This study focuses on optimising operations effectiveness and capacity at a heavy engineering plant, namely Heavy Engineering Vereeniging, a division of DCD–DORBYL (Pty) Ltd. The implementation and adoption of technology was included in the investigation. The company operates from 2 premises in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark (Gauteng), and consists of 5 factory buildings. A literature review was conducted to ascertain current industry best practises and technology implementation initiatives. This review included a discussion on the following aspects: Capacity and its utilisation, flexible technology and advanced manufacturing systems, technology in manufacturing, capacity expansion and scheduling, factory layouts, technology and capacity utilisation in a South African context, and finally future trends in capacity and technology at Heavy Engineering Vereeniging. Data collection from within the organisation was done via the issuing of a questionnaire and conducting interviews with various management and supervision employees. The gathered data was analysed for employees’ opinions on current utilisation of capacity and use of technology, as well as suggestions regarding improved working methods, factory layout and the implementation of new technology. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, with the provided descriptive statistical test results used for the identification of possible trends and further interpretation. It was found that current capacities and equipment are being well utilised, but not to their optimal level. The well entrenched management information systems, measurement systems and operating procedures currently in use will aid to increase the level of utilisation of the available capacity and equipment. The implementation of technology and latest best practises within the operation will gain HEV a competitive edge, ensuring their future sustainability and market leadership. However, this implementation must be done with the input and buy in of the work force. The variances in perceptions and attitudes between the various job functions, discovered during the statistical analysis, must be taken into cognisance during any capacity optimisation or technology implementation initiative. Continued capital expenditure and the current drives in research and development need to be maintained to further ensure sustainability. Various inefficiencies were identified and recommendations were made to improve the current operation’s effectiveness and factory layout, primarily by decreasing operating inefficiencies. The recommendations were made based on the results of the study and included the expenditure involved in their execution. Financially viable options, calculated using payback periods and net present values (NPV), included the purchase of phased array ultrasonic testing equipment, horizontal SAW for longitudinal flanges and a modular type furnace. Other options, which could improve operations effectiveness, but not returning financially positive results, included the moving of the Hausler roll into the main fabrication workshop and the moving of the Sachems drills to alongside the lathes. A number of new processes and initiatives were recommended, for which cost comparisons to current similar practices could not be performed. These included the full production implementation of the punch through tandem arc submerged arc welding for wind turbine tower manufacture, implementation of a customer interfacing and communication platform and internal communication display boards. Current practises regarding touch time measurements for welding and drilling were validated. By undertaking these recommendations, it was felt that HEV would continue to be wepositioned to capture the predicted ongoing growth in the mining market in which they currently operate, and to fully benefit from the future upturn in the energy market. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

This study focuses on optimising operations effectiveness and capacity at a heavy engineering plant, namely Heavy Engineering Vereeniging, a division of DCD–DORBYL (Pty) Ltd. The implementation and adoption of technology was included in the investigation. The company operates from 2 premises in Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark (Gauteng), and consists of 5 factory buildings. A literature review was conducted to ascertain current industry best practises and technology implementation initiatives. This review included a discussion on the following aspects: Capacity and its utilisation, flexible technology and advanced manufacturing systems, technology in manufacturing, capacity expansion and scheduling, factory layouts, technology and capacity utilisation in a South African context, and finally future trends in capacity and technology at Heavy Engineering Vereeniging. Data collection from within the organisation was done via the issuing of a questionnaire and conducting interviews with various management and supervision employees. The gathered data was analysed for employees’ opinions on current utilisation of capacity and use of technology, as well as suggestions regarding improved working methods, factory layout and the implementation of new technology. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, with the provided descriptive statistical test results used for the identification of possible trends and further interpretation. It was found that current capacities and equipment are being well utilised, but not to their optimal level. The well entrenched management information systems, measurement systems and operating procedures currently in use will aid to increase the level of utilisation of the available capacity and equipment. The implementation of technology and latest best practises within the operation will gain HEV a competitive edge, ensuring their future sustainability and market leadership. However, this implementation must be done with the input and buy in of the work force. The variances in perceptions and attitudes between the various job functions, discovered during the statistical analysis, must be taken into cognisance during any capacity optimisation or technology implementation initiative. Continued capital expenditure and the current drives in research and development need to be maintained to further ensure sustainability. Various inefficiencies were identified and recommendations were made to improve the current operation’s effectiveness and factory layout, primarily by decreasing operating inefficiencies. The recommendations were made based on the results of the study and included the expenditure involved in their execution. Financially viable options, calculated using payback periods and net present values (NPV), included the purchase of phased array ultrasonic testing equipment, horizontal SAW for longitudinal flanges and a modular type furnace. Other options, which could improve operations effectiveness, but not returning financially positive results, included the moving of the Hausler roll into the main fabrication workshop and the moving of the Sachems drills to alongside the lathes. A number of new processes and initiatives were recommended, for which cost comparisons to current similar practices could not be performed. These included the full production implementation of the punch through tandem arc submerged arc welding for wind turbine tower manufacture, implementation of a customer interfacing and communication platform and internal communication display boards. Current practises regarding touch time measurements for welding and drilling were validated. By undertaking these recommendations, it was felt that HEV would continue to be wepositioned to capture the predicted ongoing growth in the mining market in which they currently operate, and to fully benefit from the future upturn in the energy market. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The diploma thesis focuses on optimization of collection service distribution routes in specific company in Moravia region. Failure to evaluate the effects of transportation organization can lead to inefficient planning of routes, which can in turn lead to time or financial losses. Professional approach to distribution route planning leads to a smooth operation of the collection service and to a successful compliance with the evaluation criteria. At first, the diploma thesis will analyse and evaluate the current condition using the evaluation criteria and then it will attempt to propose new solution to improve the current state of affairs.

Submitted by Itaiguara de Oliveira Bezerra (itaiguara.bezerra@fgv.br) on 2015-03-23T17:14:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Itaiguara Bezerra 2014.pdf: 1060573 bytes, checksum: 40718c7a0634b63bb8605a3f5008d76e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by GILSON ROCHA MIRANDA (gilson.miranda@fgv.br) on 2015-03-26T13:38:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Itaiguara Bezerra 2014.pdf: 1060573 bytes, checksum: 40718c7a0634b63bb8605a3f5008d76e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcia Bacha (marcia.bacha@fgv.br) on 2015-03-27T17:49:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Itaiguara Bezerra 2014.pdf: 1060573 bytes, checksum: 40718c7a0634b63bb8605a3f5008d76e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-27T17:49:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Itaiguara Bezerra 2014.pdf: 1060573 bytes, checksum: 40718c7a0634b63bb8605a3f5008d76e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-23 / A Non-Inflationary Rate of Capacity Utilisation (NIRCU) for the Brazilian Economy has been developed based on microdata from the Manufacturing Survey and the Producer Price Index (IPA-M) series, both provided by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV). Three types of NIRCU were evaluated: Survey NIRCU, Coincident NIRCU and Leading NIRCU. The first, using survey data alone aims at verifying the absence of inflationary pressure when companies declare in the Survey not to raise prices within the next three months and that their number of shifts equals the industry average. By matching the companies’ declarations with the Survey and the IPA-M, the other two NIRCUs check if the variation of the respective price indexes reflect the companies' assertion not to change their prices. The difference between the two latter approaches is that the first, the Coincident NIRCU, draws on Survey and price index data of the same period, whereas the Leading NIRCU verifies the price indexes of the quarter after the Survey. The effiency of these inflation pressure indicators was assessed by introducing the different NIRCU output gaps into the Phillips Curve framework and applying the Ordinary Least Square Method (OLS). The Leading NIRCU produced the worst results, while Survey and Coincident NIRCU performed well, especially the latter. They are comparable to most traditional output gap estimates. / Esta dissertação baseia-se na criação de uma taxa não inflacionária da capacidade utilizada (NIRCU) para economia brasileira, utilizando microdados da Sondagem da Indústria de Transformação e Índice de Preços ao Produtor Amplo – M (IPA-M), pesquisas desenvolvidas pela FGV/IBRE. Foram criadas três taxas: NIRCU Sondagem, NIRCU Coincidente e NIRCU Antecedente. A primeira utiliza apenas dados da sondagem e a ideia é verificar que não há pressão inflacionária quando as empresas informam para sondagem que não irão variar os seus preços para os próximos três meses e que o número de turnos trabalhado é igual à média do setor. Já as demais, cruzam as informações das empresas que respondem tanto a Sondagem da Indústria de Transformação quanto no IPA-M e verifica se as que informam que não irão alterar os seus preços nos próximos três meses se concretiza quando comparados às variações do índice. A diferença entre as duas últimas abordagens é que a primeira, NIRCU Coincidente, verifica no mesmo período e a outra, NIRCU Antecedente, no trimestre seguinte. A forma encontrada para verificar a eficácia dos indicadores em mensurar a existência de pressão inflacionária foi inserir os diferentes hiatos de produto das NIRCU no modelo de Curva de Phillips, usando a metodologia de Mínimos Quadrados Ordinários (MQO). De acordo com as estimativas, a NIRCU Antecedente foi a única das três que não apresentou um bom desempenho no resultado; as NIRCU Sondagem e Coincidente tiveram uma performance muita boa, principalmente a última. Ou seja, esses dois indicadores tiveram um resultado tão bom quanto as mais tradicionais medidas de hiato de produto.

