Thesis (PhD (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Off-road working vehicles are subjected to high levels of vibration input on the rough terrain and irregular roads they work. The human operators are therefore exposed to high levels of whole body vibration (WBV) and at risk of developing health problems. A number of international standards address the matter of whole body vibration, and the European Union issued a directive which limits the exposure of workers in the EU to WBV. Unfortunately, to date there is no law in South Africa requiring compliance with any of these EU standards nor guidelines. There are vehicles which are not fitted with suspension and/or suspension seats. The three wheeled logger used in forestry is a highly manoeuvrable and effective bulk handler, but without any form of suspension and no space under the operator’s seat to install a suspension seat. However, a suspension cushion can be retrofitted to existing vehicles largely alleviating the problem. To isolate low frequency vibration large suspension travel is required which makes an air suspension cushion attractive, as it can fully collapse. Additionally, a Helmholtz resonator if added to the cushion in the form of a pipe and tank, provides anti-resonance at a specific frequency. The resonator can be tuned by adjusting the pipe’s length and diameter as well as the volume of the tank. Larger diameter pipes have less friction and give better reduction of the transmissibility curve at the anti-resonance frequency. The SEAT value is a single number used to compare suspension seats for a specific input vibration. It is calculated from the weighted input acceleration power spectral density curve and the suspension seat transmissibility curve. The former is obtained from the vehicle and is vehicle, path and speed dependent. The latter is the only variable that can be improved by using a better suspension seat/cushion. The input power spectral density often contains significant energy at frequencies where the human operator is most sensitive. The cushion resonator could be tuned to position the anti-resonance in the transmissibility curve at these frequencies. The resultant output vibration would thus be lower than the input vibration at that frequency. In this dissertation an analytical model describes the state variables in the cushion, pipe and tank. A Simulink model predicts the transmissibility curve with a solid mass as well as with a two degree of freedom seated human model. Initially the prototype was tested with a solid mass to compare the transmissibility curve produced by the simulation with the experimental results. It was required to evaluate the contribution of the resonator without the complexity of the human impedance. Subsequent tests were carried out with human subjects. Test results showed high inter subject similarity at the anti-resonance frequencies. Design guidelines are formulated that can be used by the suspension cushion designer to specify the pipe diameter and length and the volume of the tank to determine the optimal transmissibility. Input psd from ISO7096 class EM3 vehicles is used as an example during the design process. A prototype air suspension cushion was designed to reduce output vibration on the three wheeled logger. Laboratory tests with human subjects showed a significant improvement at the problematic frequencies through the tuning of the resonator. Using a Helmholtz resonator with the air suspension cushion the overall SEAT value improved by 25% compared with a 100mm foam cushion. However, the current tank and pipe need to be reduced in size for practical implementation to the vehicle. Future work would include finding an alternative mass to replace the air in the pipe. This should reduce the size of the tank and the pipe required. Additionally the simultaneous effect of multiple resonators at different frequencies should be investigated. This is required for vehicles having an input psd with significant energy at more than one frequency band.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Please refer to full text for abstract.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Some concepts of manufacturing on their own playa decisive role in manufacturing like Integration, Intelligence and Remote Monitoring. They have been tried and tested with great success in various applications in manufacturing. However, very little has been written on the synergy that is created when all three is deployed in one system. It is the aim of this work to survey the attributes of each of these key concepts, to compare them on the grounds of applicability and to study the effects when combined into one system. Final conclusions are made after the hypotheses have been validated with the aid of an experimental model. The first objective of this work is to show how many techniques such as expert systems, fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic algorithms are used to enable systems to perform intelligently. It is accepted that the competitiveness, growth and profitability of a company in future may depend on the level of its system intelligence. This is so because an intelligent system is able to act appropriately under rapidly changing conditions of customer customisation and demands on quicker throughputs. A further objective of this work is to show how integration adds the element of synergy to a system. This is done by showing several ways of achieving integration by non-technological means like departmental consolidation, plant consolidation, product rationalisation, more flexible working practices, etc. There are as many options for integration by technical means as well, ranging from group technology to process or transfer lines, and from flexible automation such as robots through to hard automation using special-purpose machinery and transfer lines. The third objective is to show how remote monitoring enhances the capabilities of manufacturing systems by synergising with the other two key concepts. With the technology of intelligent manufacturing and integration, larger and more complex manufacturing systems are becoming a reality. However, the danger exists that the shop floor machine tools remain isolated islands of automation. Plant machinery needs to be networked into the enterprise-wide information system. The ability to monitor a variety of process parameters and alert plant staff to changing conditions can greatly reduce downtime. This lack of connectivity therefore represents a huge constraint as far as productivity is concerned. For this reason, there is a great interest to study remote monitoring, analysis and diagnostic systems for application in modem manufacturing. The major contribution of this work is to study the synergy that is created by combining the three key concepts into one system and to validate the findings with the aid of the experimental model. The meaning of validation is to make legally valid; to grant official sanction to; to confirm the validity of something or to declare something as true. To validate is to support or corroborate a theory on a sound or authoritative basis by experiments designed to show a hypothesis as being true. The components of the validation model are a neural network, a simulator, a decision evaluator or critic, and a teacher. The neural network is used to make the decisions. Its inputs are the system parameters and its outputs are a vector of values between 0 and 1, the highest value indicates the decision being made (winner takes all). The simulator executes the decision it obtains from the network and thus changes the state of the system. The evaluator looks at how the system changed due to the decision made by the network and decides whether it was a good or a bad decision. The teacher then adjusts the output of the network accordingly and trains the network with the adjusted outputs. The results of the validation experiments show that intelligence is used to train the model, integration is achieved by combining the elements of the model with the mobile robot and remote monitoring is done by the model to analyse the condition of the system and to react accordingly. The main objective of this work is clearly met in that synergy was shown to be created by the three key concepts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aspekte soos Integrasie, Intelligensie en Afstandsmonitering speel 'n deurslaggewende rol in vervaardiging en is al op hulle eie met groot sukses in vele toepassings gebruik. Daar is egter nog nie veel aangeteken oor die sinergie wat ontstaan wanneer hulle tesame in een stelsel gebruik word nie. Dit is die doel van hierdie werk om die kenmerke van elk van hierdie sleutel aspekte na te vors, dit op grond van toepaslikheid met mekaar te vergelyk en die uitwerking te bestudeer wanneer hulle in een stelsel saamgevoeg word. Nadat die hipoteses met behulp van 'n eksperimentele model gevalideer is, word finale gevolgtrekkings gemaak. Die eerste doelwit van hierdie werk is om aan te toon dat verskeie tegnieke soos genetiese algoritmes en neurale netwerke gebruik word om stelsels meer kundig te laat optree. Dit word aanvaar dat die toekomstige mededingendheid en groei van ondernemings mag afhang van die stelsel intelligentheidsvlak. Dit is omdat intelligente stelsels gepas kan optree onder snel-veranderende omstandighede. 