Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The environment within which most organisations operate is ever-changing. In such a dynamic environment the only way an organisation is able to not just survive but thrive is by continuously, effectively and efficiently transforming/re-engineering itself (Hammer & Champy, 2001). Luckily, many organisations have realised and accepted this fact. The problem, however, is that the majority of transformation initiatives, launched by organisations, are unsuccessful. In fact, according to (Blanchard K. , 2010), 70% of change initiatives fail. There can only be two possible reasons for the existence of this very serious problem. Organisations either implement the wrong kinds of change initiatives or they ineffectively manage and execute the transformation efforts that they initiate. To solve this problem, an organisation needs to make use of a structured and integrated enterprise engineering methodology that enables it to effectively manage and execute the right kind of change initiatives (Martin, 1995). In the literature that was reviewed, very few structured and integrated enterprise engineering methodologies were found to exist. The objective of this study was to bridge this research gap. In other words, the objective of this study was to develop a structured and integrated enterprise engineering methodology. Developing the enterprise engineering methodology was done by following a basic system engineering process consisting of the following four steps: requirements analysis, system design, system development and system validation. During the requirements analysis step the functional characteristics that the enterprise engineering methodology needed to possess were identified. The purpose of the system design step was to firstly identify the set of methods that the enterprise engineering methodology should consist of and secondly to determine how these methods fit together to form an integrated methodology. The purpose of the system development step was to describe each of the methods that the enterprise engineering methodology needed to consist of in terms of how it is utilised as well as who should be involved during its utilisation. Lastly, during the system validation step the enterprise engineering methodology was evaluated based on how well it satisfies its functional requirements. Expert interviews as well as a case study were used to do this. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die meerderheid organisasies, huidiglik in bestaan, wroeg met die konstante veranderinge wat plaasvind in die omgewing rondom hulle. In so ‘n dinamiese omgewing is ‘n organisasie se toekomstige winsgewendheid en groei hewiglik afhanklik van sy bevoegdheid om aaneenlopend en effektief veranderinge aan te bring (Hammer & Champy, 2001). Die probleem is dat 70% van transformasie-inisiatiewe wat geloots word nie die voordele wat van hulle verwag word suksesvol lewer nie (Blanchard K. , 2010). Hoekom gebeur dit? Hoekom is net 30% van transformasie-inisiatiewe wat geloots word suksesvol? Daar is net twee moontlike redes vir die bestaan van hierdie probleem. Organisasies loots óf die verkeerde tipe transformasie-inisiatiewe óf hulle bestuur hulle transformasie-inisiatiewe op ‘n oneffektiewe manier. Om te verseker dat ‘n organisasie nie in hierdie strik trap nie, moet dit gebruik maak van ‘n gestruktureerde en geїntegreerde besigheidstransformasie-metodologie wat die proses van verandering vergemaklik (Martin, 1995). In die literatuur wat tot dusver nagevors is, kon daar maar ‘n handjievol besigheidstransformasie-metodologiëe opgespoor word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om hierdie gaping in die literatuur te vul. Met ander woorde, die doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n gestruktureerde en geїntegreerde besigheidstransformasie-metodologie te ontwikkel. ‘n Stelselontwikkelingsproses is gevolg om hierdie metodologie te ontwikkel. Die vier stappe wat deel gevorm het van hierdie stelselontwikkelingsproses is die volgende: vereistebeskrywing, stelselontwerp, stelselontwikkeling en stelselvalidasie. Tydens die vereistebeskrywingstap van die proses is die funksionele eienskappe wat die besigheidstransformasie-metodologie moet besit geïdentifiseer. Die doel van die stelselontwerpstap was eerstens om die metodes waaruit die metodologie moet bestaan te identifiseer en tweedens om die wisselwerking tussen die metodes te bepaal. Die doel van die stelselontwikkelingstap was om elkeen van die metodes waaruit die metodologie moet bestaan te beskryf in terme van hoe dit toegepas word, asook wie betrokke behoort te wees tydens die gebruik daarvan. Tydens die stelselvalidasiestap is die metodologie geëvalueer in terme van hoe effektief dit die geïdentifiseerde funksionele behoeftes bevredig. Onderhoude met deskundiges asook ‘n gevallestudie is gebruik om dit te doen.