Lean manufacturing challenges in a South African clothing company
- Chiromo, F., Nel, A., Sebele, T.O.
- Authors: Chiromo, F. , Nel, A. , Sebele, T.O.
- Date: 2015-06-08
- Subjects: Clothing trade - South Africa , Lean manufacturing - South Africa , Supply chain management
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5109 , ISBN 978-1-77592-111-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13935
- Description: This is a case study that investigates factors that affect the implementation of lean supply chain concepts in a South African clothing manufacturing company, hereafter referred to as Company A. The company’s primary markets are public hospitals in Gauteng Province and it offers a wide range of hospital linen and apparel for hospital staff, patients and wards. The study was conducted at the premises of Company A and it analyses the extent to which production of defective parts, overproduction, excessive inventory, unnecessary production steps, unnecessary movement of people, workers waiting for material and unnecessary handling of material affect the attainment of lean supply chain. Areas covered by the study are segments of the production department; namely the storeroom, cutting room, garment construction, cleaning and despatch. The study also looks at the attempts made and challenges encountered by Company A in eliminating these wastes. The effects of these wastes are visible throughout the company from sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of finished products. They affect delivery lead times, product/service quality, cost and customer satisfaction. These findings have implications on the competitiveness of Company A. They help Company A to focus on establishing supply chain linkages that reduce the wastes. The study contributes by suggesting a model that a manufacturing entity should adopt to reduce the impact of the seven wastes.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Chiromo, F. , Nel, A. , Sebele, T.O.
- Date: 2015-06-08
- Subjects: Clothing trade - South Africa , Lean manufacturing - South Africa , Supply chain management
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5109 , ISBN 978-1-77592-111-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13935
- Description: This is a case study that investigates factors that affect the implementation of lean supply chain concepts in a South African clothing manufacturing company, hereafter referred to as Company A. The company’s primary markets are public hospitals in Gauteng Province and it offers a wide range of hospital linen and apparel for hospital staff, patients and wards. The study was conducted at the premises of Company A and it analyses the extent to which production of defective parts, overproduction, excessive inventory, unnecessary production steps, unnecessary movement of people, workers waiting for material and unnecessary handling of material affect the attainment of lean supply chain. Areas covered by the study are segments of the production department; namely the storeroom, cutting room, garment construction, cleaning and despatch. The study also looks at the attempts made and challenges encountered by Company A in eliminating these wastes. The effects of these wastes are visible throughout the company from sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of finished products. They affect delivery lead times, product/service quality, cost and customer satisfaction. These findings have implications on the competitiveness of Company A. They help Company A to focus on establishing supply chain linkages that reduce the wastes. The study contributes by suggesting a model that a manufacturing entity should adopt to reduce the impact of the seven wastes.
- Full Text: false
The female innovation-generation consumer’s evaluation of traditional and virtual displays in South African clothing retail environments
- Van Heerden, Salomien, Tselepis, Thea J., Smal, Desiree
- Authors: Van Heerden, Salomien , Tselepis, Thea J. , Smal, Desiree
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Clothing trade - South Africa , Virtual displays - South Africa , Retail trade - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/217564 , uj:21655 , Citation: Van Heerden, S., Tselepis, T.J. & Smal, D. 2016. The female innovation-generation consumer’s evaluation of traditional and virtual displays in South African clothing retail environments.
