Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / The aim of this study has been to establish the influence of quality initiatives on the operations of a selected metal recycling company in KwaZulu-Natal. The rationale for this study was based on the information that the financial turmoil has led to a significantly reduced demand for scrap metals and that there is a shortage of information on quality initiatives in the secondary metal industry in this province. Little research, if any, has been done on this particular topic. Hence, there was a need to conduct research of this magnitude. A review of literature provided the basis for the investigation. A multi-method approach was followed as the project required both quantitative and qualitative methods. The research required interdepartmental inputs. The theme of study focused on what could be seen as a topic of research in the department of quality, while the actual research was conducted within the ambit of business administration as a field of study. The data collected through the questionnaires and the operations‟ know-how observed in the yard were subject to scrutiny to enhance relevance in the field of study. As the target population of 70 people was small, it became appropriate to do a census study. A total of 68 people returned filled-in questionnaires administered to operations workers and their management. The response rate was 97%. The study evaluated the importance of training on quality and safety as an integrated domain and the impact thereof in the secondary metal products industry. It further identified a number of drawbacks that hamper the effectiveness of metal operations. The results revealed that excellent quality initiatives have a positive impact on the value-adding operations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 116 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The automotive industry is expected to transition from a net-consumer to a net-producer of aluminum scrap as aluminum-intensive vehicles (AIVs, i.e., Ford’s aluminum-bodied F-150) begin to reach end-of-life (EOL). In the past, the industry has downcycled aluminum scrap to meet the consumption demands of the automotive sector. With the shift to having a large supply of this scrap in the near future, the industry needs to recover and reuse EOL Al by utilizing a circular economic model, create value via an upcycling paradigm (vs downcycling). This work establishes a platform as to how the recycling industry can be restructured to create value in our waste streams and is organized in three segments: First, an analysis of the flow of automobiles at EOL was carried out from the perspective of recovery and reuse; a recycling rate for Al has been determined, and the factors that go into the dynamics of the recycling rate have been identified. Secondly, the current state of the market was surveyed to evaluate where improvements could be made to affect material collection and recovery. The latter led to compositional characterization of aluminum auto-shred to identify the alloys in the mixture, and thereby the needed intelligent sorting systems for upcycling. Thirdly, these results were used in a dynamic material flow model to predict how the composition of auto-shred will change due to increased aluminum usage and as a function of various end-of-life processing scenarios. The outcome and impact of this work is that we have established a platform that enables the ELV recycling industry to upcycle the large amount of Al that will be available in the near future. These results will be discussed and reviewed during this presentation.

English, Zulu and Northern Sotho summaries / This study aims to evaluate the Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee's impact on combating copper cable theft in South Africa. Data was collected via in-depth interviews with awaiting trial detainees charged with copper cable theft at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre in the Western Cape; members of the Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provincial Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee; members of Business Against Crime South Africa; and investigators attached to Combined Private Investigations who investigate copper theft nationally. The in-depth interviews provided a comprehensive understanding of participant experiences relating to the impact of the Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee on the combating of copper cable theft in South Africa. Moreover, the researcher performed a thorough literature study of the phenomenon locally and internationally. Research findings indicate shortcomings in the Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee's effectiveness, limiting its impact on preventing copper cable theft. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee be replaced with a specialised South African Police Service Non-Ferrous Metals Theft Unit. Consequently, this study puts forward a set of recommendations proposing a systematic pro-active plan to address and minimise copper cable theft in South Africa. The proposed plan convincingly presents practical solutions to minimise copper cable theft and contributes to the current body of scholarship on copper cable theft in South Africa. / Inhloso yalolu cwaningo ukuhlola umthelela wohlelo lwe-Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee mayelana nokuqedwa kokutshontshwa kwentambo yogesi (copper cable). Idatha iqoqwe ngokusebenzisa izinhlolovo ezijulile ezenziwa ngokusebenzisa iziboshwa eziboshelwe izintambo zikagesi ezisamele ukugwetshwa ejele lase Pollsmoor Correctional Centre ngaseNtshonalanga Kapa, amalunga eMpumalanga and Gauteng Provincial Non-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee, amalunga eBusiness Against Crime South Africa kanye nabaphenyi abahambisana nophiko lweCombined Private Investigations oluphenya ukutshontshwa kwezintambo zikagesi ezweni lonke. Lezi zinhlolovo ezijulile zinikeze ulwazi olubanzi lwabadlalindima olumayelana nomthelela weNon-Ferrous Metals Crime Combating Committee mayelana nokuqedwa kokutshontshwa kwezintambo zikagesi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, umcwaningi wenze ucwaningo olunzulu lombhalo wobuciko mayelana nokutshontshwa kwezintambo zikagesi lapha ekhaya kanye nasemhlabeni wonke jikelele. Ulwazi olutholakele lukhombisa iziqi ezikhinyabeza ukusebenza kahle kweKomithi mayelana nokuvimbela umthelela walo mayelana nokutshontshwa kwezintambo zikagesi. Ngezizathu ezisuselwa phezu kwalolu lwazi, lolu cwaningo lubeka phambili isethi lezincomo ezinganceda iKomiti ekuqiniseni umthintela walo ngokuhlongoza uhlelo olugqugquzelayo lokunciphisa izinga lokutshontshwa kwezintambo zikagesi eNingizimu Afrika. Lolu hlelo oluhlongoziwe ngaphandle kokungabaza lwethula izixazululo ezenzeka empilweni yangempela ukunciphisa ukwetshiwa kwezintambo zikagesi kanti lokhu kunegalelo kwiziko lamanje futhi luqhubekisa iziko lamanje lwezifundo esimayelana nokwetshiwa kwezintambo zikagesi. / Maikemisetso a thutelo ye ke go lekola khuetso ya Komiti ya Twantsho ya Bosenyi bja Dimetale tse di Sego tsa Tshipi ka ga go lwantsha kutso ya megala ya koporo. Datha e kgobokeditswe ka mokgwa wa ditherisano tse di tseneletsego tseo di sepeditswego le mahodu a megala ya koporo ao a golegilwego ao a letetsego go sekiswa Senthareng ya Tshokollo ya Pollsmoor go la Kapa Bodikela, maloko a Diprofense tsa Mpumalanga le Gauteng a Komiti ya Twantsho ya Bosenyi bja Dimetale tse di sego tsa Tshipi, maloko a Dikgwebo tsa Kgahlanong le Bosenyi tsa Afrika Borwa le banyakisisi bao ba dirisanago le Dinyakisiso tsa Praebete tse Kopantswego tseo di nyakisisago kutso ya koporo kemong ya bosetshaba. Ditherisano tse di tseneletsego tse di file kwesiso ka botlalo ya maitemogelo a batseakarolo ye e sepelelanago le khuetso ya Komiti ya Twantsho ya Bosenyi bja Dimetale tse di sego tsa Tshipi ka ga go lwantsha kutso ya megala ya koporo. Gape, monyakisisi o dirile thutelo ya dingwalo ka botebo ya kutso ya megala ya koporo tikologong ya leagong le kemong ya boditshabatshaba. Dikhwetso tsa dinyakisiso di supa mafokodi ao a lebanego bokgoni bja Komiti tshitisong ya khuetso ya yona go kutso ya megala ya koporo. Go ya ka dikhwetso tse, thutelo ye e hlagisa sehlopha sa dikeletso tseo di ka thusago Komiti go tswetsa khuetso ya yona pele ka go sisinya leano la go itokisetsa seemo se ka diregago ka mokgwa wo o beakantswego go fokotsa kutso ya megala ya koporo ka Afrika Borwa. Leano leo le sisintswego le hlagisa ka mo go kgodisago ditharollo tse di ka phethagatswago go fokotsa kutso ya megala ya koporo ka gona la ba la seabe go le go tswetsa pele popego ya bjale ya borutegi ka ga kutso ya megala ya koporo. / Criminology and Security Science / Ph. D. (Criminal Justice)