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: "The goal of university research is the creation, dissemination, and preservation of knowledge." – Steven E. Hyman, Provost of Harvard University 2001–2011 The Department of Trade and Industry recently identified the media and entertainment industry as a strategic sector in South Africa because of its growing contribution to economic development through both local and foreign investments, export opportunities and job creation potential, as well as the significant spill-over possibilities in industries like tourism and retail usually associated with emergent industries. However, deficient research and development has been identified as one of the notable constraints to ensuring sustainability and competitiveness of local cultural industries, in which annual expenditure currently amounts to R100 billion. This emergent nature of South Africa’s cultural industries, their strategic importance as part of South Africa’s growth path as dictated by the government and the current dearth of academic literature concerning entertainment technology innovations instigated a three-tiered research objective: First, to determine whether this industry is a legitimate subject for engineering management study by examining its technology-foundation; second, to examine the impact which technological change has historically had on the industry, building on theories by Meza (2007) and Burgelman and Grove (2007); and thirdly, to provide an analysis of the global trend of contention and convergence between content creators and technology companies. Integrating these objectives into one deliverable, the ultimate aim of this study is to establish a synthesised knowledge base on the media and entertainment industry for the Department of Industrial Engineering with specific emphasis on the intersection between technological innovation and business model innovation. A hybrid multiple-case study research approach is utilised to answer eight research questions which contribute to this research goal. Four notable insights gained from answering these are (1) entertainment companies have historically reacted to technological change in a very particular manner, reducible to a four-phase process: invention, ascension, contention and sensation – referring to the observation that incumbent organisations’ response to disruptive innovations is usually one of trepidation, a reaction which leads to legal battles and subsequent contention between technology and media content companies yet simultaneously providing opportunity for inter- and intra-industry convergence and for new business models to be developed; (2) cross-boundary disruptors are those organisations which have the capability of influencing not only inter-industry organisations but also how business is conducted in entirely-different industries; (3) industry effects account for more than 60% of profit variance in the Entertainment and Lodging economic sector, justifying a study of entertainment companies from an industry perspective; and (4) because of digitalisation, the Internet, exponentially increasing computing power and the proliferation of networking capabilities, the media and entertainment industry is transitioning from a business model which is based on media-directed “push” relationships, fragmented audiences and the provision of passive consumption to one which provides ubiquitous immersive experiences, multi-device operability and value-based content which may be customised to consumer requirements. As Porter (2008b) suggests, a historical analysis may prove to be not only informative but also instructive. The synthesised knowledge base and deductions made from this historical examination of disruptive innovation management in the media and entertainment industry may consequently be used as a basis for future research, for which a few possibilities are offered. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: "Ons sal nie ophou verken nie, en die einde van al ons verkenning sal wees om te arriveer waar ons begin het maar om dan die plek vir die eerste keer te verstaan." — T. S. Eliot Die media- en vermaaklikheidsbedryf is onlangs deur die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid geïdentifiseer as 'n strategiese sektor in Suid-Afrika as gevolg van die groeiende bydrae wat hierdie industrie lewer tot ekonomiese ontwikkeling deur middle van plaaslike en buitelandse beleggings, uitvoergeleenthede en werkskeppingpotensiaal. Hierdie industrie beskik ook oor beduidende oorloopmoontlikhede in bedrywe soos toerisme en kleinhandel. Gebrekkige navorsing en ontwikkeling is egter geïdentifiseer as een van die vernaamste beperkings tot volhoubaarheid en mededingendheid van plaaslike kulturele industrieë, `n bedryf waarin jaarlikse besteding reeds R100 biljoen beloop. Die kombinasie van hierdie ontluikende aard van Suid-Afrika se kulturele industrieë, hul strategiese belangrikheid as deel van Suid-Afrika se Industriele Aksieplan en die gebrekkige akademiese literatuur met betrekking tot vermaaklikheidstegnologië het gelei tot 'n drie-ledige navorsingsdoelwit: Eerstens, om vas te stel of hierdie bedryf 'n legitieme akademiese onderwerp vir die ingenieursbestuur-dissipline is deur die aard en tegnologie-fondasie van die industrie te bestudeer; tweedens, om die impak wat tegnologiese verandering histories op die bedryf gehad het te ondersoek, met Meza (2007) en Burgelman en Grove (2007) se teorieë as fondasietekste; en derdens, om 'n analise te verskaf omtrent die wêreldwye mededinging en konvergensie tussen inhoudverskaffers en tegnologie-maatskappye. Geïntegreerd in een aflewerbare is die uiteindelike doel van hierdie studie om ‘n saamgestelde kennisbasis aangaande die media- en die vermaaklikheidsbedryf vir die Departement Bedryfsingenieurswese te lewer, met spesifieke klem op die ontmoetingspunt tussen tegnologiese innovasie en die innovasie van besigheidsmodelle. 