- Description: Abstract: Using virtual displays in South African clothing retail outlets could be a marketing communication strategy that attracted consumers to products or the actual stores. This marketing communication influences consumers’ purchase decisions and consequently enhances the competitiveness of the clothing retailer in a dynamic fashion industry. Thus the use of virtual displays is increasing. Implementing digital and virtual display screens in the visual displays of South African physical retail outlets could appeal to particular consumer segments. The innovation-generation consumer segment is the largest and foremost global consumer segment to date, with massive buying power, and this group’s affiliation for the virtual world should not be ignored, as it may prove to be useful when applying omni-channel retailing that stimulates a certain consumer experience. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to report on the evaluation of the female innovation-generation consumer with regard to a static traditional visual display or a virtual representation of the display. Two stimuli (displays) were presented to 653 female respondents from the innovation-generation consumer in Johannesburg (Gauteng). One stimulus was a static traditional visual display and the other a virtual representation thereof which included movement and music. The findings in this paper indicate that although the respondents understood the message of the virtual display and could identify with the symbolic meaning thereof, there is also evidence that the respondents’ emotions were evoked by both the stimuli. Nevertheless, it seems that the traditional visual display still seemed to be preferred with regard to the emotions that it evoked, especially regarding pleasure. The paper concludes with recommendations on the use of virtual displays to support South African clothing retailers.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Van Heerden, Salomien , Tselepis, Thea J. , Smal, Desiree
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Clothing trade - South Africa , Virtual displays - South Africa , Retail trade - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/217564 , uj:21655 , Citation: Van Heerden, S., Tselepis, T.J. & Smal, D. 2016. The female innovation-generation consumer’s evaluation of traditional and virtual displays in South African clothing retail environments.
- Description: Abstract: Using virtual displays in South African clothing retail outlets could be a marketing communication strategy that attracted consumers to products or the actual stores. This marketing communication influences consumers’ purchase decisions and consequently enhances the competitiveness of the clothing retailer in a dynamic fashion industry. Thus the use of virtual displays is increasing. Implementing digital and virtual display screens in the visual displays of South African physical retail outlets could appeal to particular consumer segments. The innovation-generation consumer segment is the largest and foremost global consumer segment to date, with massive buying power, and this group’s affiliation for the virtual world should not be ignored, as it may prove to be useful when applying omni-channel retailing that stimulates a certain consumer experience. The aim of this paper is, therefore, to report on the evaluation of the female innovation-generation consumer with regard to a static traditional visual display or a virtual representation of the display. Two stimuli (displays) were presented to 653 female respondents from the innovation-generation consumer in Johannesburg (Gauteng). One stimulus was a static traditional visual display and the other a virtual representation thereof which included movement and music. The findings in this paper indicate that although the respondents understood the message of the virtual display and could identify with the symbolic meaning thereof, there is also evidence that the respondents’ emotions were evoked by both the stimuli. Nevertheless, it seems that the traditional visual display still seemed to be preferred with regard to the emotions that it evoked, especially regarding pleasure. The paper concludes with recommendations on the use of virtual displays to support South African clothing retailers.
- Full Text:
The suitability of mass customisation for South African clothing manufacturers
- Authors: Aoun, Marie
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Mass customization - South Africa , Clothing trade - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/82242 , uj:18934
- Description: Abstract: Mass Customisation (MC) is increasingly being touted in the global clothing industry as a key strategy to survive an ever-more turbulent market. A European Union report (Probst, Monfardini, Frideres, Demetri, Kauffmann & Clarke, 2013) estimates that five per cent of the global fashion industry will be mass customised by 2018. This growing importance necessitates its consideration in the South African context, especially as a possible opportunity for the ailing clothing manufacturing sector. Since there is a dearth of literature on MC in the South African context, an exploration into the suitability of MC as a manufacturing strategy for South African clothing manufacturers was a first step in understanding this opportunity. The competencies needed to successfully undertake MC manufacturing were drawn from the literature and were used to frame the research. Three corporate clothing manufacturers were selected as a case for this study due to the existing levels of customisation that exist in this sector. In-depth interviews were conducted in order to determine whether these firms currently exhibited the existence of the identified competencies essential to undertake MC within their organisations. One of the interviewed manufacturers seemed to have all the competencies needed to manufacture for mass customisation, whilst another very-almost did. All three manufacturers were severely affected by the dearth of suppliers and this led to the competencies identified from the literature being revised for the South African context. , M.Com. (Business Management)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Aoun, Marie
