Building an industrial simulation model is a very time and cost intensive exercise because these models are large and consist of complicated computer code. Fully understanding the relationships between the inputs and the outputs are not straight forward and therefore utilizing these models only for ad hoc scenario testing would not be cost effective. The methodology of Design and Analysis of Simulation Experiments (DASE) are proposed to explore the design space and pro - actively search for optimization opportunities. The system is represented by the simulation model and the aim is to conduct experiments on the simulation model. The surrogate models (metamodels) are then used in lieu of the original simulation code; facilitating the exploration of the design space, optimization, and reliability analysis. To explore the methodology of DASE, different designs and approximation models from DASE as well as the Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments (DACE) literature, was evaluated for modeling the overall availability of a chemical reactor plant as a factor of a number of process variables. Both mean square error and maximum absolute error criteria were used to compare different design by model combinations. Response surface models and kriging models are evaluated as approximation models. The best design by model combination was found to be the Plackett - Burman Design (Screening Phase), Fractional Factorial Design (Interaction Phase) and the Response Surface Model (Approximation Model). Although this result might be specific to this case study, it is provided as a general recommendation for the design and analysis of simulation experiments in industry. In addition, the response surface model was used to explore the design space of the case study, and to evaluate the risks in the design decisions. The significant factors on plant availability were identified for future pilot plant optimization studies. An optimum operating region was obtained in the design variables for maximum plant availability. Future research topics are proposed. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

In an era characterised by economic recessions, technological change and intensified global competition, the worldwide organisational landscape has been transformed. Organisations are positioning themselves closer to their customers and have begun adopting more cost effective practices in order to remain competitive. In addition, the ability of organisations to compete internationally is largely dependent on their ability to find, develop and retain talent by providing challenging and meaningful work, and advancement opportunities for talented people to remain at their place of work. The responsibility of leadership in talent retention is crucial. They must ensure that they exercise empowering behaviour, clarify roles and in so doing psychologically empower employees within their work contexts. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour, role clarity, and psychological empowerment. Employees from a business unit in a petrochemical organisation were targeted for this research. The study population included employees from managerial, non-managerial and specialist categories. A cross-sectional design was used to achieve the research objectives. The Leadership Empowerment Behaviour Questionnaire (LEBQ), Measures of Role Clarity and Role Ambiguity Questionnaire (RCAQ), Measuring Empowerment Questionnaire (MEQ) and a biographical questionnaire were administered for the study. The statistical analysis was carried out with the help of the SPSS program. The statistical method employed in the study consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analyses. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the significance of differences between the experience of psychological empowerment of demographic groups. Results indicated that when leadership empowerment behaviour increases, self determination increases. When role clarity increases, meaning will increase. Psychological empowerment is predicted by leadership empowerment behaviour and role clarity. Role clarity was found to mediate the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour and two factors of psychological empowerment, namely meaning and competence. MANOVA analysis indicated no differences between different demographic groups in terms of levels of psychological empowerment experienced. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Building an industrial simulation model is a very time and cost intensive exercise because these models are large and consist of complicated computer code. Fully understanding the relationships between the inputs and the outputs are not straight forward and therefore utilizing these models only for ad hoc scenario testing would not be cost effective. The methodology of Design and Analysis of Simulation Experiments (DASE) are proposed to explore the design space and pro - actively search for optimization opportunities. The system is represented by the simulation model and the aim is to conduct experiments on the simulation model. The surrogate models (metamodels) are then used in lieu of the original simulation code; facilitating the exploration of the design space, optimization, and reliability analysis. To explore the methodology of DASE, different designs and approximation models from DASE as well as the Design and Analysis of Computer Experiments (DACE) literature, was evaluated for modeling the overall availability of a chemical reactor plant as a factor of a number of process variables. Both mean square error and maximum absolute error criteria were used to compare different design by model combinations. Response surface models and kriging models are evaluated as approximation models. The best design by model combination was found to be the Plackett - Burman Design (Screening Phase), Fractional Factorial Design (Interaction Phase) and the Response Surface Model (Approximation Model). Although this result might be specific to this case study, it is provided as a general recommendation for the design and analysis of simulation experiments in industry. In addition, the response surface model was used to explore the design space of the case study, and to evaluate the risks in the design decisions. The significant factors on plant availability were identified for future pilot plant optimization studies. An optimum operating region was obtained in the design variables for maximum plant availability. Future research topics are proposed. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Computer Science))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

