Abstract
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
Supply chain (SC) is an integrated process of various business functions used, to source
raw material, add value to the raw material, and deliver the product to the customer. The
common element to all manufacturing entities is the control of material flow, value
adding (manufacturing) processes, and distribution channels to customers. With the
ever-increasing competitive environment, many manufacturing companies around the
world, including those in South Africa, experience a shortfall in the desired outcomes. As
a result a number of organizations have looked at a possible mechanism to put in place
to maintain or gain the competitive advantage, or to maintain or increase market share.
Industry maturity saw a number of organizations implement the use of Supply Chain
Management (SCM) in order to try to minimize costs, increase profits, and meet
customer expectations, i.e. on time in full delivery (OTIFD) of a product or service
against contractual or negotiated dates and in accordance with the customer
requirements (Quality).
This research examined the factors that affect the performance (on-time delivery) of a
manufacturing supply chain. Two research questions had to be addressed to reach this
goal:- (i) What are the factors affecting the on-time-delivery of the supply chain? (ii)
What is the impact of these factors on the supply chain and the organization? In
addition to the data collected from literature, two other data sets were collected for this
research. Operational data were collected from a performance management tool
(Qlikview) and the other set of data was collected through interviews with the use of a
questionnaire.
Both sets of data were analysed to identify any common patterns when it comes to the
factors that affect the performance of supply chain. The results of the analysis suggest
that the factors that contribute the most to poor supply chain performance are social
factors. There is also an indication that there is a relationship between internal deliveries
and customer deliveries...