'n Hibriede meervoudige-gevallestudie navorsingsbenadering is aangewend om uiteindelik agt navorsingsvrae te beantwoord. Hierdie vrae het gedien as riglyne om die doel van die tesis te bereik. Vier noemenswaardige insigte wat uit die beantwoording van hierdie vrae gekom het is (1) die vermaaklikheidsbedryf het histories op `n besondere wyse gereageer op 'n tegnologiese verandering, een wat gereduseer kan word tot 'n vier-fase proses: uitvinding, aanvaarding, mededinging en sensasie. Hierdie proses verwys na die waarneming dat bestaande organisasies aanvanklik met angs reageer tot ontwrigtende innovasies, 'n reaksie wat lei tot wetlike gevegte en daaropvolgende twis tussen tegnologie maatskappye en inhoudverskaffers, maar tegelykertyd geleentheid bied vir inter- en intra-industrie konvergensie sowel as vir die ontwikkeling van nuwe sake-modelle; (2) ontwrigtende innovasies bied geleentheid vir kruis-grens ontwrigters om die manier te beïnvloed wat ander organisasies, insluitende diegene in geheel-verskillende industrieë, besigheid doen (3) bedryfsfaktore is verantwoordelik vir meer as 60% van winsvariansie in die vermaaklikheidsbedryf, `n waarneming wat 'n studie van vermaaklikheidsbedryf vanuit 'n industrie-perspektief regverdig, en (4) digitalisering, die Internet, eksponensieel-groeiende berekeningspoed en die vermenigvuldiging van netwerke het veroorsaak dat die media- en vermaaklikheidsbedryf `n besigheidsmodelaanpassing moes ondergaan vanaf een wat gebaseer is op media-gerigte "stoot" verhoudings, gefragmenteerde gehore en die verskaffing van passiewe verbruik na een waar aanpasbare, waarde-gebaseerde inhoud alomteenwoordig beskikbaar is en verbruik kan word op veelvuldige toestelle volgens verbruikers se behoeftes. Porter (2008b) noem dat 'n maatskappy se geskiedenis nie slegs informatief is nie, maar selfs ook voorskriftelik. Gevolglik kan die afleidings wat gemaak is uit hierdie historiese ondersoek aangaande ontwrigtende innovasies in die media- en vermaaklikheidsindustrie gebruik word as `n fondasie vir toekomstige navorsing –`n paar aanbevelings hiervoor word in die gevolgtrekking van hierdie dokument gelys.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An efficient container shipping industry is something every country strives toward. Continuous improvement in this industry is of utmost importance in order to grow a country’s economy. One of the objectives of this research study is to determine the inefficiencies that exist within the South African container shipping industry. A lot of these inefficiencies cannot be eliminated by a single organisation, but require the cooperation of all the parties in a supply chain. Currently there is not enough interaction between the organisations in the supply chain apart from limited contact with direct customers and suppliers. The aim of the performance measurement system is to drive organisations throughout the supply chain to focus on the areas that require the most improvement. If inefficiencies are identified, the parties concerned should jointly come up with action plans to address these inefficiencies. This research study will focus mostly on the Cape Town region. The performance measurement system (PMS) developed in this study can be used to improve supply chain efficiency. Existing PMSs were researched in order to develop a system that is applicable to the container industry. Research of the industry was done with the aid of questionnaires, interviews, surveys and a focus group. The benefits of such a system should be carefully explained to representatives of the organisations in the industry to attract their participation. The success of the system is highly dependent on how well the parties in the supply chain participate, as it is only then that the efficiency of a supply chain can be measured. Management representatives were asked to indicate which key performance indicators they are measuring. This information was used as a basis for the study. There are various parties that are currently busy with similar studies, which emphasises the increased need for a supply chain PMS in the container shipping industry. Two case studies were identified that will benefit from a PMS. BMW’s manufacturing plant in Rosslyn and the fruit export industry in the Cape Town region were used as examples of integrated supply chains. The PMS can be easily adapted in order to apply it to other corridors or commodities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Doeltreffende houer verskepingsindustrie is iets waarna elke land streef. Konstante verbeterings in die industrie is baie belangrik vir ‘n land se