This research addresses the large-scale group fleet replacement problem with multiple vehicle types of multiple units, under budget and demand constraints. Past research in group fleet replacement is limited and has focused on one vehicle type, with multiples units and constraints. Many studies in fleet replacement have also dealt with single replacement, with single units, and with no constraints. The objective of this research is to find the methodology to solve the general large-scale group fleet replacement problem. A multi-phase methodology based on the grouping concept is presented and is integrated with optimization techniques. The vehicles are grouped according to various technology parameters. A two-level hierarchical replacement process, focusing on inter-group, and intra-group analysis, is developed and the resulting models are solved using integer programming. Finally, a case study using the Oregon Department of Transportation records is examined. The replacement model presented can incorporate complex variations in the large-scale group fleet replacement problem. It is flexible and can be used in wide variety of replacement problems. Used appropriately, the results from this methodology can result in reduced fleet replacement costs and operation costs. / Graduation date: 2001

D. Tech. People Management and Development. / The main aim of this study was to develop a strategy to link the informal and formal motor mechanic artisan communities in terms of qualifications. The current formal sector training initiatives for motor mechanics do not provide for or acknowledge the non-formal learning of the informal sector practising motor mechanic artisan. This research supports three main arguments: firstly, the informal sector serves as a reservoir of individuals who are practising the motor mechanic trade; secondly, the need was identified to integrate these informal practising individuals with the formal sector in terms of qualifications; and thirdly, the large motor industries have the authority to propose processes to assist in the integration of the informal and formal artisan training. The study was conducted among 16 experts representing the motor mechanic training environment. The findings indicate that the two sectors could be linked through dedicated recognition of the prior learning system backed by a process of gap training. The findings also highlighted the importance of having modules of employable skills to enhance informal practising artisans’ employability status. Finally, this study identified specific constraints that contribute to the shortage of skilled motor mechanics in general. This research confirmed that a strategy could be developed to successfully link the informal and formal motor mechanic artisan communities.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: research study was about finding the right sourcing strategy that would work effectively for the South African Police Service (SAPS) garages. Its purpose was to help the SAPS garages deal strategically and effectively with their work load while repairing the SAPS vehicles, as the current evidence indicated that the garages might not have sufficient capacity to cope with the volume of repairs they were receiving. The research was structured as a case study design, in which personal interviews were held with SAPS garage managers, SAPS strategy drivers (Head Office) and executive managers at the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Provincial Government Fleet, and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). To follow up on these initial one-on-one interviews, a further questionnaire comprising similar, information-gathering questions was sent out to various SAPS garage managers to elicit more detailed information on the circumstances of their individual garages. A literature review, which formed the basis of the study, explains the sourcing strategy, and explores different sourcing options including how to make the best sourcing decision. In this study, three models of sourcing strategy were considered, and were supported by the case study of the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Provincial fleet management, and PRASA. This study has proved that what the different authors have written and recommended about in-sourcing and outsourcing can still be considered in conjunction with the current legislative and policy framework. The cost analysis was conducted in order to be able to assess which option would be the more expensive between in-sourcing and outsourcing. The fundamental finding of this research was that the SAPS garages could not handle all the work they were receiving, as they did not have the capacity, for various reasons, to deal with the volume of vehicle repairs that were coming in, and that the variety of sourcing strategies at the different garages were not effectively reducing the backlog. There was no clear sourcing strategy in place from the National office to guide the garages. From these findings, the recommendation is that the big garages should handle all the services and minor repairs including some major repairs, with the majority of the major repairs being outsourced to service providers, while the smaller garages should focus on services and minor repairs only, and outsource all major repairs. The vehicles that are not within a 30km radius of the SAPS garages must be directly outsourced to providers using the RT46 contract, or similar arrangement. Further research studies are needed regarding the demographic structure of the garages, and also regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the actual running of the garages. A balance then needed to be found between in-sourcing and outsourcing, whilst ensuring that the garages were operating efficiently and outsourcing responsibly. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingstudie is gedoen om die effektiefste en geskikste verkrygingstrategie vir die voertuigwerkswinkels van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) te bepaal. Die doel was om die werkswinkels te help om strategies en effektief te werk gegewe hulle werkslading, aangesien huidige bewyse getoon het dat hulle nie voldoende kapasiteit daarvoor het nie. Die navorsing is gestruktureer as ’n gevallestudie, waartydens persoonlike onderhoude met SAPD-werkswinkelbestuurders, SAPD- strategiese drywers (Hoofkantoor), en uitvoerende bestuurders van die Stad Kaapstad, die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering-vloot en die passasier-spooragentskap van Suid-Afrika (PRASA) gevoer is. Ter opvolging van die oorspronklike individuele onderhoude is ’n verdere vraelys gebruik waarin soortgelyke vrae aan SAPD-werkswinkelbestuurders gestel is om meer inligting aangaande die toestand van hulle werkswinkels te bekom. ’n Literatuuroorsig, wat die basis gevorm het van die studie, verduidelik die verkrygingstrategie en ondersoek verskillende verkrygingsopsies, asook hoe om die beste verkrygingsbesluite te neem. In hierdie studie is drie verkrygingstrategiemodelle oorweeg, wat ondersteun is deur die gevallestudie van die Stad Kaapstad, die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering-vlootbestuur en PRASA. Die studie het bewys dat dít wat die onderskeie outeurs oor in- en uitkontraktering bevind en aanbeveel het, steeds oorweeg behoort te word, aangevul deur die bestaande wetgewing en beleidsraamwerk. Die kosteontleding is gedoen om te bevestig watter in- of uitkontrakteringsopsies die effektiefste sou wees. Die fundamentele bevinding van hierdie navorsing is dat die SAPD se voertuigwerkswinkels tans nie al die werk wat hulle ontvang, kan hanteer nie, omdat hulle om verskeie redes nie die nodige kapasiteit het om die groot aantal voertuie wat inkom, te herstel nie. Die uiteenlopende strategieë wat die onderskeie werkswinkels volg sover dit uitkontraktering betref, verminder ook nie die agterstand nie. Daar is nie ’n duidelike verkrygingstrategie van die nasionale kantoor wat riglyne aan die werkswinkels verskaf nie. Die aanbeveling na aanleiding van hierdie bevindinge is dat die groot werkswinkels al die versienings en kleiner herstelwerk, met inbegrip van sekere groot herstelwerk, moet hanteer, terwyl die kleiner werkswinkels moet fokus op versienings en kleiner herstelwerk, en alle groot herstelwerk moet uitkontrakteer. Indien voertuie buite ’n 30 km-radius van ’n SAPD-werkswinkel is, moet sodanige herstelwerk uitgekontrakteer word deur gebruik te maak van die RT46-kontrak, of ’n soortgelyke reëling. Verdere navorsingstudies is nodig oor die demografiese struktuur van die werkswinkels, asook die doelmatigheid en effektiwiteit betreffende die werklike bedryf van die werkswinkels. ’n Balans moet gevind word tussen in- en uitkontraktering, terwyl daar verseker moet word dat die werkswinkels effektief bedryf word en uitkontraktering op ’n verantwoordelike wyse geskied.

Ces travaux de thèse traitent des problèmes de maintenance associés aux véhicules industriels. Ils se concentrent sur la planification des opérations de maintenance et sur le développement d'une méthodologie de conception pour la maintenance. Le but est de proposer une offre de maintenance personnalisée en fonction de chaque véhicule et capable de s'adapter aux contraintes des utilisateurs. Dans l'industrie du transport, ces contraintes se caractérisent par un nombre d'opportunités de maintenance limité et des immobilisations à fortes conséquences financières. Cette offre a vocation à garantir un niveau de disponibilité élevé tout en réduisant l'impact de la maintenance sur les coûts globaux d'exploitation. Dans ce cadre, la politique de maintenance développée vise à assurer, moyennant un certain risque, l'autonomie d'un système multi-composant sur des périodes d'opérations données. Pendant ces périodes, aucune opération de maintenance et aucune défaillance du système ne doivent venir perturber la réalisation des missions. A la fin de chaque période, la politique considérée évalue la nécessité d'une intervention de maintenance pour assurer la prochaine période avec un niveau de confiance spécifié. Lorsque la maintenance est jugée indispensable, des critères intégrant les coûts et l'efficacité de la maintenance sont introduits pour sélectionner les opérations à réaliser. Cette forme originale de regroupement dynamique s'appuie à la fois sur les modèles de fiabilité des composants, sur la structure fiabiliste du système et sur les informations de surveillance disponibles en ligne. Celles-ci se composent d'informations liées à l'état de santé des composants mais également à leurs conditions d'utilisation. La flexibilité du processus permet d'intégrer, dans la décision, des niveaux d'informations différents suivant les composants. Les paramètres de cette politique, à savoir la longueur de la période et le niveau de confiance, sont optimisés en fonction du coût total de maintenance. Ce coût, évalué sur un horizon fini, intègre les coûts directs associés aux opérations de maintenance et les coûts indirects engendrés par les immobilisations. Pour envisager une réduction significative des coûts d'exploitation du système, l'optimisation de la politique de maintenance seule ne suffit pas. Il est primordial de mener une réflexion plus large associant le système et sa maintenance dès la conception. Pour diriger cette réflexion, la méthodologie de conception proposée hiérarchise, à l'aide d'un facteur d'importance original, l'impact des composants sur les coûts d'exploitation. Différentes options de conceptions sont ensuite évaluées, par simulation, sur les composants jugés prioritaires. Les options retenues conduisent à réduire les coûts globaux d'exploitation. Des résultats de simulation permettent d'illustrer les méthodes développées. Une application sur un sous-système du véhicule industriel est également réalisée. / This thesis research work focuses on the maintenance operations scheduling and the development of a design methodology for maintenance. The aim is to suggest a customized maintenance service offer for each vehicle and able to adapt to user constraints. In the transport industry, these constraints are defined by a limited number of maintenance opportunities and vehicle unplanned stops with significant financial consequences. This service offer should enable both to improve the vehicle uptime and to reduce the maintenance impact on operating costs. In this framework, the developed maintenance policy ensures, with a given risk probability, maintenance free operating periods for a multi-component system. During these periods, the system should be able to carry out all its assigned missions without maintenance actions and system fault. And the end of each period, the considered policy evaluates if a maintenance action is required to ensure maintenance-free and fault-free operation on the next period with a specified confidence level. When a maintenance action is mandatory, decision criteria considering the maintenance costs and the maintenance efficiency are used to select the operations to be performed. This form of dynamic clustering, called time-driven clustering, integrates both the component reliability models, the system structure and the available monitoring information. In our case, the monitoring information refers to the component state information and information on the component operating conditions. The process flexibility makes possible to make a maintenance decision in using different information levels for system components. The policy parameters, namely the period length and the confidence level value, are optimized based on the total maintenance cost. This cost, evaluated on a finite horizon, is composed of directs costs related to maintenance operations and indirect costs generated by system immobilizations. In order to reach a significant operating costs reduction, the maintenance policy optimization alone is not sufficient. It is essential to have a broader approach to involve the system and its maintenance since the conception. In this context, the developed design methodology suggests to prioritize the components impact on the operating costs. This prioritization is performed thanks to a defined importance factor. Then, multiple design options are evaluated by simulation in priority component. The selected options lead to reduce the operating costs. This work contains simulation results that illustrate the methods mentioned above. Moreover, a heavy vehicle sub-system is used as a test-case.

Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Paraná / Este trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver uma abordagem para auxiliar as montadoras na obtenção de informações sobre os problemas e falhas que ocorrem nos veículos durante o seu uso pelos motoristas, relacionando os dados obtidos com a leitura da telemetria do veículo, assim como as percepções do motorista sobre uma determinada falha. A exploração de técnicas que auxiliam o diagnóstico automotivo é um problema a ser discutido na engenharia. As técnicas de diagnóstico devem fornecer suporte à grande gama de sistemas que surgirão nos próximos anos. Assim, é possível também utilizar a conectividade que os celulares e veículo dispõem na atualidade, com o intuito de evoluir o produto oferecido e melhorar a experiência do cliente enquanto dirige. A inclusão do cliente no processo de diagnóstico, visa permitir que os projetistas identifiquem pontos que podem ser melhorados no carro, mesmo que não apresentem erro aparente. A opinião do cliente pode ser considerada, uma vez que ele é incluído no processo como um novo “sensor" (o mais inteligente e importante de todos) capaz de reportar suas percepções. Considerando este fato, a motivação deste trabalho se encontra em: (i) Procurar alternativas para aplicar de maneira eficiente a conectividade dos veículos no processo de diagnóstico; (ii)Permitir que as montadoras possam obter informações mais concretas dos veículos que comercializam. O objeto é fornecer um sistema de interface entre o usuário e o carro auxiliando a realização dos diagnósticos preventivos mais completos do que apenas usando a telemetria. Neste projeto busca-se que haja uma interação maior com o motorista, e que a experiência das montadoras possa entrar no processo de diagnóstico. Mesmo que o cliente não tenha tanta intimidade com o funcionamento do veículo, o sistema deve orientar o motorista no processo. A entrada de dados do cliente é realizada por texto ou comando de voz. Para a análise desta entrada de dados do cliente foi realizado um estudo de mineração de dados em bases que a montadora já possuía. Estas bases são entrevistas telefônicas nas quais a montadora pergunta ao cliente problemas percebidos no carro, e então as respostas são transcritas para a base. O estudo de mineração de dados foi realizado para a criação do classificador que é responsável por receber os dados de entrada do cliente e classifica-lo em um determinado problema ligado à multimídia ou relacionado ao motor do veículo. O software contido no celular será responsável por solicitar ao sistema de sensores do veículo as leituras necessárias para que o cliente obtenha as informações que deseja. Foi realizado um experimento no qual analistas de diagnóstico responderam a um questionário que buscava analisar se o sistema proposto realmente influenciava no processo de diagnóstico, fazendo com que a solução dos problemas no veículo seja realizada em menos etapas, se comparado com o processo atual. Os resultados mostraram que a abordagem diminuiu o número de etapas necessárias para a obtenção do diagnóstico correto. Dos três estudos de caso realizados, as etapas necessárias para se chegar ao diagnóstico apropriado diminuiu em uma etapa para o primeiro estudo de caso, diminuiu uma etapa para o segundo estudo de caso, e três etapas a menos para o terceiro estudo de caso. Com estes resultados foi possível demonstrar que a abordagem proposta influiu no processo de diagnóstico aplicado atualmente pelas montadoras e concessionárias analisadas. / The goal of this project is to develop an approach to assist automakers in obtaining information about the problems and failures that occur in the vehicles during their use by drivers, relating the data obtained by reading the telemetry of the vehicle, as well as the perceptions of the driver about a particular failure. The exploration of techniques to optimize automotive diagnosis is a problem to be discussed in Engineering. Diagnostic techniques should support the wide range of systems that will emerge in the coming years. Thus, it is also possible to use the connectivity that mobile phones and vehicles have today, in order to evolve the product offered and improve the customer experience while driving. The customer inclusion in the diagnostic process aims to allow engineers identifies points to be improved in the car, even if they dont present an apparent error. The customer opinion should be considered, since he/she is included in the process as a new "sensor"(the most intelligent and important of all) able to report his/her perceptions. Considering this fact, the motivation of this research is: (i) search for alternatives to efficiently apply vehicle connectivity in the diagnostic process, (ii) enable automakers to obtain more concrete information on the vehicles they sell. The object is provide an interface between the user and the car helping them to perform a more complete preventive diagnoses than only using telemetry. In this project it is sought that there is a greater interaction with the driver, and the experience of the automakers could be included the diagnostic process. Even if the customer isnt so accustomed with the operation of the vehicle, the system must guide the driver by the process. The customer input data is performed by text or voice command. The analysis of this customer input data, a data mining study was performed based on a base that automaker already had. These bases are telephone interviews in which the automaker asks the customer for perceived problems in the car, and then the answers are transcribed to the base. The data mining study was performed to create one classifier which was responsible for receiving the input data from the customer and sorting it into a particular problem related with the multimídia or related to the motor of the vehicle. The software contained in the mobile phone will be responsible asking to the vehicle sensor system for the readings necessary for the customer can to obtain the information he/she wants. An experiment was carried out in which diagnostic analysts answered a questionnaire that sought to analyze whether the proposed system actually influenced the diagnostic process, so the solution of the problems in the vehicle was performed on less steps compared to the current process. The results showed the approach reduced the number of steps required to obtain the correct diagnosis. Of the three case studies performed, the steps required to arrive at appropriate diagnosis decreased in one step to the first case study, one step to the second case study decreased, and three less steps to the third case study . With these results it was possible to demonstrate that the proposed approach influenced the diagnostic process currently applied by the automakers and concessionaires analyzed.