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Mass customization - South Africa , Clothing trade - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/82242 , uj:18934
- Description: Abstract: Mass Customisation (MC) is increasingly being touted in the global clothing industry as a key strategy to survive an ever-more turbulent market. A European Union report (Probst, Monfardini, Frideres, Demetri, Kauffmann & Clarke, 2013) estimates that five per cent of the global fashion industry will be mass customised by 2018. This growing importance necessitates its consideration in the South African context, especially as a possible opportunity for the ailing clothing manufacturing sector. Since there is a dearth of literature on MC in the South African context, an exploration into the suitability of MC as a manufacturing strategy for South African clothing manufacturers was a first step in understanding this opportunity. The competencies needed to successfully undertake MC manufacturing were drawn from the literature and were used to frame the research. Three corporate clothing manufacturers were selected as a case for this study due to the existing levels of customisation that exist in this sector. In-depth interviews were conducted in order to determine whether these firms currently exhibited the existence of the identified competencies essential to undertake MC within their organisations. One of the interviewed manufacturers seemed to have all the competencies needed to manufacture for mass customisation, whilst another very-almost did. All three manufacturers were severely affected by the dearth of suppliers and this led to the competencies identified from the literature being revised for the South African context. , M.Com. (Business Management)
- Full Text:
An estimation of a production function for the South African clothing industry
- Authors: Clark, Paul William
- Date: 2012-08-23
- Subjects: Clothing trade - South Africa
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:3114 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6530
- Description: M.Comm. , The aim of this study is to estimate a production function for the South African clothing industry. A detailed investigation of the industry was undertaken with a view to establishing the current productive capability of the industry, the potential for increasing the productive capacity of the industry as well as the problems facing the industry in light of the readmittance of South Africa to the world community. The chief finding of the study is that the productive capability of the South African clothing industry is not optimised. Whilst the estimation results of this study correlate to actual levels of output recorded for the period 1970 to 1992, such levels of output represent only a part of the productive potential of the industry . So the question arises as to what is the optimised level of output in the clothing industry ? The results proved to be rather surprising with the quantative analysis suggesting that, despite being the most labour intensive industry in South Africa, in order to optimise levels of output, even more labour should be used in production processes. Despite empirical evidence to the contrary, the implication of this finding suggests that the labour factor input is extremely productive. In contrast, the optimisation exercise clearly points to a need to reduce the factor input capital, as capital is estimated to be an extremely unproductive resource. The question arises as to what are the reasons for these "strange" findings ? The reasons for these findings stem from the fact that the output elasticities of the factor inputs do not conform to the properties of the Cobb-Douglas function. That is, in order to conform to the properties of the Cobb-Douglas function neither of the output elasticities of the factor inputs Should exceed 1 or be less than 0. Both output elasticities for the factor inputs, Capital and Labour, fail this requirement. The output elasticity of the capital factor input is negative (-0.2485) indicating that a 10% increase in the usage of the capital input will result in a 2.5% decrease in the level of output. The output elasticity of the labour factor input is greater than 1 (1.4056) indicating that a 10% increase in the usage of the labour factor input will result in a 14% increase in output levels. Under such a scenario and given that fact that the efficiency criterion, although not statistically significant, points to the capital factor input being overutilised and the labour factor input being underutilised, it is not surprising that in order to optimise output the production process should become more labour intensive. Despite being "strange" there is an economic rationale for these results. Our historical legacy of the apartheid years with the associated period of isolation provides the rationale for the estimated findings indicated above. That is, during the period of isolation, the clothing industry, which is characterised by a by a large number of small and medium sized enterprises, found it extremely difficult to acquire the necessary capital machinery and machinery parts for productive purposes. Not only was such machinery (and parts) not readily available but the costs involved ( due partly as a result of a depreciating Rand) were prohibitive. Under such circumstances, it was no surprise that further investment in capital machinery was limited, resulting in an increasingly outdated (and often badly repaired) productive infrastructure. Furthermore, due to the problems highlighted above, entrepreneurs, instead of replacing machinery that had fell into a state of disrepair, looked to increase the labour input. That is, the productive process in the clothing industry shifted from being a fairly capital intensive method of production to an extremely labour intensive method of production.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Clark, Paul William
