Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography.

 This research is concerned with the transformation Mould and Die (MD) manufacturing industry from the traditional manufacturing paradigm into service-oriented manufacturing (SOM) in collaboration with leading manufacturers in the sector. It investigates how the new concept of Production Service System (PnSS) can be used and extended to integrate distributed manufacturing-oriented services (MOSs) so that all participants could efficiently and effectively collaborate in response to market opportunities. In the PnSS model, MD manufacturers become more specialized in providing certain types of MD products and components while outsourcing other components or related services as MOSs from MOS providers (MOSPs). The main objective of this research is to develop an information and collaboration platform for PnSS (iPnSS) to utilize MOSs and support the implementation of PnSS strategy for MD industry. The proposed iPnSS is developed based on the SOA (Service-oriented Architecture) paradigm, which aims to encapsulate MOSs as Software as a Service so that MOSs can be advertised, searched, and utilized by stakeholders in PnSS. Several core MOSs have been developed as the core components of iPnSS to meet the urgent requirements of participants in new business model, including Ontology-based Dynamic Alliance Service (ODAS) for forming PnSS alliance, Real-time Order Progress Kanban Service (RT-OPKS) for collaborative project tracking and coordinating, and Hybrid Flow Shop Assembly Scheduling Service (HFS-ASS) for production planning and scheduling which is specified for MD production. The research makes several key contributions. First, this research investigates the characteristics and challenges of MD industry, and develops the PnSS business model to transform the traditional manufacturing into service-oriented manufacturing for MD industry. An information and collaboration platform called iPnSS is developed to provide related IT solutions for integrating distributed MOSs to facilitate the practical usage of PnSS. Second, Ontology-based Dynamic Alliance Service is developed to enable participants to form alliance and take advantage of SOM. This service provides a systematic and integrated supplier selection approach in PnSS, being responsible for the major stages in the life cycle of a service-enabled manufacturing process, including service provision and consumption as well as service evaluation and organization respectively. Third, Real-time Order Progress Kanban Service with the support of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is developed to support the efficient knowledge feedback for shop floor visibility and traceability. This service provides a set of mechanisms to monitor, evaluate and coordinate the manufacturing execution during the process of collaborative manufacturing after the formation of alliance. Finally, Hybrid Flow Shop Assembly Scheduling Service is developed to deal with scheduling problem for manufacturing one-of-a-kind products, which is based on real-life study with MD industrial collaborators. For each order in MD manufacturing is assembled after the required components have been produced, the service firstly considers the production simultaneity of components of the same product for final assembly. The service automatically generates scheduling results for PnSS user. / published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

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.

In today's car industries, low investment costs and high production rates are sought. By using nut piercing in the stamping dies in the manufacture of body components, otherwise necessary subsequent tempos can be reduced. The goal of the work was to implement nut piercing from below in a reference die to be able to use this type of operation in future projects. The main problem when implementing nut piercing from below is to be able to handle and evacuate the scrap piece that remains after the punching. By studying the equipment in the reference die, a deeper understanding of the process could be obtained, at the same time as information and necessary material were collected by expertise and the case company's suppliers for nut piercing. The recommendation to the case company provides a solution proposal for scrap evacuation as well as the components involved to be able to carry out the operation.

The objective of this thesis is to examine the evidence of and responses to shortages of skilled blue collar workers in the machining trades--tool and die makers and machinists--in the Montreal metropolitan region. The period studied is 1974 to 1981 and the study focuses on employer behaviour. / It was found that data available from government sources documenting the supply and demand for thee occupations are generally inadequate. The research underlines that one of the fundamental difficulties in compiling net supply and demand figures for these occupations is the pinning down of skill levels involved. Employers' definitions of skill are therefore analyzed. / This research indicates that organizational factors appear to influence the recruitment process as well as the choice of adjustment measures. It was found that employers dispose of and use many measures to respond to shortages. Specifically it was found that the adjustment process does not take place only through changes in wage rates. Rather employers will tend to favour adjustment measures that maintain existing arrangements within firms and preserve management discretion.

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