'n Verdere doelwit is om aan te toon hoe integrasie sinergie kan toevoeg tot 'n stelsel. Dit word gedoen deur verskeie metodes te bespreek van hoe om integrasie op 'n nie-tegniese vlak te bewerkstellig. Die tegniese metodes van integrasie word ook bespreek en sluit tegnieke soos groeptegnologie, aanpasbare outomatisasie en robotika in. Die derde doelwit is om aan te toon hoe afstandsmonitering as sleutel aspek die ander twee sleutel aspekte kan versterk. Die tegnologië van intelligente vervaardiging en integrasie maak die skepping van groter en meer kompleks vervaardigingstelsels nou moontlik. Die gevaar bestaan egter dat hierdie masjiene slegs eilande van outomatisasie sal bly indien hulle nie met behulp van netwerke in die onderneming se inligtingstelselopgeneem word nie. Die vermoë om prosesveranderinge te monitor kan lei tot verminderde staantyd van masjiene en kan dus produktiwiteit verhoog. Om hierdie redes is die toepassing van afstandsmonitering en -diagnosering belangrik vir toepassing in vervaardiging. Die belangrikste bydrae van hierdie werk is die studie van die sinergie wat ontstaan wanneer die drie sleutel aspekte in een stelsel gekombineer word en om die bevindinge te valideer met behulp van 'n eksperimentele model. Om te valideer beteken om iets geldig te verklaar of om die geldigheid van iets te bevestig. Dit beteken verder om 'n teorie te ondersteun of te staaf op 'n grondige en deskundige basis met behulp van eksperimente. Die validasie model bestaan uit 'n neurale netwerk, 'n simulator, 'n besluitevalueerder of beoordelaar, en 'n onderwyser (terugvoerder). Die neurale netwerk neem die besluite met die stelselparameters as inset en die uitset 'n vektor met waardes tussen 0 en 1. Die simulator voer die besluit uit en verander so die toestand van die stelsel. Die evalueerder bepaal hoe die stelsel verander het as gevolg van die besluit en bepaalook of dit 'n goeie of slegte besluit was. Die onderwyser verstel dan die uitset van die netwerk dienooreenkomstig en lei die netwerk op met die verstelde uitsette. Die resultate van die validasie eksperiment toon aan dat intelligensie gebruik word om die modelop te lei, integrasie behaal word deur die elemente van die model te kombineer met die mobiele robot en afstandsmonitering toegepas word deur die toestand van die stelsel te monitor en te analiseer. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie werk word dus duidelik behaal deur die beskrywing van die sinergie wat ontstaan deur die kombinasie van die drie sleutel aspekte.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / This doctoral dissertation focuses on the application of Van-der-Waals’ forces in micromaterial handling. A micro-material handling system consists of four main elements, which include: the micro-gripper, the micro-workpart, the picking up position and the placement position. The scientific theoretical frameworks of Van-der-Waals’ forces, presented by Van der Waals, Hamaker, London, Lifshitz, Israelachvilli, Parsegian, Rumpf and Rabinovich, are employed in exploring the extent to which these forces could be applied in a micromanufacturing situation. Engineering theoretical frameworks presented by Fearing, Bohringer, Sitti, Feddema, Arai and Fukuda, are employed in order to provide an in-depth synthesis of the application of Van-der-Waals’ forces in micro-material handling. An empirical or pragmatic methodology was adopted in the research. The Electron Beam Evaporation (e-beam) method was used in generating interactive surfaces of uniform surface roughness values. E-beam depositions of copper, aluminum and silver on silicon substrates were developed. The deposition rates were in the range of 0.6 – 1.2 Angstrom/s, at an average vacuum pressure of 2 x 10-6 mbar. The topographies were analysed and characterised using an Atomic Force Microscope and the corresponding rms surface roughness values were obtained. The Rumpf-Rabinovich equation, which gives the relationship of the exerted Van-der-Waals’ forces and the rms surface roughness values, is used to numerically model the results. In the final synthesis it is observed that the e-beam depositions of copper are generally suited for the pick-up position. Aluminum is suited for the micro-gripper and silver is suited for the placement position in an optimised micro-material handling system. Another Atomic Force Microscope was used in order to validate the numerically modelled results of the exerted Van- der-Waals’ forces. The aim was to measure the magnitude of Vander- Waals’ forces exerted by the e-beam depositions and to evaluate their applicability in micro-material handling operations. The measurements proved that Van-der-Waals’ forces exerted by the samples could be used for micro-material handling purposes on condition that they exceeded the weight of the micro-part being handled. Three fundamental parameters, ie: material type, geometrical configuration and surface topography were used to develop strategies of manipulation of micro-materials by Van-der- Waals’ forces. The first strategy was based on the material type variation of the interactive surfaces in a micro-material handling operation. This strategy hinged on the fact that materials have different Hamaker coefficients, which resulted in them experiencing a specific Van-der- Waals’ forces’ intensity during handling. The second strategy utilised variation in the geometrical