In an era characterised by economic recessions, technological change and intensified global competition, the worldwide organisational landscape has been transformed. Organisations are positioning themselves closer to their customers and have begun adopting more cost effective practices in order to remain competitive. In addition, the ability of organisations to compete internationally is largely dependent on their ability to find, develop and retain talent by providing challenging and meaningful work, and advancement opportunities for talented people to remain at their place of work. The responsibility of leadership in talent retention is crucial. They must ensure that they exercise empowering behaviour, clarify roles and in so doing psychologically empower employees within their work contexts. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour, role clarity, and psychological empowerment. Employees from a business unit in a petrochemical organisation were targeted for this research. The study population included employees from managerial, non-managerial and specialist categories. A cross-sectional design was used to achieve the research objectives. The Leadership Empowerment Behaviour Questionnaire (LEBQ), Measures of Role Clarity and Role Ambiguity Questionnaire (RCAQ), Measuring Empowerment Questionnaire (MEQ) and a biographical questionnaire were administered for the study. The statistical analysis was carried out with the help of the SPSS program. The statistical method employed in the study consisted of descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analyses. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine the significance of differences between the experience of psychological empowerment of demographic groups. Results indicated that when leadership empowerment behaviour increases, self determination increases. When role clarity increases, meaning will increase. Psychological empowerment is predicted by leadership empowerment behaviour and role clarity. Role clarity was found to mediate the relationship between leadership empowerment behaviour and two factors of psychological empowerment, namely meaning and competence. MANOVA analysis indicated no differences between different demographic groups in terms of levels of psychological empowerment experienced. Recommendations were made for future research. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

A indústria petroquímica brasileira, assim como outros setores consolidados e maduros, está acostumada a inovar incrementalmente em produtos e processos, mas para manter sua competitividade tem a necessidade de inovar mais e mais radicalmente. Tanto na literatura pesquisada quanto nos resultados dos estudos de caso realizados, há o conceito de que os Projetos Organizacionais para o desenvolvimento de inovações radicais e incrementais deveriam ser diferentes entre si. Mas a literatura não avança nesta questão, não apresentando recomendações ou prescrições assertivas. Por outro lado, sente-se a mesma dificuldade nas empresas, que entendem a necessidade de lidar com as inovações radicais de uma forma distinta das incrementais, mas acabam trabalhando em ambas da mesma forma, com estruturas distintas, porém com semelhante organização, com as mesmas ferramentas e práticas gerenciais. Este trabalho tem por objetivo contribuir com esta discussão, através da proposição de critérios para o Projeto Organizacional adequado ao desenvolvimento de inovações incrementais e radicais de forma sistemática em empresas consolidadas de setores maduros, aprofundando o que já foi proposto pela literatura, partindo do princípio de que não haveria um único modelo a ser prescrito. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada através do estudo de múltiplos casos em três empresas inovadoras do setor petroquímico brasileiro, onde foram avaliados onze projetos de inovação. O modelo aqui proposto oferece um conjunto de diretrizes e critérios para que cada empresa adapte suas estruturas e processos a cada diferente desafio encontrado pelos projetos de inovação em cada etapa de seu desenvolvimento. / The Brazilian Petrochemical Industry, as well as other established and mature sectors, is used to incrementally innovate in products and processes. In order to maintain its competitiveness, it is being challenged to innovate more and more radically. Both in literature and in results of the cases here studied, there is the idea that the Organizational Design for the development of radical and incremental innovations should be different. But literature does not advance in this subject, there is no assertive recommendations or prescriptions. Companies feel the same difficulty, they understand the need to deal with radical innovations in a distinct form of incremental ones, but they end up working in both situations in the same way, with different structures, but with similar organization, management tools and practices. This thesis attempts to contribute to this discussion by proposing criteria for Organizational Design suitable for the development of incremental and radical innovations in a systematic manner in consolidated companies from mature industries, deepening what has been proposed in the literature, assuming that there would be no single model to be prescribed. Field research was conducted through multiple cases study in three innovative companies in the Brazilian petrochemical sector, where eleven innovation projects were studied. The model here proposed offers a set of guidelines and criteria for each company to adapt its structures and processes for each different challenge faced by innovation projects at each stage of their development.