- Date: 2012-08-23
- Subjects: Clothing trade - South Africa
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:3114 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6530
- Description: M.Comm. , The aim of this study is to estimate a production function for the South African clothing industry. A detailed investigation of the industry was undertaken with a view to establishing the current productive capability of the industry, the potential for increasing the productive capacity of the industry as well as the problems facing the industry in light of the readmittance of South Africa to the world community. The chief finding of the study is that the productive capability of the South African clothing industry is not optimised. Whilst the estimation results of this study correlate to actual levels of output recorded for the period 1970 to 1992, such levels of output represent only a part of the productive potential of the industry . So the question arises as to what is the optimised level of output in the clothing industry ? The results proved to be rather surprising with the quantative analysis suggesting that, despite being the most labour intensive industry in South Africa, in order to optimise levels of output, even more labour should be used in production processes. Despite empirical evidence to the contrary, the implication of this finding suggests that the labour factor input is extremely productive. In contrast, the optimisation exercise clearly points to a need to reduce the factor input capital, as capital is estimated to be an extremely unproductive resource. The question arises as to what are the reasons for these "strange" findings ? The reasons for these findings stem from the fact that the output elasticities of the factor inputs do not conform to the properties of the Cobb-Douglas function. That is, in order to conform to the properties of the Cobb-Douglas function neither of the output elasticities of the factor inputs Should exceed 1 or be less than 0. Both output elasticities for the factor inputs, Capital and Labour, fail this requirement. The output elasticity of the capital factor input is negative (-0.2485) indicating that a 10% increase in the usage of the capital input will result in a 2.5% decrease in the level of output. The output elasticity of the labour factor input is greater than 1 (1.4056) indicating that a 10% increase in the usage of the labour factor input will result in a 14% increase in output levels. Under such a scenario and given that fact that the efficiency criterion, although not statistically significant, points to the capital factor input being overutilised and the labour factor input being underutilised, it is not surprising that in order to optimise output the production process should become more labour intensive. Despite being "strange" there is an economic rationale for these results. Our historical legacy of the apartheid years with the associated period of isolation provides the rationale for the estimated findings indicated above. That is, during the period of isolation, the clothing industry, which is characterised by a by a large number of small and medium sized enterprises, found it extremely difficult to acquire the necessary capital machinery and machinery parts for productive purposes. Not only was such machinery (and parts) not readily available but the costs involved ( due partly as a result of a depreciating Rand) were prohibitive. Under such circumstances, it was no surprise that further investment in capital machinery was limited, resulting in an increasingly outdated (and often badly repaired) productive infrastructure. Furthermore, due to the problems highlighted above, entrepreneurs, instead of replacing machinery that had fell into a state of disrepair, looked to increase the labour input. That is, the productive process in the clothing industry shifted from being a fairly capital intensive method of production to an extremely labour intensive method of production.
- Full Text:
Supplier selection process at a South African clothing company
- Chiromo, F., Nel, A., Binda, N.D.
- Authors: Chiromo, F. , Nel, A. , Binda, N.D.
- Date: 2015-06-08
- Subjects: Supplier selection , Clothing trade - South Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5110 , ISBN 978-1-77592-111-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13936
- Description: This is a case study that investigates a supplier selection process at a South African clothing manufacturing company, hereafter referred to as Brand Solutions. Brand Solutions is a supplier of a wide range of custom-made corporate clothing, headwear, promotional clothing, bags and luggage. The company has in-house knitting mill that makes fabric using mercerised, bamboo, polyester and 100% cotton yarn that is sourced locally and abroad. Brand Solutions also does branding through digital transfer printing, embroidery, digital ultra violet light printing, silkscreen printing and laser engraving. Data for this study was collected by a University of Johannesburg Industrial Engineering Student. The student had interviews with the procurement, production and quality assurance managers. She verified the answers given by the interviewees by taking informative tours of the production floor, warehouse and management offices of the plant. A review of company documents and relevant literature from journals was also done. The research revealed that on new suppliers, Brand Solutions selects them based on the quality, material shrinkage, colour fastness, grammage, cost, delivery lead time, and product mix flexibility. Once the suppliers pass this test, their performance is not reviewed again. These findings have implications on the performance and competitiveness of Brand Solutions. Moreover the findings have a bearing on Brand Solutions’ growth in employment, market share and revenue. Lastly, the study contributes by suggesting the supplier selection model that a clothing manufacturing entity should adopt in relation to the environment that it operates in.