configuration of the interacting surfaces. The guiding principle in this case was that, the larger the contact area was, the greater the exerted Van-der-Waals’ forces would be In the analytical modelling of Van-der-Waals’ forces with reference to geometrical configuration, a flat surface was found to exert more force than other configurations. The application of the design, for purposes of manufacturing and assembling (DFMA) criteria, also proved that flat interactive surfaces have high design efficiency. The third strategy was based on surface roughness. The rougher the topography of a given surface was, the lesser the Van-der-Waals’ forces exerted were. It was synthesised that in order for a pick-transfer-place cycle to be realised, the root-mean-square (rms) interactive surface roughness values of the micro-part (including the picking position, the micro-gripper, and the placement position) should decrease successively. Hybrid strategies were also identified in this research in order to deal with some complex cases. The hybrids combined at least two of the aforementioned strategies.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A difficult subclass of engineering optimisation problems is the class of optimisation problems which are dynamic and stochastic. These problems are often of a non-closed form and thus studied by means of computer simulation. Simulation production runs of these problems can be time-consuming due to the computational burden implied by statistical inference principles. In multi-objective optimisation of engineering problems, large decision spaces and large objective spaces prevail, since two or more objectives are simultaneously optimised and many problems are also of a combinatorial nature. The computational burden associated with solving such problems is even larger than for most single-objective optimisation problems, and hence an e cient algorithm that searches the vast decision space is required. Many such algorithms are currently available, with researchers constantly improving these or developing more e cient algorithms. In this context, the term \e cient" means to provide near-optimised results with minimal evaluations of objective function values. Thus far research has often focused on solving speci c benchmark problems, or on adapting algorithms to solve speci c engineering problems. In this research, a multi-objective optimisation algorithm, based on the cross-entropy method for single-objective optimisation, is developed and assessed. The aim with this algorithm is to reduce the number of objective function evaluations, particularly when time-dependent (dynamic), stochastic processes, as found in Industrial Engineering, are studied. A brief overview of scholarly work in the eld of multiobjective optimisation is presented, followed by a theoretical discussion of the cross-entropy method. The new algorithm is developed, based on this information, and assessed considering continuous, deterministic problems, as well as discrete, stochastic problems. The latter include a classical single-commodity inventory problem, the well-known buffer allocation problem, and a newly designed, laboratory-sized recon gurable manufacturing system. Near multi-objective optimisation of two practical problems were also performed using the proposed algorithm. In the rst case, some design parameters of a polymer extrusion unit are estimated using the algorithm. The management of carbon monoxide gas utilisation at an ilmenite smelter is complex with many decision variables, and the application of the algorithm in that environment is presented as a second case. Quality indicator values are estimated for thirty-four test problem instances of multi-objective optimisation problems in order to quantify the quality performance of the algorithm, and it is also compared to a commercial algorithm. The algorithm is intended to interface with dynamic, stochastic simulation models of real-world problems. It is typically implemented in a programming language while the simulation model is developed in a dedicated, commercial software package. The proposed algorithm is simple to implement and proved to be efficient on test problems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Moeilike deelklas van optimeringsprobleme in die ingenieurswese is optimeringsprobleme van 'n dinamiese en stogastiese aard. Sulke probleme is dikwels nie-geslote en word gevolglik met behulp van rekenaarsimulasie bestudeer. Die beginsels van statistiese steekproefneming veroorsaak dat produksielopies van hierdie probleme tydrowend is weens die rekenlas wat genoodsaak word. Groot besluitnemingruimtes en doelwitruimtes bestaan in meerdoelige optimering van ingenieursprobleme, waar twee of meer doelwitte gelyktydig geoptimeer word, terwyl baie probleme ook 'n kombinatoriese aard het. Die rekenlas wat met die oplos van sulke probleme gepaard gaan, is selfs groter as vir die