There has been substantial research in recent years on the development dynamics of agglomeration economies - the industrial cluster perspective. However, the industrial cluster literature has tended to neglect the environmental impacts of clustering. Meanwhile, industrial ecology has tackled environmental concerns by promoting a new type of eco-friendly industrial system, eco-industrial park (EIP), that encourage circular flows of materials, energy and by-product exchange between neighbouring firms. Given that these two theories can potentially supplement each other, this doctoral study seeks to build bridges between the industrial cluster literature and the industrial ecology literature in order to address the research question: “how do clustered producers draw on inter-firm collaboration and institutional linkages to undertake holistic environmental upgrading strategies?” This study draws on comparative empirical evidence from the Banwol-Sihwa textiles dyeing cluster and the Yeosu petrochemical cluster in South Korea. Both the industrial clusters show a pattern of gradual environmental upgrading that is termed as ‘collective eco-efficiency’, although specific types of such collective behaviours have become differentiated due to their structural differences. The findings provide three key contributions to industrial ecology: (1) Intra-sectoral inter-firm relationships and regional firm-institutional relationships are much more influential in establishing an EIP than inter-sectoral inter-firm relationships on which industrial ecology has conventionally emphasised. (2) Although industrial ecology has mainly concerned of sectoral heterogeneity within an area, the multiplicity of production stages within an industrial cluster is also an important physical condition in establishing an EIP. (3) The notions of institutional setting and planning that have used in very ambiguous manners in industrial ecology are in essence a type of learning-by-interaction dynamics between local firms and other actors based on regional innovation systems. As for the industrial cluster literature, the findings in this study also suggests three conceptual implications: (1) Most studies addressing environmental issues in the industrial cluster literature have largely ignored the inter-sectoral dimension, the dynamics of collective efficiency is not necessarily limited within a sectoral boundary at least with regard to environmental upgrading. (2) Given that value chains do not necessarily match material flows, anchor tenant’s coordination power over material flows should be highlighted in addition to lead firm’s coordination power over value chains. (3) Regional innovation systems function as institutional ability to balance private benefits and social benefits.

Advances in materials technology, information and management systems have led to improvements in the engineering design, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of process columns. The development of the front-end engineering design (FEED) process has led to the incorporation of best practices in the specification of equipment on projects during the design phase. The aim of the research is to investigate whether technical specifications have an impact on the life cycle costs of process columns. Adding to the initial capital cost of equipment, in the form of technical specification requirements, in an attempt to reduce life cycle costs, is always challenged during the project phase of a product life cycle. The principle of designing for the full product life cycle of process columns requires that consideration for both the project and operating life cycle be made at the stage of basic engineering. What is important to note is that the potential for life cycle cost savings at the beginning of a product life cycle is higher than during the operating life cycle. Figure S.1 illustrates this concept, and what is observed is that the potential for life cycle cost savings diminishes as the product life progresses over time. Process columns were chosen as the type of equipment to be investigated based on the nature, size and complexity of the equipment when compared to other equipment on a processing unit. Process columns are amongst the highest capital cost pieces of equipment in petrochemical units and usually have many auxiliary pieces of equipment associated with it in a system i.e. reboilers, condensers, pumps etc. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) / unrestricted

