Engineering change management impact on project success within a South African petrochemical company
- Authors: Serapelo, Thabisho Eric
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organizational change - Management - Case studies , Project management - South Africa - Case studies , Petroleum chemicals industry - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233588 , uj:23852
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Engineering changes are greatly influenced by the evolving technology and as a result customers’ requirements are continuously changing. There is therefore, a need to effectively manage these changes as they arise. This research paper focuses mainly on the engineering change management (ECM) impact on project success within petrochemical industry. Based on the fact that changes are inevitable, it is crucial to find out if these changes are managed properly in a project or not and what will be the impact thereof. This prompted the following research questions: What is the impact of ECM in relation to project cost? What is the impact of ECM in relation to project schedule? What is the impact of ECM in relation to project quality? The literature review conducted in this paper discusses various ECM frameworks and the knowledge obtained assisted in hypotheses formulation. These hypotheses were then tested by means of questionnaires on experienced personnel working with the ECM on a daily basis. The results obtained revealed that proper ECM in a project will decrease the overall project cost and reduce overall project schedule. However, based on the knowledge of the people who participated in the survey, there is no correlation between ECM and project quality.
- Full Text:
Engineering change management impact on project success within a South African petrochemical company
- Authors: Serapelo, Thabisho Eric
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organizational change - Management - Case studies , Project management - South Africa - Case studies , Petroleum chemicals industry - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233588 , uj:23852
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Engineering changes are greatly influenced by the evolving technology and as a result customers’ requirements are continuously changing. There is therefore, a need to effectively manage these changes as they arise. This research paper focuses mainly on the engineering change management (ECM) impact on project success within petrochemical industry. Based on the fact that changes are inevitable, it is crucial to find out if these changes are managed properly in a project or not and what will be the impact thereof. This prompted the following research questions: What is the impact of ECM in relation to project cost? What is the impact of ECM in relation to project schedule? What is the impact of ECM in relation to project quality? The literature review conducted in this paper discusses various ECM frameworks and the knowledge obtained assisted in hypotheses formulation. These hypotheses were then tested by means of questionnaires on experienced personnel working with the ECM on a daily basis. The results obtained revealed that proper ECM in a project will decrease the overall project cost and reduce overall project schedule. However, based on the knowledge of the people who participated in the survey, there is no correlation between ECM and project quality.
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Optimisation in process plants
- Authors: Nenzhelele, M.P.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Centrifugal pumps - Testing , Pumping machinery - Performance , Industrial management , Power-plants
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233660 , uj:23864
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: In industries, engineers and managers are faced with the conundrum of which method to use to improve the reliability and subsequent availability of their manufacturing processes. This research aimed to develop a tool to assist process plants with deciding on the best approach to use between increasing the redundancy of bottleneck equipment or to improve on the management of integrated logistic support principles like supply support, maintenance strategy and inventory management. It also made use of a case study process plant to analyse and improve the maintenance system around bottleneck centrifugal pumps. A decision making tool (framework) was developed and presented to assist with decision making around the stated problem. A survey conducted also affirmed the need for such a tool in industry. The decision of installing an extra pump per set to increase redundancy or to improve on the ILS of maintenance is split between 48% against the installation and 43% supporting the idea. This is an indication of how contentious this issue is without doing the proper analysis and using the right tools of decision making. Most decisions in industry are made on an emotional viewpoint based on the “head-aches” certain equipment gives. It was discovered that the case study plant utilises a run-to-failure philosophy on bottleneck pumps. This philosophy lead to production losses of 14 days over a 23 months span, equating to R33, 2 million rand loss compared to R2, 2 million sample period cycle cost of increasing redundancy.