ekonomie. Een van die doelwitte van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om te bepaal wat die ondoeltreffendhede in die houer verskepingsindustrie is. Baie van hierdie ondoeltreffendhede kan nie deur een organisasie opgelos of geïlimineer word nie. Dit moet deur die hele voorsieningsketting gesamentlik gedoen word. Daar is tans te min samewerking tussen organisasies in die voorsieningsketting. In die meeste gevalle werk organisasies slegs met hulle onmiddelike kliënte en verskaffers. ‘n Voorsieningsketting meting-stelsel sal verseker dat daar op die regte aspekte gefokus word. As ‘n ondoeltreffendheid geïdentifiseer word, is dit die verantwoordelikheid van die hele voorsieningsketting om te verseker dat die ondoeltreffendheid geïlimineer word. Dit sal beslis samewerking bevorder. Die navorsingsprojek fokus meestal op Kaapstad. Bestaande meting-stelsels was geondersoek om ‘n stelsel te ontwikkel wat van toepassing is op die houer verskepingsindustrie. Navorsing was gedoen deur middel van vraelyste, onderhoude, opnames en ‘n fokusgroep. Die doel van die meting-stelsel is om organisasies regdeur die voorsieningsketting te dryf om te fokus op die areas wat die meeste verbetering benodig. Die voordele van die stelsel moet noukeurig aan die bestuursverteenwoordigers van die organisasies in die voorsieningsketting verduidelik word sodat hulle sal deelneem aan die inisiatief. Die sukses van die meting-stelsel hang af van hoeveel organisasies sal deelneem. Die doeltreffendheid van ‘n voorsieningsketting sal eers werklik gemeet kan word as daar ‘n redelike groot belangstelling vanaf die industrie is. Bestuursverteenwoordigers was gevra om aan te dui watter prestasie-aanwysers hulle tans meet. Hierdie inligting was gebruik as ‘n basis vir die studie. Daar is tans verskeie partye wat besig is met soortgelyke navorsing. Dit beklemtoon die feit dat ‘n voorsieningsketting meting-stelsel werklik nodig is vir die houer verskepingsindustrie. Twee gevalle studies was geïdentifeseer dat hulle sal voordeel trek uit die implementering van ‘n voorsieningsketting meting-stelsel. BMW se Rosslyn voorsieningsketting en die vrugte uitvoer industrie in Kaapstad was gebruik as voorbeelde van geïntegreerde voorsieningskettings. Die meting-stelsels kan maklik aangepas word vir ander kommoditeite.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Telerobotics is a field of robotics interested in controlling robots from a distance. Incorporating visual and haptic (touch) feedback allows the operator greater accuracy in manipulating objects in a remote environment. This project endeavours to develop a telerobotic system by using two similar industrial robotic manipulators, one acting as a haptic input device (known as the Master), the other as the telerobot (known as the Slave). This project makes use of a diverse range of technologies to achieve a telerobotic system. As such it makes use of Systems Engineering and Technology Management principles to guide the development process of converting standard industrial robots into a telerobotic system that allows the operator to “see” and “feel” in the remote environment. The ability of the robot to perceive touch is accomplished by incorporating a multi-axis force and torque sensor to both industrial robots to measure any applied force or torque acting on each robot’s end-effector. A communication system is developed that receives the force and torque readings from each sensor as well as transmit the robot instructions to both Master and Slave. Haptic feedback is achieved by combining the force and torque readings from both sensors within a control system before manipulating the data into a robot instruction that is used to control both Master and Slave. Testing of the developed telerobotic system indicates that a functional system has been developed. However, several issues were identified that limit the control capabilities the operator has over the Slave and as such could lead to safety concerns. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Telerobotika is ’n veld van robotika wat belangstel in die beheer van robotte oor ’n afstand. Die insluiting van visuele en hapties (voel) terugvoer stel die operateur instaat om voorwerpe in ’n afgeleë omgewing met hoër akkuraatheid te manipuleer. Hierdie projek streef daarna om ’n telerobotiese stelsel te ontwikkel deur gebruik te maak van twee soortgelyke industriële robot manipuleerders, een wat optree as ’n meganiese invoer toestelle (bekend as die Meester), die ander as die telerobot (bekend as die Slaaf). Hierdie projek maak gebruik van ’n verskeidenheid van tegnologieë om ’n telerobotiese stelsel te ontwikkel. Sodanig word tegnologie bestuur en stelsels ingenieurswese beginsels deur die loop van die projek geïmplementeer om die ontwikkelings proses te lei - van standaard industriële robotte tot ’n telerobotiese stelsel wat dit moontlik maak vir die operateur om te “sien” en “voel” in ’n afgeleë omgewing. Die robot se vermoë om fisiese kontak te ervaar word bereik deur middel van ’n multi-as krag en torsie sensor wat aan beide industriële robotte toegepas word. ’n Kommunikasie stelsel is ontwikkel wat die krag en torsie lesings van beide sensors kan ontvang sowel as die robot instruksies na elke robot (Meester en Slaaf) kan stuur. Haptiese terugvoer word bereik deur die krag en torsie lesings van beide sensors te kombineer in ’n beheer stelsel voordat dit verder gemanipuleer word in die form van ’n robot instruksie wat gebruik word vir die beheer van beide Meester en Slaaf. Toetsing van die ontwikkelde telerobotiese stelsel dui aan dat ’n funksionele stelsel ontwikkel is. Daar is egter verskeie kwessies geïdentifiseer wat die operateur se beheer vermoeëns oor die Slaaf beperk wat sodoende na veiligheids kwessies kan lei.