abstract: The Gulf of Mexico (or “Gulf”) is of critical significance to the oil and gas industries’ offshore production, but the potential for accidental petrochemical influx into the Gulf due to such processes is high; two of the largest marine oil spills in history, Pemex's Ixtoc I spill (1979) and British Petroleum's (BP) Deepwater Horizon (2010), have occurred in the region. However, the Gulf is also of critical significance to thousands of unique species, many of which may be irreparably harmed by accidental petrochemical exposure. To better manage the conservation and recovery of marine species in the Gulf ecosystem, a Petrochemical Vulnerability Index was developed to determine the potential impact of a petrochemical influx on Gulf marine fishes, therein providing an objective framework with which to determine the best immediate and long term management strategies for resource managers and decision-makers. The resulting Petrochemical Vulnerability Index (PVI) was developed and applied to all bony fishes and shark/ray species in the Gulf of Mexico (1,670 spp), based on a theoretical petrochemical vulnerability framework developed by peer review. The PVI for fishes embodies three key facets of species vulnerability: likelihood of exposure, individual sensitivity, and population resilience, and comprised of 11 total metrics (Distribution, Longevity, Mobility, Habitat, Pre-Adult Stage Length, Pre-Adult Exposure; Increased Adult Sensitivity Due to UV Light, Increased Pre-Adult Sensitivity Due to UV Light; and Abundance, Reproductive Turnover Rate, Diet/Habitat Specialization). The resulting PVI can be used to guide attention to the species potentially most in need of immediate attention in the event of an oil spill or other petrochemical influx, as well as those species that may require intensive long-term recovery. The scored relative vulnerability rankings can also provide information on species that ought to be the focus of future toxicological research, by indicating which species lack toxicological data, and may potentially experience significant impacts. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Applied Biological Sciences 2020

My study forms part of a bigger project, Resilient Youth in Stressed Environments (RYSE). The purpose of this study of limited scope was to explore the community supports that enable the resilience of adolescents living in the petrochemical-affected community of eMbalenhle in Secunda, South Africa. A number of resilience studies have been conducted both locally and abroad, but none of these has focused on the resilience of youth in petrochemical-affected communities. Since resilience is a complex process that results from individuals’ interaction with their social environments, my study was grounded in the Social Ecology of Resilience Theory (SERT). As an educational psychologist, I employed a phenomenological design with 30 participants (17 males and 13 females) aged 15 to 24 who were selected through purposive sampling from eMbalenhle community. Among these participants, 10 attended school, 2 were at the tertiary educational level and 4 were employed part-time. For this qualitative study I undertook an interpretivist approach to make sense of participants’ interpretations of their experience of living in a petrochemical-affected community. The data was generated by the RYSE team. A variety of arts-based /visual participatory methods (draw-talk-and-write, body theatre, and clay modelling) were used for generating data. I analysed the secondary data by means of inductive thematic content analysis where recurring themes were identified from the data. The main themes that emerged as community supports for adolescent resilience included support from Sasol (jobs, bursaries, learnerships, housing loans etc.), having positive relations with, and drawing support from, other community members and having access to health services and education. These themes indicate that although the petrochemical industry may affect the adolescents negatively it also constitutes their biggest support. The themes also indicate the importance of the social contexts in enabling adolescent wellbeing (as the theory behind SERT suggests should be the case). Therefore, when working with vulnerable adolescents from a petrochemical-affected community, any educational psychologist needs to partner with other role players from the community. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

頁岩氣對台灣化石業的影響與建議 / As America successfully explore shale gas and eagerly discuss its application from gas exporting to petrochemical industry downstream feedstock, shale gas comprehensive influence has made its self a hot topic since 2010. One third of Taiwan gas is from Malaysia and Qatar with importing cost around USD13-15/mmBTU, which are mostly used for power generation and domestic use and few are used for petrochemical industry because gas cost is too high comparing with naphtha. However, shale gas has brought down gas price to below USD4/mmBTU that provides a competitive advantage for America manufacturers and changes production method from naphtha to gas for petrochemical industry crackers. On the contrary, Asian petrochemical industry which are naphtha based crackers will face competition from America makers who has cheaper production cost and over supplied in domestic market and looking for international market. Taiwan petrochemical industry, dominated by two major petrochemical companies, is facing several difficulties including limited space for capacity expansion and furious competition from China and ASEAN. We will explore the possibility for Taiwan to import shale gas and any solutions to improve our situation.