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- Authors: Nenzhelele, M.P.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Centrifugal pumps - Testing , Pumping machinery - Performance , Industrial management , Power-plants
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/233660 , uj:23864
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: In industries, engineers and managers are faced with the conundrum of which method to use to improve the reliability and subsequent availability of their manufacturing processes. This research aimed to develop a tool to assist process plants with deciding on the best approach to use between increasing the redundancy of bottleneck equipment or to improve on the management of integrated logistic support principles like supply support, maintenance strategy and inventory management. It also made use of a case study process plant to analyse and improve the maintenance system around bottleneck centrifugal pumps. A decision making tool (framework) was developed and presented to assist with decision making around the stated problem. A survey conducted also affirmed the need for such a tool in industry. The decision of installing an extra pump per set to increase redundancy or to improve on the ILS of maintenance is split between 48% against the installation and 43% supporting the idea. This is an indication of how contentious this issue is without doing the proper analysis and using the right tools of decision making. Most decisions in industry are made on an emotional viewpoint based on the “head-aches” certain equipment gives. It was discovered that the case study plant utilises a run-to-failure philosophy on bottleneck pumps. This philosophy lead to production losses of 14 days over a 23 months span, equating to R33, 2 million rand loss compared to R2, 2 million sample period cycle cost of increasing redundancy.
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Evaluating outsourcing of services at a South African metallurgical gold plant
- Authors: Joka, Nkateko
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Contracting out - Case studies , Operations management - Case studies , Production management - Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/263118 , uj:27810
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: This paper evaluates the process of outsourcing of services by a metallurgical gold plant to consulting companies, which determine the benefit or effect of the systems. The study pursues the following approaches: interviewing of stakeholders who are involved with the outsourcing of services, evaluating and analysing of operation management, financial and training report data. According to the findings of this study, the metallurgical gold plant is outsourcing services due to the lack of skills as employees are not attending special training. This results in the plant operating at a high cost because the consulting companies’ services are expensive although they provide quality services. Since the consulting companies provide good operation services, the metallurgical gold plant has low plant break downs and delays and it achieves its production targets for most of the months. From the research, it can be concluded that outsourcing of services is expensive but it provides quality job with less plant breakdowns and delays and therefore requires less maintenance. The research shows that the outsourcing of services is caused by the lack of skills, experience and information. It is recommended that further analysis and evaluation be done. The plant should invest more on training of employees and engage in projects which will help to reduce the operation cost.
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- Authors: Joka, Nkateko
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Contracting out - Case studies , Operations management - Case studies , Production management - Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/263118 , uj:27810
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: This paper evaluates the process of outsourcing of services by a metallurgical gold plant to consulting companies, which determine the benefit or effect of the systems. The study pursues the following approaches: interviewing of stakeholders who are involved with the outsourcing of services, evaluating and analysing of operation management, financial and training report data. According to the findings of this study, the metallurgical gold plant is outsourcing services due to the lack of skills as employees are not attending special training. This results in the plant operating at a high cost because the consulting companies’ services are expensive although they provide quality services. Since the consulting companies provide good operation services, the metallurgical gold plant has low plant break downs and delays and it achieves its production targets for most of the months. From the research, it can be concluded that outsourcing of services is expensive but it provides quality job with less plant breakdowns and delays and therefore requires less maintenance. The research shows that the outsourcing of services is caused by the lack of skills, experience and information. It is recommended that further analysis and evaluation be done. The plant should invest more on training of employees and engage in projects which will help to reduce the operation cost.
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Systematic innovation : a comprehensive model for business and management with treatment on a South African case
- Authors: Krüger, Louis L.S.J.
