Abstract
D.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering)
Rapid changes in technology and industrialisation have enhanced the design and manufacture of products owing to improved links between product development and manufacture. However, resulting complexities due to interconnections and interdependences required appropriate skills and equipment, a rare commodity in industrialising countries due to technology and training insufficiencies. Studies carried out in Southern Africa revealed mismatches of skills produced by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and those required by industry, apart from the use of conventional equipment and technology which resulted in low productivity and declines in capacity utilisation. While taking cognisance of these challenges, the research aimed at developing alternative strategies using available equipment and expertise to boost productivity and capacity utilisation at selected case study companies and HEIs in Zimbabwe. This was motivated by lack of continuity and sustainability in initiatives that were supported by foreign aid agencies.
The research was accomplished through a systems thinking integration of available technologies, skills and policies to cope with the rapid changes while enhancing capacity building and sustainability in engineering design and manufacture. Using a systemic philosophy and systems thinking methodology, this research utilised different approaches from work studies, industrial secondments and attachments by focussing on technologies, training and policies, factored from the highlighted challenges. Data was collected during secondments at selected companies and used for modelling, simulation and optimisation of the companies’ product design and production systems using Arena simulation software and Limn Flowsheet Processor. The optimisation results, coupled with collaborations between industry and HEIs were used as the foundation for the systems thinking sub-models that were eventually integrated into the Technology, Training and Policies (TTP) model which was validated and verified through a looping feedback, control and adjustment of system elements and tested through the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) groundwater enterprise model...