meeste enkeldoelwit optimeringsprobleme, en 'n doeltre ende algoritme wat die meesal uitgebreide besluitnemingsruimte verken, is gevolglik nodig. Daar bestaan tans verskeie sulke algoritmes, terwyl navorsers steeds poog om hierdie algoritmes te verbeter of meer doeltre ende algoritmes te ontwikkel. In hierdie konteks beteken \doeltre end" dat naby-optimale oplossings verskaf word deur die minimum evaluering van doelwitfunksiewaardes. Navorsing fokus dikwels op oplossing van standaard toetsprobleme, of aanpassing van algoritmes om 'n spesi eke ingenieursprobleem op te los. In hierdie navorsing word 'n meerdoelige optimeringsalgoritme gebaseer op die kruis-entropie-metode vir enkeldoelwit optimering ontwikkel en geassesseer. Die mikpunt met hierdie algoritme is om die aantal evaluerings van doelwitfunksiewaardes te verminder, spesi ek wanneer tydafhanklike (dinamiese), stogastiese prosesse soos wat dikwels in die Bedryfsingenieurswese te egekom word, bestudeer word. 'n Bondige oorsig van navorsing in die veld van meerdoelige optimering word gegee, gevolg deur 'n teoretiese bespreking van die kruis-entropiemetode. Die nuwe algoritme se ontwikkeling is hierop gebaseer, en dit word geassesseer deur kontinue, deterministiese probleme sowel as diskrete, stogastiese probleme benaderd daarmee op te los. Laasgenoemde sluit in 'n klassieke enkelitem voorraadprobleem, die bekende buffer-toedelingsprobleem, en 'n nuut-ontwerpte, laboratorium-skaal herkon gureerbare vervaardigingstelsel. Meerdoelige optimering van twee praktiese probleme is met die algoritme uitgevoer. In die eerste geval word sekere ontwerpparameters van 'n polimeer-uittrekeenheid met behulp van die algoritme beraam. Die bestuur van koolstofmonoksiedbenutting in 'n ilmeniet-smelter is kompleks met verskeie besluitnemingveranderlikes, en die toepassing van die algoritme in daardie omgewing word as 'n tweede geval aangebied. Verskeie gehalte-aanwyserwaardes word beraam vir vier-en-dertig toetsgevalle van meerdoelige optimeringsprobleme om die gehalte-prestasie van die algoritme te kwanti seer, en dit word ook vergelyk met 'n kommersi ele algoritme. Die algoritme is veronderstel om te skakel met dinamiese, stogastiese simulasiemodelle van regtew^ereldprobleme. Die algoritme sal tipies in 'n programmeertaal ge mplementeer word terwyl die simulasiemodel in doelmatige, kommersi ele programmatuur ontwikkel sal word. Die voorgestelde algoritme is maklik om te implementeer en dit het doeltre end gewerk op toetsprobleme.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fretting wear results in the loss of fit and tolerance at contact interfaces. The aerospace and aircraft industry is severely impacted by fretting wear and fretting fatigue that frequently occurs in turbo machinery and riveted structural connections. There have been numerous studies, investigating the fretting phenomenon for these aerospace applications. Literature available in regard to fretting wear encountered in these aerospace applications is limited. This study is therefore aimed at investigating the fretting wear encountered in aerospace application. An in-house fretting test apparatus was specially designed and developed in order to perform the fretting wear experiments. Ti-6Al-4V and Al7075-T6 are the two aerospace materials that were tested using the fretting test apparatus. An extensive experimental study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of the normal force on the fretting wear and friction behaviour of the two aerospace materials. The most severe of these experiments were identified and then repeated for up to 106 fretting cycles. Additional fretting wear experiments were also conducted between the two aerospace materials and cemented carbides, since the carbides are currently being utilized as coatings in some aerospace contacts that are prone to fretting induced damage. The experimental study revealed that a decrease in the normal force resulted in an increase in the severity of the fretting wear of both aerospace materials. The additional fretting wear experiments involving carbide-metal contact couples found that Ti-6Al-4V and Al7075-T6 were prone to adhesive wear. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Knaagslytasie veroorsaak materiaalverlies by die kontakoppervlakke. Die lugvaart industrie is erg geraak deur knaagslytasie en knaaguitputting wat dikwels voorkom in turbo-enjin toepassings en strukturele verbindings. Daar was al talle studies gedoen oor die effek van knaag op lugvaart toepassings. Literatuur met betrekking tot knaagslytasie in lugvaart toepassings is egter beperk. Hierdie studie was dus gemik daarop om knaagslytasie in sekere lugvaart toepassings te ondersoek. Tydens die studie is ʼn toetsopstelling ontwerp en ontwikkel om knaagslytasie eksperimente uit te voer. Ti-6Al-4V en Al7075-T6 is die twee lugvaartmateriale wat ondersoek is met behulp van die toetsopstelling. ʼn Omvattende