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A roadmap towards sustainability of fast growing companies within the manufacturing industries

Thesis (MScEng (Industrial Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Any growing system is by definition in a transient phase, and consequently exhibits transient-,
non-steady state-, unstable behaviour. Accordingly, this form of instability (systemic growth) is by
and large conducive to the prosperity of said system. From a Control Systems perspective, transient
behaviour that is not subjected to an adequate damping mechanism, does however lead to unavoidable
adverse instability.
Within the context of business systems, four distinct, yet interconnected entities (raw material,
market demand, internal capability to deliver, and cash funds) serve as the damping mechanism to
protect companies as a whole, against variation in any of the aforementioned entities. The level of
damping afforded by the aforementioned entities is governed by its ability to decouple variation in
one entity from undue variation in other entities. The higher the level of instability, the higher the
associated level of damping required.
The Thesis focuses on core instigators of negative instability within the context of Fast Growing
Manufacturing Companies (FGMCs), and ultimately proposes a solution to prevent the regression
from positive instability towards negative instability. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Enige groeiende stelsel is per definisie in ’n oorgangsfase en vertoon gevolglik verbygaande-, niestabiele
oorgangsgedrag. Dienooreenkomstig is hiérdie vorm van onstabiliteit (sistemiese groei) in
die algemeen bevorderlik vir die welvaart van genoemde stelsel. Vanuit ’n Beheerstelsels oogpunt,
lei oorgangsgedrag wat nie onderworpe is aan ’n voldoende dempingsmeganisme nie, egter tot onafwendbare
negatiewe onstabiliteit.
Binne ’n besigheidstelsel konteks dien vier afsonderlike, tog onderlingverbonde entiteite (roumateriaal,
markaanvraag, interne bekwaamheid om te lewer, en kontantfondse) as die dempingsmeganisme
om besighede holisties te beskerm teen variasie in enige van die voorgenoemde entiteite. Die
dempingsvlak wat deur die voorgenoemde entiteite gegun word, word bepaal deur dié se vermoë om
variasie in een entiteit te ontkoppel van variasie in ander entiteite. Hoe hoër die vlak van onstabiliteit,
hoe hoër die vereiste vlak van demping.
Die Tesis fokus op kern aanstigters van negatiewe onstabiliteit binne die konteks van VinnigGroeiende
Vervaardigingsbesighede en stel uiteindelik ’n oplossing voor om die regressie vanaf positiewe
onstabiliteit na negatiewe onstabiliteit te verhoed.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5311
Date12 1900
CreatorsKapp, Francois
ContributorsDimitrov, D. M., Schutte, C. S. L., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format181 p. : ill.
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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