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Industrial management , Information technology - Management , Business enterprises , Continuous improvement process
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/413098 , uj:34789
- Description: Abstract: This thesis addresses innovation of business and management with the purpose of advancing innovation in South Africa. A Design Science Research methodology is utilised to evaluate the current knowledge base of business and management innovation and construct a high level model for Management Innovation that pertains to all management areas of business including technology and innovation management. This thesis evaluates Learn-by-Experimentation (Trial and Error), Van Gundy’s Structured Creative Processes and Mann’s model constructed in practice. The Learn-by-Experimentation is a methodology only suited for physical innovation. The Structured Creative Processes are found to be of a generic nature which is not suitable for Innovation of Business and Management. Mann’s model is a projection of TRIZ onto business and management that addresses a subset of the business areas. The literature study in this thesis showed the identification of innovation opportunities was explicitly addressed by Van Gundy and implicitly treated by Mann. The “General Internet Access” for South Africans, as envisioned in the National Development Plan to stimulate economic growth, has been analysed for systematic innovation potential and did not render the desired outcome. The NDP will require further development to enable systematic innovation. In the course of this research a spiral innovation model for systematic business and management is developed through intensive literature analysis to cover the identified gaps. The model consists of the following steps: 1. Identification 2. Analysis and Definition 3. Select Approach 4. Create Potential Solutions 5. Verify and Validate Solutions 6. Implement the best Verified and Validated Solution with the idea to converge towards an Ideal Final Result. The results of this study is a contribution to the knowledge base of business and management innovation. , D.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Krüger, Louis L.S.J.
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Industrial management , Information technology - Management , Business enterprises , Continuous improvement process
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/413098 , uj:34789
- Description: Abstract: This thesis addresses innovation of business and management with the purpose of advancing innovation in South Africa. A Design Science Research methodology is utilised to evaluate the current knowledge base of business and management innovation and construct a high level model for Management Innovation that pertains to all management areas of business including technology and innovation management. This thesis evaluates Learn-by-Experimentation (Trial and Error), Van Gundy’s Structured Creative Processes and Mann’s model constructed in practice. The Learn-by-Experimentation is a methodology only suited for physical innovation. The Structured Creative Processes are found to be of a generic nature which is not suitable for Innovation of Business and Management. Mann’s model is a projection of TRIZ onto business and management that addresses a subset of the business areas. The literature study in this thesis showed the identification of innovation opportunities was explicitly addressed by Van Gundy and implicitly treated by Mann. The “General Internet Access” for South Africans, as envisioned in the National Development Plan to stimulate economic growth, has been analysed for systematic innovation potential and did not render the desired outcome. The NDP will require further development to enable systematic innovation. In the course of this research a spiral innovation model for systematic business and management is developed through intensive literature analysis to cover the identified gaps. The model consists of the following steps: 1. Identification 2. Analysis and Definition 3. Select Approach 4. Create Potential Solutions 5. Verify and Validate Solutions 6. Implement the best Verified and Validated Solution with the idea to converge towards an Ideal Final Result. The results of this study is a contribution to the knowledge base of business and management innovation. , D.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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Factors to improve time to market and efficiency of the product development processes of a transport engineering company
- Authors: Mthimkulu, Leabua
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/452950 , uj:39968
- Description: Abstract: Innovation is crucial for South Africa and the region’s economic growth, developmental growth and competitiveness. Research and Development (R&D) has become necessary, as the enabler, to enhance technological innovation to find new and more efficient ways to solving the current economic problems facing South Africa and the region. Governments in many parts of the world over are playing a pivotal role in broadening and deepening their roles in ensuring that innovation takes a centre stage in their respective economies [1] [2]. This study focuses on how the Transnet Engineering (TE) R&D unit can achieve this imperative by focussing on crucial systems and processes used internationally for R&D organisations that must be in place to ensure the efficiency of its systems and processes. This study assesses TE R&D capability maturity based on a Capability Maturity Model (CMM). Thus, the unit of analysis is the collective TE R&D management function. A narrative-enquiry qualitative research-method is used in determining the capability maturity measurements of the key dimensions within the Kalypso R&D Management Framework. The