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The Theory of Constraints is a management philosophy based on the underlying assumption that only a few constraining factors limit the throughput of the entire system. Drum-Buffer-Rope is the production logistical solution of the Theory of Constraints. It is the implementation of Constraints Management on the manufacturing shop floor, to manage physical resource constraints. Drum-Buffer-Rope was designed with the purpose of increasing Throughput, while simultaneously decreasing Inventory, and minimising Operating Expense. It aims to accomplish these goals by focusing on simplifying and therefore reducing variability in the production process, and ultimately protecting order due dates against disruptions. The dynamic conditions under which typical job shops operate can make Constraints Management of the resource constraints a cumbersome task. By following a “What If” approach to the scheduling process, the scheduler can play an interactive role in developing practical shop floor schedules. In this way the scheduler can see the results of his/her ideas on the shop floor situation quickly as immediate feedback is provided. The Drum-Buffer-Rope methodology only finite schedules certain points in the manufacturing process therefore scheduling calculations can be performed quickly if done in software. This makes it possible for the scheduler to analyse various scenarios in a short period of time and allowing the development of near optimal shop floor schedules by following a “What If” approach to scheduling. In this project, new developments in the field of Drum-Buffer-Rope were investigated, and the newly developed Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope methodology was researched. The methodologies were incorporated in a fully developed software package that uses Drum-Buffer- Rope or Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope to marry the intrinsic knowledge of the shop-floor worker with modern day computer technology to create production schedules that can be released to the shop floor. Schedules are created rapidly enough by the software to enable the scheduler to follow a “What If” approach to create near optimal shop floor schedules. The developed software was used with live data from a South African job shop to illustrate the “What If” approach to Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope scheduling. The results show that throughput can be increased and operating expense decreased, therefore increasing bottom line results, by analysing various scenarios.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Capitalising on South Africa’s innovation resource through entrepreneurship in the creative industries. In light of the current global challenges as well as local needs and opportunities, there is a need for improved utilisation of South Africa’s innovation resource. Due to designers possessing creativity and the ability to innovate, it is proposed that an increase in the quality and quantity of entrepreneurship activity in the creative sectors will have notable impacts on the sustainability, competitiveness and value of South Africa’s economic activity. It is argued that designers and creative individuals inherently possess a number of entrepreneurial traits and that design education promotes the development of many entrepreneurial behaviours. Thus, it is necessary to offset and maximise these skills with the requisite businessrelated cognitions, attributes and abilities. For this reason, this study looks at the contextual characteristics and needs of small businesses operating in South African design sectors. The objective is to provide relevant and practical suggestions for improving ‘effective’ entrepreneurial activity in the design industries. The current state of entrepreneurship education in a representative sample of South African entrepreneurship courses is analysed. The outcome of this process is used as a base-line in consulting a number of experts in the South African small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, in order to ascertain the context-specific ‘success factors’ for small businesses in South Africa. Empirical data is then gathered regarding the current state of entrepreneurship and small business content in design education in South Africa. The results of all these processes are analysed in conjunction with the empirical results regarding the individually perceived abilities and attitudes of designers currently operating small businesses in South Africa. The outcome of this analysis is a framework describing the important elements (and relationships between elements) necessary in the development of effective entrepreneurial ability. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Benutting van Suid-Afrika se innovasie hulpbron deur middel van entrepreneurskap in die kreatiewe bedrywe. In lig van die huidige wêreldwye uitdagings, insluitend die plaaslike behoeftes en geleenthede, is daar ‘n noodsaaklikheid vir die beter benutting van Suid-Afrika se innovasie-hulpbron. As gevolg van die feit dat ontwerpers oor kreatiwiteit en die vermoë om te innoveer beskik, word daar voorgestel dat ‘n verhoging in die gehalte en hoeveelheid entrepreneuriese aktiwiteite in die kreatiewe sektore ‘n beduidende impak op die volhoubaarheid, mededingendheid en waarde toevoeging van Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese aktiwiteite sal hê. Daar word geredeneer dat ontwerpers en kreatiewe individue oor ‘n bepaalde aantal intrinsieke entrepreneuriese eienskappe beskik en verder dat ‘n aantal entrepreneuriese gedragspatrone deur ontwerp onderwys ontwikkel en bevorder kan word. Dit is daarom nodig om hierdie vaardighede met die vereiste sake beginsels, eienskappe en vermoëns te versterk en optimeer. Om hierdie rede ondersoek hierdie studie die kontekstuele eienskappe en behoeftes van klein sake-ondernemings in die Suid-Afrikaanse ontwerp sektore. Die doel is om toepaslike en praktiese voorstelle vir die verbetering van ‘effektiewe’ entrepreneuriese aktiwiteite in die ontwerp nywerhede te voorsien. Die huidige stand van entrepreneurskap-onderwys is bepaal deur ‘n verteenwoordigende steekproef van die Suid-Afrikaanse entrepreneurskap kursusse te ontleed. Die uitkoms van hierdie proses word gebruik as ‘n basis-lyn in die raadpleging van ‘n aantal deskundiges in die Suid- Afrikaanse klein sake-sektor, ten einde die konteks-spesifieke ‘sukses faktore’ vir klein ondernemings in Suid-Afrika vas te stel. Empiriese data word dan versamel met betrekking tot die huidige stand van die entrepreneurskap en kleinsake inhoud wat in die ontwerp onderwys van Suid-Afrika vervat word. Die resultate van al hierdie prosesse is ontleed tesame met die empiriese resultate wat verkry is ten opsigte van die vermoëns en houdings wat gekoppel word aan ontwerpers wat tans werksaam is in die klein ondernemings in Suid-Afrika. Die uitkoms van hierdie analise poog om ‘n raamwerk daar te stel vir die beskrywing van die belangrikste elemente (en verhoudings tussen elemente) wat benodig word in die ontwikkeling van effektiewe entrepreneuriese vermoëns.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sliding wear is a complicated form of wear involving different factors. The factors affecting the process are the mechanical properties of the materials, sliding distance, sliding speed, and normal force applied to the contact. An experimental study was conducted to assess the performance of Ti6Al4V in self-mated and various counterface material contact couples subjected to linear reciprocating dry sliding motion. The normal force was varied for all the experiments to understand the effect it had on specific couples. Sliding wear experiments were also conducted on cemented carbides coupled with Ti6Al4V. In certain applications carbide coatings are used and could possibly come into contact with Ti6Al4V. Cemented carbides used in the study were manufactured through spark plasma sintering and liquid phase sintering. An in depth study was conducted to assess the spark plasma sintered materials and compare these to those manufactured through liquid phase sintering. The experimental study revealed that an increase in normal force, in sliding experiments, led to an increase in friction and wear volume loss of the Ti6Al4V pin. In addition the experiments found that Ti6Al4V was prone to adhesion and surface oxidation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Glyslytasie is 'n gekompliseerde slytasievorm wat verskillende faktore behels.Die faktore wat die proses beïnvloed is die meganiese eienskappe van die materiale,gly-afstand,glyspoed en normale druk(krag) wat op die kontakoppervlakte toegepas word. 'n Eksperimentele studie om die werksverrigting van Ti6Al4V in verenigde en verskeie teenwerkende materiaal kontakpare wat onderwerp is aan lineêre omgekeerde droë gly-aksie te assesseer is uitgevoer.Die normale krag vir al die eksperimente om die effek wat dit op die spesifieke pare gehad het te verstaan is gevarieer. Glyslytasie-eksperimente is ook op gesementeerde karbiedes wat met Ti6Al4V gekoppel is,uitgevoer. In sekere toepassings is karbiedlae gebruik en kon moontlik met Ti6Al4V in kontak gekom het. Gesementeerde karbiedes wat in die studie gebruik is, is deur vonkplasmasinter en vloeibare fase-sinter vervaardig. 'n Indieptestudie is ook uitgevoer om die vonkplasmasintermateriale en dié materiale wat deur vloeibare fasesinter vervaardig is te vergelyk. Die eksperimentele studie het getoon dat 'n toename in normale krag in glyeksperimente gelei het tot 'n toename in wrywing en slytasievolumeverlies van die Ti6Al4V pin. Bykomend tot die eksperimente is gevind dat Ti6Al4V geneig was tot adhesie en oppervlakteoksidasie.