eksperimentele studie is gedoen om die effek van die normaal krag op knaagslytasie en die wrywings gedrag van die lugvaartmateriale te ondersoek. Die eksperimente wat die ergste slytasie en hoogste wrywing getoon het, is herhaal vir 106 siklusse. Bykomende knaag eksperimente was ook tussen die twee lugvaartmateriale en sekere karbiede gedoen, aangesien karbiede tans as deklae in sommige lugvaart kontakte gebruik word. Die eksperimentele studie het getoon dat 'n afname in die normale krag gelei het tot 'n toename in wrywing vir beide lugvaartmateriale. Die bykomende knaagslytasie eksperimente op karbied metaal pare het getoon dat Ti-6Al-4V en Al7075-T6twee lugvaart materiale nie in staat was om enige van die karbide te beskadig nie. Die lug-en Ruimte-materiaal aan die ander kant ervaar het kwaadaardige dra.

The demand from modern day customers for quality products, supplied in any quantity and within a short lead-time, forces organisations to stock the correct amount of inventory in the correct locations in its supply chain. Establishing the correct inventory levels within an organisation’s supply chain is complicated by the various stochastic processes occurring in a supply chain. The thesis is aimed at the development of a generic Just-In-Time (JIT) supply chain optimisation software tool, whereby the correct inventory levels for an organisation can be determined. These inventory levels will ensure that the organisation will achieve a predefined customer service level at the minimum cost to the company. The tool was developed and satisfactory results were obtained using the Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA) for optimising the inventory levels.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / There is a growing global demand for titanium. The aircraft industry is the driving force behind the demand for titanium. The reason for this is that titanium has attractive properties that justify its use both economically and environmentally. Titanium alloys have superior strength-to-weight ratios. This implies that by substituting components manufactured from other metals in the aircraft with titanium components, a substantial reduction in structural weight can be achieved. From an economical point of view a lower mass implies lower fuel consumption. From an environmental point of view lower fuel consumption implies less harmful greenhouse emissions. Ti6Al4V components are the most widely used titanium alloy products in aircraft components. Ti6Al4V is known as a difficult-to-machine material. This is due to its low thermal conductivity and small contact area between the tool and the chips causing higher temperatures to be generated closer to the cutting edge of the insert. This will subsequently increase the rate at which the cutting tool wears. For this reason relatively low cutting speeds and feed rates are employed for the machining of Ti6Al4V compared to the machining of steels. Ti6Al4V is an exceptionally high cost material. The low cutting speeds and feed rates used in Ti6Al4V machining raises the machining cost of parts and contributes to an increase in the price of Ti6Al4V parts. By employing higher cutting speeds and feed rates machining times on Ti6Al4V products could be decreased, subsequently lowering the price for Ti6Al4V components. An increase in cutting speeds and feed rates will subsequently cause an increase in generated cutting temperatures, resulting in an increase in tool wear. This stresses the importance of controlling the cutting temperature during machining of Ti6Al4V in order to prolong tool life. The focus of this work was to investigate different lubrication strategies for polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and tungsten carbide inserts for Ti6Al4V milling operations in the quest to develop improved feasible cutting parameters. The results of this study showed that flood lubrication should be utilized for PCD inserts, while a “softer” 60 bar high pressure through spindle lubrication worked best for the tungsten carbide inserts. By utilizing these lubrication strategies, cutting speeds of 100 m/min and feeds per tooth of 0.05 mm/rev for both the PCD and tungsten carbide grades could be attained with satisfactory tool life.