capability maturity measurements are used to propose a possible roadmap to close the gap between where TE R&D departments are today and where they should be as a sustainable Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). In terms of assessing the full TE R&D management capability, only the processes used for TE R&D management were assessed using the R&D management CMM. The other dimensions for a capability, i.e. tools, resources and facilities, were measured indirectly by evaluating the processes for establishing them and looking for evidence that they exist. In terms of sustainability, only efficiency of the processes was evaluated, the effectiveness and relevance of TE R&D management practices are outside the scope of this study as CMM in engineering only treats process assessments which is the basis for efficiency measurements and Kalypso only addresses processes for the different aspects of R&D Management. The study offers recommendations for reinventing TE R&D through bringing in innovativeness, efficiency and agility towards improved organisational performance [3]. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Mthimkulu, Leabua
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/452950 , uj:39968
- Description: Abstract: Innovation is crucial for South Africa and the region’s economic growth, developmental growth and competitiveness. Research and Development (R&D) has become necessary, as the enabler, to enhance technological innovation to find new and more efficient ways to solving the current economic problems facing South Africa and the region. Governments in many parts of the world over are playing a pivotal role in broadening and deepening their roles in ensuring that innovation takes a centre stage in their respective economies [1] [2]. This study focuses on how the Transnet Engineering (TE) R&D unit can achieve this imperative by focussing on crucial systems and processes used internationally for R&D organisations that must be in place to ensure the efficiency of its systems and processes. This study assesses TE R&D capability maturity based on a Capability Maturity Model (CMM). Thus, the unit of analysis is the collective TE R&D management function. A narrative-enquiry qualitative research-method is used in determining the capability maturity measurements of the key dimensions within the Kalypso R&D Management Framework. The capability maturity measurements are used to propose a possible roadmap to close the gap between where TE R&D departments are today and where they should be as a sustainable Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). In terms of assessing the full TE R&D management capability, only the processes used for TE R&D management were assessed using the R&D management CMM. The other dimensions for a capability, i.e. tools, resources and facilities, were measured indirectly by evaluating the processes for establishing them and looking for evidence that they exist. In terms of sustainability, only efficiency of the processes was evaluated, the effectiveness and relevance of TE R&D management practices are outside the scope of this study as CMM in engineering only treats process assessments which is the basis for efficiency measurements and Kalypso only addresses processes for the different aspects of R&D Management. The study offers recommendations for reinventing TE R&D through bringing in innovativeness, efficiency and agility towards improved organisational performance [3]. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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The reliability of kriel power station water treatment plant
- Authors: Mazibuko, Dalton
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/452630 , uj:39928
- Description: Abstract: This paper research is for improving the reliability of Kriel Power Station Water Treatment (WTP) Plant. The research was conducted at Kriel Power Station, with the aim of improving Water Treatment Plant reliability. Water is highly in demand and it is a scarcity in South Africa, general. Eskom aims to preserve water and cut down on water usage, therefore making the Water Treatment Plant reliable is the best way of achieving this. Kriel Power Station Water Treatment Plant has struggled over the years to cope with high demand of water from the station, the high demand of water is caused by high electricity demand in the country, Boiler Units underperforming, plant leaks, over population of employees in the station and Water Treatment Plant aging. These are contributing factors. This study focuses water usage at power Station, plant health and system engineering as ways to improve the reliability of Water treatment plant. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Mazibuko, Dalton
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/452630 , uj:39928
- Description: Abstract: This paper research is for improving the reliability of Kriel Power Station Water Treatment (WTP) Plant. The research was conducted at Kriel Power Station, with the aim of improving Water Treatment Plant reliability. Water is highly in demand and it is a scarcity in South Africa, general. Eskom aims to preserve water and cut down on water usage, therefore making the Water Treatment Plant reliable is the best way of achieving this. Kriel Power Station Water Treatment Plant has struggled over the years to cope with high demand of water from the station, the high demand of water is caused by high electricity demand in the country, Boiler Units underperforming, plant leaks, over population of employees in the station and Water Treatment Plant aging. These are contributing factors. This study focuses water usage at power Station, plant health and system engineering as ways to improve the reliability of Water treatment plant. , M.Ing. (Engineering Management)
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