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This project was initiated to develop a new and novel approach to address complex sequencing problems, in particular, an alternative method was developed to find solutions to the sequential ordering problem. The sequential ordering problem is concerned with the arrangement of a number of elements in a sequence that respects a number of precedence constraints and results in the lowest overall cost. A precedence constraint requires that some element will occur before another in the solution sequence, and the cost of a solution is determined by summing the independent individual costs that are incurred when progressing from one specific element in the solution sequence to another. Instances of this problem are regularly found in the practice of industrial engineering in problems such as the routing of a delivery vehicle, the scheduling of jobs on a machine and the preparation of project plans with limited resources. The sequential ordering problem is known to be complex in the sense that as the size of problem instances increases, the best-known time required to find a guaranteed optimal solution increases exponentially.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / The LOMOLD process is a new plastic moulding process being researched at the University of Stellenbosch. The process essentially combines injection moulding and compression moulding. Molten plastic is forced into the mould cavity using a plunger. This plunger then forms part of the cavity wall. The plunger face must therefore follow the geometry of the part. Rapid Tooling evolved from Rapid Prototyping. There are two categories of Rapid Tooling: indirect and direct rapid tools. Indirect rapid tools are manufactured by using a master pattern to form the mould cavity. The accuracy of the mould cavity depends heavily on the accuracy of the master pattern. The master pattern is usually produced using Rapid Prototyping technology. Direct rapid tools use Rapid Prototyping technology to build the mould through and additive, layer by layer process or a subtractive process. This research investigates the use of Rapid Tools for the LOMOLD process. Aluminium Filled Epoxy Tooling (AFET) represents the indirect technology and CNC-machined tooling the direct technology. Both of these technologies are available at the University of Stellenbosch. Parts are manufactured on these tools using an experimental LOMOLD machine. These two technologies are compared in terms of part accuracy, tool lead time, tool cost and part cost. The research concluded that the only advantage the AFET has over the CNC-machined tool is a shorter manufacturing lead-time. In terms of tool cost, tool life, part geometric accuracy, part cost and cycle time the CNC tool is superior. Therefore the application of AFET is limited to small volume, prototype or pre-production runs for tool design confirmation, part functional testing and part appearance testing. It is also demonstrated that a cooling system on the AFET tool has no significant influence on the tool performance and should therefore, especially for production runs less than 150 parts, not be included in the tool to save on tool cost. Another conclusion is that the LOMOLD process is not consistent enough for a production process. This statement could be limited to the machine used for the research but to prove this statement wrong, the machine must be improved and more investigation is required.

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The supply of manufactured products depends on tool, die and mould (TDM) manufacturing. The TDM industry provides the machines, tools and equipment necessary to produce most manufactured components. The TDM industry is a high value-adding constituent in the supply of manufactured products by being at the heart of component manufacturing and by forming the backbone of the manufacturing sector. Unfortunately, the South African TDM industry experienced a steady economic decline during the last decade. This decline resulted in a negative effect on the domestic manufacturing industry. The South African government realised the evident need to restructure and develop the TDM industry. This research forms part of government incentives to increase global competitiveness of the South African TDM industry. The South African TDM industry lacks the capacity to supply in the local demand. This study determines shortfalls and the need for improvement by comparing the South African industry against its global counterparts. A benchmarking methodology is developed to identify improvement plans for individual tool rooms and for the industry as a whole. Recommendations for the domestic industry are provided through conclusions drawn from the study. The benchmarking methodology can be applied to an industry or to an individual concern. A pilot implementation of the methodology was performed in three specific tool rooms. This thesis analysis the South African TDM industry in its entirety and provides recommendations to improve competitiveness.