Yes / The paper contributes to development of RMS through linkage with external stakeholders such as customers and suppliers of parts/raw materials to handle demand fluctuations that necessitate information sharing across the supply chain tiers. RMS is developed as an integrated supply chain hub for adjusting production capacity using a hybrid methodology of decision trees and Markov analysis. The proposed Markov Chain model contributes to evaluate and monitor system reconfigurations required due to changes of product families with consideration of the product life cycles. The simulation findings indicate that system productivity and financial performance in terms of the profit contribution of product-process allocation will vary over configuration stages. The capacity of an RMS with limited product families and/or limited model variants becomes gradually inoperative whilst approaching upcoming configuration stages due to the end of product life cycles. As a result, reconfiguration preparation is suggested quite before ending life cycle of an existing product in process, for switching from a product family to a new/another product family in the production range, subject to its present demand. The proposed model is illustrated through a simplified case study with given product families and transition probabilities.

Die vorliegende Ausgabe gibt einen Überblick über Zusammenhänge der Kapazitätsauslastung und den Veränderungen der Umwelt der Siedlungsentwässerung. Anhand des Abwasserentsorgers ABWASSERZWECKVERBAND „SPREEQUELLEN“ werden die Auswirkungen des demografischen Wandels auf die Gebühren unter Beachtung der Kostenentwicklung analysiert. Die Umwelt der Siedlungsentwässerung wird von politisch-rechtlichen, ökonomischen, soziokulturellen, technologischen und ökologischen Faktoren beeinflusst, welche miteinander im Zusammenhang stehen. Veränderungen dieser Faktoren beeinflussen die Kapazitätsauslastung in der Siedlungsentwässerung, besonders mit dem Rückgang des anfallenden Abwassers. Vor allem die lange Lebensdauer beziehungsweise Nutzungsdauer der Anlagen führt dazu, dass in der Planungsphase zukünftige Entwicklungen nicht immer vollständig abgeschätzt werden können. Auswirkungen einer geringeren Auslastung der Abwasseranlagen können zu Problemen beim Betrieb wie auch zu wirtschaftliche Folgen führen. Weiterhin werden mögliche künftige Strategien, wie zum Beispiel eine weitere Reduzierung der Kosten soweit dies bei einem weiterhin regulären Betrieb möglich ist oder auch eine Erhöhung der erhobenen Gebühren vorgestellt.

Die vorliegende Ausgabe gibt einen Überblick über Zusammenhänge der Kapazitätsauslastung und den Veränderungen der Umwelt der Siedlungsentwässerung. Anhand des Abwasserentsorgers ABWASSERZWECKVERBAND „SPREEQUELLEN“ werden die Auswirkungen des demografischen Wandels auf die Gebühren unter Beachtung der Kostenentwicklung analysiert. Die Umwelt der Siedlungsentwässerung wird von politisch-rechtlichen, ökonomischen, soziokulturellen, technologischen und ökologischen Faktoren beeinflusst, welche miteinander im Zusammenhang stehen. Veränderungen dieser Faktoren beeinflussen die Kapazitätsauslastung in der Siedlungsentwässerung, besonders mit dem Rückgang des anfallenden Abwassers. Vor allem die lange Lebensdauer beziehungsweise Nutzungsdauer der Anlagen führt dazu, dass in der Planungsphase zukünftige Entwicklungen nicht immer vollständig abgeschätzt werden können. Auswirkungen einer geringeren Auslastung der Abwasseranlagen können zu Problemen beim Betrieb wie auch zu wirtschaftliche Folgen führen. Weiterhin werden mögliche künftige Strategien, wie zum Beispiel eine weitere Reduzierung der Kosten soweit dies bei einem weiterhin regulären Betrieb möglich ist oder auch eine Erhöhung der erhobenen Gebühren vorgestellt.