengineering of logistics processes which occurred at Swindon Pressings Limited. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the give problem, develop problem solving options and critically comment them. Finally choose one of the options, implement it and document the process of "going live".

The thesis Supply chain management in L'Oréal Czech republic describes and analyses the supply chain of the company. The objective is to define weaknesses of the chain and outline future projects. It analyses the utilization of logistic technologies such as EDI communication, VMI and ECR. In the practical part it focuses in forecasting process in the company. The work suggests new processes and defines parameters that should lead to better results when planning future sales.

Master thesis "Impact of Cloud Computing on Supply Chain Management" analyses the provisioning of IT resources in the form of cloud computing services and their impact on supply chain management environment. Attention is focused particularly on providing SaaS model of public applications delivery. The Cloud SCM implementation offers many advantages especially for small and medium sized companies. In this thesis I analysed the specifics of the deployment of Cloud SCM in highly unstable market environment, where a number of business partners share with each other relatively large amount of information. I identified factors of cloud computing, which have a significant impact on supply chain management. At the end of this thesis I analysed the trends of market supply, determined the leading providers of Cloud SCM and identified the specifics of selecting a suitable provider.

M.Comm. / The demand for products which are distributed through pipelines has increased worldwide over the last decade. These increases in demand have irrevocably impacted upon top management’s perceptions of risks associated with energy pipeline supply chains. Even in South Africa, the increase in demand for products such as diesel, jet fuel and petrol, which are supplied through the energy pipeline supply chains have increased the risks associated with energy pipeline supply chains. This study explores the different risks associated with South African energy pipelines, and investigates whether these risks can have an influence on the business as well as the physical environment of the energy pipeline supply chains. A literature study was conducted and three energy pipeline supply organisations surveyed to determine what their specific viewpoints were regarding the risks faced by the South African energy pipeline supply chains.

This Master's Thesis discusses an analysis of the supply chain at Schiessl s.r.o. The aim is to describe the entire logistics chain in the Czech Republic and its relationship with the Schiessl group. The aim is also to find weaknesses and to offer possible solutions to these problems. The first part discusses the theoretical basis of the research - basic concepts such as logistics, logistics chain, supply chain management, and more. The second part is devoted to Schiessl s.r.o. It introduces the company and describes its structure in the Czech Republic. The most important part is an analysis of the logistics chains of this company - an evaluation of information and material flows (chains). The work concludes with recommendations that should eliminate bottlenecks in the company's supply chain.

This thesis deals with new trends in the field of logistics and its importance for the development of international trade. The main goal is to analyze logistics as a whole in today's holistic approach to understand the Supply Chain Management, the current state and development of the last years of the most important transport modes and analyze the main determinants with the biggeste influence in shaping current and future developments in the field of logistics.

Historically, South African manufacturers and suppliers to the mass retail environment have been compelled to manage significant business risks as a result of the generic buying strategies employed by the mass retailing format. More recently, best practice initiatives such as SCOR’s collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment have risen to the fore of supply chain management as ways to mitigate the undesired effects of theses generic buying practices for all participants in the value chain.Traditional thinking centred on optimising only the merchandise activities and function, through cost based performance measures, have caused a number of undesired effects and invalid assumptions. These factors in turn have impacted the competitiveness and sustainability of manufacturers and suppliers as well as the supply chain ecosystem as a whole. Systemic theory suggests that in order to identify these conflicting and invalid assumptions one must approach the problem through sufficiency based thinking processes that communicate the core conflict and map out possible solutions for managers. Data for this study was collected based on the widely accepted best practice framework of supply chain management for the mass retail environment. With this in mind, this research aims to provide an academic foundation for deeper collaboration between mass retailers and their vendors, as well as an understanding of the practical implications of decisions for managers and executives, on both the mass retail, and manufacturing and supply sides of the value chain.While statistical variation is a reality in the retailing environment, the mass retailing format and its supply chain partners are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of ‘bullwhip’ due to the large scale of promotional activities undertaken. Much of this problem can be mitigated through collaboration on a meaningful bases that allows not only for responsiveness for supply chain partners but greater profitability for all participant in the value chain. It is argued that an improvement in throughput will have a positive impact on the competitiveness and sustainability of the local supply and manufacturing organisations in South Africa. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted