Increasing energy efficiency is critical towards mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-fuel combustion, reducing oil dependence, and achieving a sustainable global energy system (Greene, 2011:608). Most South African legislation and research scholars support the above statement; however, with a lack of tangible evidence, the statement is yet to be proved physically true in the South African manufacturing industry. A case study was conducted within three automotive component manufacturers located in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, with the objective of identifying energy efficiency projects; investigate the perception of company employees on energy efficiency and assessing whether there are benefits for the companies when implementing such projects. For the research methodology, the mixed mode method was used. Quantitative data was collected using energy assessments and a questionnaire was used for the collection of qualitative data. The quantitative and qualitative findings clearly demonstrate that company managers and operational staff need to have a clear understanding of the concept of 'energy efficiency'. Efficiency projects implemented include automated compressors, changing hot-water geyser settings, installation of power factor correction, and tariff structure changes. The quantitative recommendations were centered on switching off equipment when not required. As an alternative, the use of sensors, timers and other automated control devices should be investigated and implemented where feasible. Qualitatively recommendations advise that companies with employees who do not understand energy efficiency, training and awareness programmes need to be applied. Employees would then be able to put their energy saving knowledge into action. This study demonstrated that there is a need for further research to be undertaken, to improve efficiency for energy within the automotive manufacturing industry. / Environmental Management, Department of Environmental Science / M. Sc. (Environmental Management, Department of Environmental Science)

I takt med att teknologin i nytillverkade bilar blir allt mer avancerad, ökar också antalet produktåterkallelserinom bilindustrin till följd av defekta komponenter. En produktåterkallelse ger upphov till enkostnadsökning för det berörda företaget och bör således ge en negativ effekt på aktiekursen, närmarknadsaktörer tar del av informationen. Det är inom bilindustrin vanligt att biltillverkande företagkontrakterar ut tillverkningen av fordonens komponenter. Den upptrappade outsourcingen frambringarfrågan om vilken part som ska ansvara för återkallelsens kostnader. Studien undersöker med hjälp aveventstudier och hypotesprövningar hur produktionsledets olika aktörer påverkas av information om enåterkallelse inom bilindustrin? Studien har valt ut 39 händelser när ett biltillverkande företag tvingas attåterkalla bilmodeller. Uppsatsens resultat visade att produktionsledets olika aktörer inte påverkas avinformation om en återkallelse, därmed gick det inte heller påvisa att komponenttillverkare drabbashårdare än biltillverkare av en återkallelse. Studiens resultat visade heller inget positivt samband mellanmarknadsreaktionen beroende på återkallelsens storlek, felorsak eller tidpunkten för tillkännagivandet. / As the technology in newly manufactured cars becomes more advanced, the number of product recallsin the automotive industry is also increasing due to defective components. A product recall gives rise toan increase in costs for the company concerned and should therefore have a negative effect on the shareprice when market participants consult the information. It is common in the automotive industry for carmanufacturing companies to outsource the production of vehicle components. The escalating outsourcingraises the question of which party should be responsible for the costs of the recall. The study examineswith the help of event studies and hypothesis tests how the different actors in the production stage areaffected by information about a recall in the automotive industry? The study has selected 39 events whena car manufacturing company is forced to recall car models. The results of the paper showed that thevarious operators of the production stage are not affected by information about a recall, so it was notpossible to demonstrate that component manufacturers are hit harder than car manufacturers by a recall.Furthermore, the results of the study did not show a positive relationship between the market reaction dueto the size of the recall, the cause of the withdrawal or the time of the announcement.

The South African automotive industry has experienced significant changes in the last 20 years. Globalisation, the implementation of lean production and the development of modularisation have had a profound influence on the relationships between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers, the automotive component manufacturers (ACMs), and their suppliers. South Africa has a number of OEMs and a vibrant automotive component manufacturing industry (ACM), which supplies the South African aftermarket and a spread of export markets. These ACMs are the focus of this study. The main objective of this research study was to identify the supply chain management problems ACMs in South Africa encounter, to what extent they face these problems and how these can be overcome. The problems were identified through a literature review and interviews with two OEMs in South Africa. Using this data a questionnaire was compiled and sent to all NAACAM members for completion. This study is by nature descriptive and exploratory and contains quantitative and qualitative elements. Seven hypotheses were formulated to guide the research. The findings of this research indicate that the geographic location, age and size of the business, have no bearing on the supply chain problems ACMs face, whist the relationship between ACMs and their suppliers and ACMs and their customers is a significant problem. The findings also indicate that the following are some of the main supply chain problems facing ACMs: pressure by OEMs to reduce prices; the price of materials; cancellation of orders; excessive inventory; the unreliability of rail transport and rail capacity problems; the high cost of South African ports; the cost of replacing outdated technology; and BBBEE – achieving and verifying BEE scorecards. The findings further indicate a lack of skills and labour problems, both of which are time consuming to resolve. This study was completed over a four-year period. At the commencement of this study the automotive industry was booming, but in mid-2008, a global economic crisis started. This crisis impacted adversely on the automotive industry globally and in South Africa. Despite these challenges, leaders in the South African automotive component industry remain positive about the future. This study was completed over a four-year period. At the commencement of this study the automotive industry was booming, but in mid-2008, a global economic crisis started. This crisis impacted adversely on the automotive industry globally and in South Africa. Despite these challenges, leaders in the South African automotive component industry remain positive about the future. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management)

The South African automotive industry has experienced significant changes in the last 20 years. Globalisation, the implementation of lean production and the development of modularisation have had a profound influence on the relationships between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers, the automotive component manufacturers (ACMs), and their suppliers. South Africa has a number of OEMs and a vibrant automotive component manufacturing industry (ACM), which supplies the South African aftermarket and a spread of export markets. These ACMs are the focus of this study. The main objective of this research study was to identify the supply chain management problems ACMs in South Africa encounter, to what extent they face these problems and how these can be overcome. The problems were identified through a literature review and interviews with two OEMs in South Africa. Using this data a questionnaire was compiled and sent to all NAACAM members for completion. This study is by nature descriptive and exploratory and contains quantitative and qualitative elements. Seven hypotheses were formulated to guide the research. The findings of this research indicate that the geographic location, age and size of the business, have no bearing on the supply chain problems ACMs face, whist the relationship between ACMs and their suppliers and ACMs and their customers is a significant problem. The findings also indicate that the following are some of the main supply chain problems facing ACMs: pressure by OEMs to reduce prices; the price of materials; cancellation of orders; excessive inventory; the unreliability of rail transport and rail capacity problems; the high cost of South African ports; the cost of replacing outdated technology; and BBBEE – achieving and verifying BEE scorecards. The findings further indicate a lack of skills and labour problems, both of which are time consuming to resolve. This study was completed over a four-year period. At the commencement of this study the automotive industry was booming, but in mid-2008, a global economic crisis started. This crisis impacted adversely on the automotive industry globally and in South Africa. Despite these challenges, leaders in the South African automotive component industry remain positive about the future. This study was completed over a four-year period. At the commencement of this study the automotive industry was booming, but in mid-2008, a global economic crisis started. This crisis impacted adversely on the automotive industry globally and in South Africa. Despite these challenges, leaders in the South African automotive component industry remain positive about the future. / Business Management / D. Comm. (Business Management)