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This study intends to develop a decision support tool for new business development units in South African consultancies. These consultancies endeavour to out‐license their technology assets. The enterprise engineering model is examined and the rules and boundaries of the Cartesian space is used to derive further functionality (susceptibility, segmentation and competence) from the various enterprise life cycles as measures for business expansion of knowledge organisations. The reader is presented with an overview of knowledge organisations, more specifically consultancy enterprises and its unique challenges and business models. These firms develop technology for specific market applications to assist them in solving industry specific problems. These technologies are easily modularised and packaged and can be transferred as technology assets to licensees. The bulk of the dissertation deals with the process phases in externally leveraging technology assets, with a focus on the intelligence phase of this process. The industrial engineering approach provides a suitable mindset for understanding the complexity of global strategy problems. Proposed global strategies are based on combinations of geographic areas that become more desirable over time. Levels of aggregation are defined, and the global eco‐socio‐political and economical systems are further investigated. Approaches to global strategy management are investigated, and the PEST framework is used in its broadest sense to conduct an external environmental analysis. Franchising as a method of out‐licensing is proposed as a mode of entry into foreign markets. The development of a decision support tool is supported by the generic system model and more specifically principles from productivity management. Multiple criteria decision modelling is discussed and efficiency and effectiveness are used as the objective and subjective variables. The Brown‐Gibson model is used to calculate a weighted evaluation, and the countries of the world are ranked according to these outcomes. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted on the weighted evaluations providing the reader with graphs indicating what the long and short term focus of consulting firms should be regarding their out‐licensing endeavours on a macro environmental level. In conclusion, this study expands the enterprise engineering model for knowledge organisations (specifically consultancy enterprises) using analytical decision making methods in determining global strategy with a focus on the external environmental analysis.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The concept of National Innovation System (NIS) as new conceptual framework appeared in the late 1980s. The framework of NIS not only focuses on the science and technology development of a country, but also on concerns about a nation’s demand and strategy. The best technology, as well as patents, can be found in developed countries. Their development leads world development in many ways and influences the development model in developing countries. Although it is not hard to see that they seem to be progressing well, the question is why development just happens in some countries. Even fast developing countries, like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa have fewer such well-known or successful business models, compared to developed countries. The thesis attempts to scrutinise the internal and external factors in NIS which may influence countries and the innovation of enterprises within South Africa and China. The thesis focuses on fundamental research of the NIS of South Africa and China. The objective of the thesis is to find out which factors are involved in the NIS and how the system works in South Africa and China. The purpose of the study is to ascertain the difference and gap between these two countries and other more innovative countries, as well as the differences between South Africa and China. The literature study and quantitative method will be used to research and compare the NIS of South Africa and China. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die konsep van Nasionale Innovasie Stelsels (NIS) as ʼn nuwe konsepsionele raamwerk het in die laat 1980s na vore gekom. Die raamwerk van NIS het beide op die wetenskap en tegnologiese ontwikkeling, asook nasionale strategie van ʼn land gefokus. Die beste tegnologie sowel as patentregte kan in ontwikkelde lande gevind word. Hul bydrae is aan die voor front van globale ontwikkeling en het ʼn direkte invloed op ontwikkelingsmodelle vir ander ontwikkelende lande. Die voorspoed in hierdie lande is vir almal duidelik, maar die vraag is waarom ontwikkeling slegs plaasvind in sommige lande. Lande soos China, Indië, Brasilië en Suid Afrika het minder goeie en suksesvolle besigheidsmodelle, in vergelyking met ontwikkelde lande, alhoewel ontwikkeling steeds vinnig plaasvind. Die tesis poog om interne en eksterne faktore van die NIS te ontleed wat sal bydra tot die innovasie van ondernemingsontwikkeling in Suid Afrika en China. Die tesis fokus op fundamentele navorsing op die NIS van Suid Afrika en China. Die doel van die tesis is om uit te vind watter faktore die NIS in beide Suid Afrika en China beïnvloed. Die besondere oogmerk van die studie is om verskille en gapings tussen die twee lande en ander innovasie georiënteerde lande te beklemtoon, asook die verskil tussen Suid Afrika en China. Die literatuurstudie en kwantitatiewe metode word geïmplementeer om die NIS in Suid Afrika en China te ondersoek en vergelyk.