The diploma thesis analyzes the current situation of a flowmeters production company. Embraces the investment plan for a purchase of the construction hall including also calibration equipment. The second purpose is the expected opportunity to realize production in own facility. As the assignment of thesis we should target to formulate recommendations whether to realize the intended investment.

A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Engineering to the Graduate School of Engineering and the Built Environment of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg March 2017 / Large-scale strategic ventures to build, add or improve an asset are being delivered in different sectors of industries around the world. These ventures resort to the intensive use of capital and resources and are mostly referred to as “capital projects”. Because of the large-scale nature of these capital projects, they have profound effects on their host countries, and their impact is larger than simply client and turnover, thereby influencing different areas of surrounding society. The nature and extent of this impact are (i) environmental, (ii) political, (iii) socio-economic and (iv) cultural. Amongst the socio-economic objectives is the capability to provide on-the-job training and create more job opportunities than would otherwise be possible. Recently there has been a surge of these capital projects in sub-Saharan Africa. However, sub-Saharan Africa continues to experience high levels of unemployment and a lack of skillsets. In an attempt to help address these problems, this research project evaluates employment creation and skills transfer during the delivery of capital projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Three case studies (researched between October 2013 and February 2015) were selected to collect data for this research project: (1) Nacala Corridor Railway Project (Malawi), (2) the Medupi Power Project (Republic of South Africa) and (3) the Gautrain Project Phases 1 and 2 (Republic of South Africa). The research findings illustrate clearly that there has been a significant positive shift in the creation of employment and skills transfer on capital projects. However, there are areas of weakness which have been identified even though the three case studies produced different results. In conclusion, the main weaknesses identified in all three projects are the lack of local high-level skilled employees and a clear indication that these capital projects are not being capitalised efficiently to develop skills amongst the locals, which are essential for such projects. Recommendations are provided for the sustainability of skills development and employment creation on capital projects. / MT 2017

The project elaborated within the follow-up master´ s study programme of the M-STM Manufacturing Technology and Management in Industry branch presents an evaluation of a company investment project and recommendations whether to realize the intended investment. The diploma work sets forth an overview of theories in the field of company investment activities, company analysis, details of the investment project and its evaluation. Technical economic analysis of a part fabrication with utilization of new machine equipment, together with conclusions related to the proposed technology, form a part of the project.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Wits Business School 4 November 2016 / Sub-Saharan Africa faces severe infrastructure deficits including in power generation, water facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. These deficits compound the socio-economic challenges of the most impoverished region in the world. It is estimated that funding of US$ 90 billion per annum is required to address infrastructure deficiencies. Other developing regions including Asia, the Middle East, and South America, have with varying degrees of success utilised the project finance framework to address similar infrastructure deficiencies, and also develop other commercial ventures. Africa has lagged behind in this respect, and still accounts for less than 3% of international project finance flows. The ability to attract and access international and domestic project finance capital, and execute the underlying ventures is an important opportunity to address the challenges noted above. The study contributes to knowledge by deepening our understanding of project finance in South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe in the following ways. Firstly, it offers a model through which to monitor key contextual factors that influence the success, failure, and shaping of project and infrastructure ventures. Secondly, it interrogates the main capital structure theories including the static trade off and pecking order theories, and their applicability and relevance for project and infrastructure finance in the selected jurisdictions. It then compares capital structure theory with actual practice of capital structure formulation in the 7 cases studies investigated. This yields important insights as to the most important factors influencing capital structure in project finance in the three selected countries. In particular the constrained supply of capital is observed as the top factor determining capital structure. It further enhances our understanding of why ventures using project finance in these countries may have significantly lower leverage than other similar ventures in developed regions of the world. Thirdly, the study extracts key insights into how stakeholder interactions evolve in the projects by applying stakeholder agency theory to project sponsors, managers, contractors, state institutions, and community organisations. Collectively these insights should contribute to attracting increased capital to project finance in Sub-Saharan Africa, and arranging projects with greater prospects of operational success. / MT 2017