- Full Text: false
- Authors: Chiromo, F. , Nel, A. , Binda, N.D.
- Date: 2015-06-08
- Subjects: Supplier selection , Clothing trade - South Africa
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5110 , ISBN 978-1-77592-111-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13936
- Description: This is a case study that investigates a supplier selection process at a South African clothing manufacturing company, hereafter referred to as Brand Solutions. Brand Solutions is a supplier of a wide range of custom-made corporate clothing, headwear, promotional clothing, bags and luggage. The company has in-house knitting mill that makes fabric using mercerised, bamboo, polyester and 100% cotton yarn that is sourced locally and abroad. Brand Solutions also does branding through digital transfer printing, embroidery, digital ultra violet light printing, silkscreen printing and laser engraving. Data for this study was collected by a University of Johannesburg Industrial Engineering Student. The student had interviews with the procurement, production and quality assurance managers. She verified the answers given by the interviewees by taking informative tours of the production floor, warehouse and management offices of the plant. A review of company documents and relevant literature from journals was also done. The research revealed that on new suppliers, Brand Solutions selects them based on the quality, material shrinkage, colour fastness, grammage, cost, delivery lead time, and product mix flexibility. Once the suppliers pass this test, their performance is not reviewed again. These findings have implications on the performance and competitiveness of Brand Solutions. Moreover the findings have a bearing on Brand Solutions’ growth in employment, market share and revenue. Lastly, the study contributes by suggesting the supplier selection model that a clothing manufacturing entity should adopt in relation to the environment that it operates in.
- Full Text: false
DIY as an approach to sustainability : a case study of the design praxis of South African clothing label Superella
- Authors: De Waal, Dirk
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fashion design - South Africa , Art and design - South Africa , Do-it-yourself - Products industry - South Africa , Clothing trade - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/438058 , uj:38059
- Description: Abstract: This study evaluates how the integrating of arts based approaches in my teaching practice can be used to both expand my practice and to utilise the capability of the Workplace Preparation Programme (WPP) to achieve a more equitable and accessible curriculum. I am concerned with promoting appropriate changes in the classroom in order to foster a more egalitarian and democratic value system in the teacher/learner relationship which promotes individual and collective freedoms. I integrate arts based methods in my pedagogical practice in order to expand the modes for communication and meaning-making in the classroom: these methods include visual, performative, indirect, non-verbal and symbolic techniques. I contend that these teaching approaches are relevant for the contemporary multilingual classroom and more especially for teaching first-year students. Arts based methods can foster opportunities for multimodal learning and for developing the kinds of student capacities and relationships that can contribute to positive learning experiences... , M.Tech. (Fashion)
- Full Text:
- Authors: De Waal, Dirk
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Fashion design - South Africa , Art and design - South Africa , Do-it-yourself - Products industry - South Africa , Clothing trade - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/438058 , uj:38059
- Description: Abstract: This study evaluates how the integrating of arts based approaches in my teaching practice can be used to both expand my practice and to utilise the capability of the Workplace Preparation Programme (WPP) to achieve a more equitable and accessible curriculum. I am concerned with promoting appropriate changes in the classroom in order to foster a more egalitarian and democratic value system in the teacher/learner relationship which promotes individual and collective freedoms. I integrate arts based methods in my pedagogical practice in order to expand the modes for communication and meaning-making in the classroom: these methods include visual, performative, indirect, non-verbal and symbolic techniques. I contend that these teaching approaches are relevant for the contemporary multilingual classroom and more especially for teaching first-year students. Arts based methods can foster opportunities for multimodal learning and for developing the kinds of student capacities and relationships that can contribute to positive learning experiences... , M.Tech. (Fashion)
- Full Text:
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »