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Ways to overcome employee resistance in change initiatives

- Freddy, Charles, Mbohwa, Charles

  • Authors: Freddy, Charles , Mbohwa, Charles
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Organizational change , Total quality management
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6155 , ISBN 978-93-82242-26-0 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13759
  • Description: Continuous change in leadership creates instability within the business, and more importantly uncertainty amongst employees, hence the reluctance by employees to readily accept change. There are a myriad of reasons for resistance to change. Change programs such as TQM are required within business to ensure that organisations seek continuous improvement in their operational capabilities. Total quality management refers to three main components, namely customer satisfaction; continuous improvement and employee involvement. This study focuses on the employee resistance to change initiatives as a critical component. The lack of employee involvement potentially results in resistance to change initiatives. In many instances employees will not easily adapt to change. It is therefore important to understand that inadequate or no employee involvement will be a waste of valuable resources for any organisation attempting to implement Total Quality Management initiatives.
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User perspectives on document management efficiency at Eskom

- Mabitsela, Mamatshetshe

  • Authors: Mabitsela, Mamatshetshe
  • Date: 2014-05-05
  • Subjects: Information resources management , Data mining , Total quality management
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:10933 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10506
  • Description: M.Phil. (Information Management) , An efficient document management system is one that considers the user’s needs for information and the ability of the system to provide valuable information that matches certain characteristics. When users utilise a document management system (DMS) they require a system that they perceive will make their work easier. The efficient and effective use of a DMS depends on how receptive the users are to technology and their intention in using the system. The documents in the document management system are corporate knowledge and should therefore be stored in a central repository such as the DMS, where the company’s corporate memory cannot be lost. The DMS has all the capabilities to keep documents safe where the documents can be accessed again. To measure the technology acceptance of end users, research has identified the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the ideal method. TAM is tailored to elaborate on computer usage, perceived ease of use, attitudes toward using and usage behaviour. The research stream on technology acceptance and use has become one of the most prolific and is claimed to be the most mature research in the modern information system field. The problem identified was to analyse the user’s behavioural intent towards effectively utilising the Eskom in-house document management system. The purpose was to investigate the use of the document system that is currently in place at Eskom and determine user perspectives. Employees working in Eskom cannot afford to neglect using the document management system on a regular basis. Important documents relevant for everyday work are stored in the system, and all employees are granted access to these documents. Given these considerations, users’ perceptions of the in-house document system cannot be taken for granted, and these issues were researched. The findings from the TAM variables showed that perceptions of users towards the DMS were divided, while half of the users were satisfied with the information, system, usefulness and ease of using the system the other half was not satisfied. A division in opinion emerged whether the system should be replaced or rather improved. Benefits of both options were weighed and the study suggested that the system be replaced.
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Totale kwaliteitsbestuur van regsdienste in Suid-Afrika met spesifieke verwysing na dienslewering.

- Kriel, Vera

  • Authors: Kriel, Vera
  • Date: 2014-04-23
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Legal services - South Africa
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:10812 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10319
  • Description: M.Comm. (Education Management) , Legal services Is part of the concept of service In general that can be described us any activity or gain that one partytthe supplier) can give to anothertthe consumer). This activity or gain Is substantially unassailable. Intransferable to a third party and can not be stored. The classification of legal services according to the nature of the service conduct. the relationship between client and Jurist. the discretJon used during service delivery And the way the service is delivered. the nature of the service demand and the charactertsttcs of the service as such. means that one can draw an analogy with other dtsclpltnes In order to be more Innovative and competitive. QualIty Is a permanent function of any organization and permeates all aspects of work. Quallty Is ulttmately Judged by the client and that Is why the client must he the centre of any quality Improvement program. In general quality can be descrtbed as the correlation between the expectations of the cllent and the reahsatton of these expectations. Based on the studies done by Parasurarnan. Zetthaml and Berry(1985.1988) as adjusted. the quality of legal services Is conceptualised by way of the SERVQUAL model. describing five gaps as reasons for poor service quality. It Is submitted that In order to achieve quality In legal services. a program of total quality management must be Implemented. Total quality management means to manage a legal practice In an Integrated manner. In order to comply with the needs of the client. This Is done by way of basic management functions of planning. Implementing through organizing, leading and control.
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Total quality management in the supply chain of a petrochemical organisation

- Boikanyo, D.H.

  • Authors: Boikanyo, D.H.
  • Date: 2017
  • Subjects: Quality , Total quality management , Supply chain
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/242026 , uj:24953 , Citation: Boikanyo, D.H. 2017. Total quality management in the supply chain of a petrochemical organisation.
  • Description: Abstract: The objective was to investigate the extent of the use of total quality management (TQM) practices in a supply chain of a petrochemical organisation. TQM is a method by which management and employees can become involved in the continuous improvement of the production of goods and services. It is a combination of quality and management tools aimed at increasing business and reducing losses due to wasteful practices. The study was carried out in the petrochemical industry, which is of economic significance to the country. An existing TQM questionnaire was used and a total of 200 employees were targeted. The questionnaire had a seven-factor structure with acceptable Cronbach Alpha co-efficients. Overall, there was a significant number of employees who agree that total quality management is not practiced within their work areas and leading to a high number of quality related customer complaints. Management and employees are encouraged to be visibly involved in the development of a TQM transformation. TQM requires support from management, long-term strategic decision-making and motivated personnel.
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Total quality management in heavy fabrication

- Martens, Justin Grant

  • Authors: Martens, Justin Grant
  • Date: 2012-08-01
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Van Reenen Steel (Pty.) Ltd. (Firm)
  • Type: Mini-Dissertation
  • Identifier: uj:8899 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5371
  • Description: M.Ing. , Total Quality Management (TQM) is a philosophy with a primary focus on the customer which has been adopted by many companies the world over. The purpose of this mini dissertation was to understand its history, evolution thereof and desired outcomes, in order to ultimately decide whether or not to proceed with implementation plans at Van Reenen Steel (Pty) Ltd, the author’s current workplace. Growth within the company’s product base and throughput within the past five years has trebled, and a better philosophy or quality system is sorely needed to maintain the pace of doing business. For this dissertation, key research objectives are: • To ascertain the history and path followed in order to arrive at the stage of today’s Total Quality Management, along with understanding how the philosophy has evolved into today’s complex management systems. • To determine what steps have been taken by other heavy fabrication facilities to successfully implement TQM or variations thereof, and which methods they used to implement their chosen style. • To determine what the support base within this (and other similar) companies is as this would determine the likelihood of success or failure of the implementation of one of the TQM systems. • To highlight the possible stumbling blocks facing the heavy fabrication industry of South Africa. • To recommend steps necessary for the willing fabrication company to successfully begin implementing a TQM program. The study traces TQM history and a range of variations that have been developed since its initial creation in the 1950’s, such as 6σ (Six Sigma) and 5-s (Five S). Notable and successful adoptions of these practices are discussed, as well as some actual tours of fabrication facilities around the world that are using such quality management systems. As people are the primary driver in these methods, a survey was conducted across several similar companies that reviewed the perception of willingness to adopt TQM changes. Targets were broken into four levels – directors, management, office staff and workshop staff – and the results were presented in these groups. The essence of the survey portrayed upper level management not believing that the line staff are aware of the impact nor urgency of TQM adoption; the other main outcome was that lower level(s) did not feel that management would commit financially to achieving quality management.
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Total quality management and teacher empowerment

- Botha, Basil

  • Authors: Botha, Basil
  • Date: 2012-09-04
  • Subjects: School management and organization , Total quality management , Teacher-principal relationships , Delegation of authority
  • Type: Mini-Dissertation
  • Identifier: uj:3462 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6855
  • Description: M.Ed. , The purpose of this study will be to examine the relationship between leadership styles and empowerment of secondary school teachers in public schools in the Gauteng region. Personal characteristics of the participants' background information on working in collaboration with their principals and with one another as teams in a process of continuous improvement, will be examined to determine the effects these have on the leadership style. The examination of background information in this study is important because it attempts to determine the influence of total quality management on the empowerment of teachers.
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Total quality management adoption by process engineering design firms in South Africa

- Njenge, L., Vermeulen, Andre, Pretorius, J.H.C.

  • Authors: Njenge, L. , Vermeulen, Andre , Pretorius, J.H.C.
  • Date: 2015-06-08
  • Subjects: Product quality , Total quality management , Process engineering - South Africa
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5133 , ISBN 9781775921110 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14099
  • Description: The study investigates the effects of Total Quality Management (TQM) implementation on process engineering design firms. Secondly, the study investigates the extent of TQM adoption by South African process engineering design firms. Lastly, the study investigates the perceived importance of TQM principles. The study reveals that 70% of the firms which participated in the survey have formally adopted TQM while 30% have not. Although the firms which have not formally adopted TQM are implementing TQM principles, they have not been able to implement the principles as well as the firms which have formally adopted TQM. It also reveals that TQM implementation improves employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and financial performance while providing a vision that channels the entire organisation towards improvements in product quality and customer†related performances
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The role of Total Quality Management (TQM) practices on improving organisational performance in manufacturing and service organisations

- Sukdeo, Nita

  • Authors: Sukdeo, Nita
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Production management - Quality control , Industrial productivity - Measurement , Organizational effectiveness
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213441 , uj:21153
  • Description: Abstract: Total Quality Management (TQM) has been proposed to improve organisational performance and has received much consideration over the years. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of TQM elements of Leadership, Employee Involvement, Customer Focus, Strategic Planning, Supplier Relations, Process Management and Information Analysis on the organisational performance measures of Quality Improvement, Product / Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Employee Satisfaction and Supplier Performance, and how this essentially leads to successful Organisational Performance. Interviews were conducted with senior management on their awareness and importance of TQM on organisational performance. Thereafter, a questionnaire was administered to a simple random sample of 33 manufacturing and 32 service organisations in the Johannesburg South region. Confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was utilised to verify the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument, respectively. Regression and correlation analysis was developed to test the relationship between the TQM elements on the five organisational performance measures. A t-test was conducted the difference between manufacturing and service organisations, in their implementation of TQM. The findings of this study indicates that the seven TQM elements have a positive influence on the five organisational performance measures. Therefore it can be accepted that TQM plays an important role in the performance and success of an organisation. The results of this study could provide valuable information for manufacturing and service organisations on improving quality and enhancing organisational performance. , D.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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The provisioning of subscriber ports in a modern telephone exchange environment

- Botha, Louis

The ISO 9001: 2008 standard's contribution towards the delivery of mail at the South African Post Office

- Nthite, Lesego

  • Authors: Nthite, Lesego
  • Date: 2012-11-06
  • Subjects: South African Post Office , Total quality management , ISO 9000 standard (9001:2008) , Quality assurance , Postal service standards
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7357 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8113
  • Description: M.Tech. , The South African Post Office or SAPO is the national postal service of South Africa and is owned by South African government. It employs 17000 people and operates more than 2400 postal outlets throughout the country. The history of SAPO can be tracked back to over 500 years. In 1994 South Africa was readmitted to the universal union following the end of apartheid. SAPO currently operates under a 25 year license granted by the Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and in terms of this must provide a universal service to all citizens of the country. The monthly service delivery performance target as set out by the postal regulator (ICASA) is 98%. With the current pressures of having to deliver services according to the license agreement with the regulator, it becomes imperative that SAPO has to improve its business process in order to enable it to meet and exceed set delivery standards with the aim of satisfying its customer’s needs. Throughout the 1990’s the South African Post Office (SAPO) has been offering communication system that was used even before cell phones were introduced and it is still one of the communications channels (SAPO history). As a result there has been increased interest in the application of total quality management (TQM) principles. The emergence of the revised ISO 9000 standard (9001:2008) now permits the South African Post Office gain advantages to improve their performance in a manner that can be measured and monitored precisely.
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The integration of intrapreneurship into a performance management model

- Foba, Thabo W.L.

The impact of quality management tools in municipal water distributors : case of Namibia

- Mutingi, Michael, Silombela, Timothy, Mashauri, Damas, Mbohwa, Charles

The impact of quality assurance systems on the operational performance of laboratories

- Ratsoeu, Ellen

  • Authors: Ratsoeu, Ellen
  • Date: 2013-05-30
  • Subjects: Quality assurance standards , Laboratories - Quality control , Quality control standards , Production management - Quality control , Total quality management
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7570 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8433
  • Description: M.Tech. (Operations Management) , It has become a trend for organisations to implement and certify quality systems. The most common quality system that organisations currently implement is ISO 9001. Certification to ISO 9001 has in recent times been used as a marketing tool to enter new markets. Nowadays, customers expect their suppliers and potential suppliers to be certified to ISO 9001. It has become a primary requirement for doing business, and customers now demand it. There have been various studies conducted to establish the advantages of ISO 9001 and its impact on organisational performance. Laboratories are no exception to this developing trend. They are implementing laboratory quality standards like ISO 17025 and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Good Laboratory Practice (OECD GLP). Some laboratories are now applying for certification of compliance to laboratory standards. Implementing and certifying laboratory systems is an exercise that comes at a cost. The exercise is demanding in terms of human resources, time and capital. There has not been a study conducted to evaluate the impact of these systems on the operational performance of laboratories. This is the reason that resulted in identification of the need to conduct the study. A qualitative research approach was pursued in conducting the study, where the researcher investigated the impact of laboratory quality standards on the operational performance of commercial and non-commercial laboratories. Operational performance in this study is defined as health and safety; supplier selection and performance; human resources; customer satisfaction and profitability. Data was collected through interviews, and was then summarised, and analysed in order to address the research problem. Based on the data collected, it was concluded there is no notable difference in the performance of laboratories with or without quality assurance systems such as ISO 17025 and OECD GLP.
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The application, utilisation and implementation of total quality management in the South African manufacturing industry : a case study

- Baloyi, Themba Amukelani

  • Authors: Baloyi, Themba Amukelani
  • Date: 2013-11-20
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Manufacturing industries - South Africa - Management , ASSA ABLOY (SA) Pty (Ltd.) , Manufacturing processes - South Africa - Quality control
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7761 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8650
  • Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , This dissertation uncovers the importance of the application, utilisation and implementation of total quality management in the South African organisations specifically manufacturing industry. The study focuses on the application, utilisation and implementation of TQM at ASSA ABLOY (SA) PTY (LTD). This study need to outline ways in which total quality management, implementation and quality improvement is applied and utilized in within ASSA ABLOY (SA). The organisation believes but does not have clear understanding and commitment to implementation of total quality management and continuous improvement tools. This research seeks to come up with methods that will eventually be used to train employees on total quality management (TQM) related issues at ASSA ABLOY (SA) PTY (LTD) and in the South African manufacturing industry as a whole. The research design was both qualitative and quantitative in nature. The primary data was collected by using a structured questionnaire, interviews, surveys and observations with people within ASSA ABLOY (SA) Pty (Ltd). The secondary data was collected from library searches and access to information gathered with the organisation that supports this journey. The questions were coded up for ease of analysis and the questions gave the respondent choice to respond on the 5 point-linkert scale, where 1 -“Very dissatisfied”, 2-“Dissatisfied”, 3-“neutral or unsure”, 4-“Satisfied” and 5-“Very satisfied”. A Linkert item is simply a statement which the respondent is asked to evaluate according to any kind of subjective or objective criteria; generally the level of agreement or disagreement is measured. It is considered symmetric or "balanced" because there are equal amounts of positive and negative positions. Top management support on quality policy is a concern to the employees. Employees seem not to be getting enough training on quality related matters and their training needs are not fully addressed because they are not consulted enough when training is planned. This will mean that the needs analysis is left with the managers or the supervisors. Employees feel strongly that their level of education must be taken into consideration when training is planned for them. Employees in the organisation would like to be mixed up in continuous improvement projects and training or quality department could initiate these. They would also like to have more acquaintance of how the quality department in general functions and to play a role in the implementation of quality by good value of being trained on things that they can apply instantaneously. Top management is committed to quality management initiatives but they do not involve their employees on quality decisions and efforts. Dynamic team working is encouraged by the managers of the departments within the company. Quality training is a concern to the employees, employees are also not aware of the quality department that exists within the company.
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Strategic quality: a software engineering approach

- Van Staden, Roelof Johannes

  • Authors: Van Staden, Roelof Johannes
  • Date: 2009-02-27T06:04:11Z
  • Subjects: Software engineering , Software measurement , Quality of products , Total quality management , Strategic planning
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:8188 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2192
  • Description: M.Ing. , Software engineering organizations face a struggle for daily survival in an extremely volatile climate. Numerous times it has been shown that the quality of a service or product could make the difference between an organization existing or closing down. The way in which quality is approached in any organization is part of a strategy; unbeknown to the managers and employees in many instances. Even though there are numerous books, articles, internet sites and other sources devoted to the subject of quality, total quality management, and strategic planning, not many of these information sources link quality and the strategy of the organization in such a way as to consider the quality of the organization’s products and services to be a major factor of strategic survival – or even the very existence of the organization. Quality is known under various names and terms in organizations, these terms and definitions will be investigated to grasp the true meaning of software quality and strategy as it concerns modern software engineering organizations. The tools and techniques required to improve and measure strategy and quality will also be scrutinized. One dominant factor about quality and strategy should be borne in mind, and that is that these programs depend on teamwork and management support as the major underlying framework. There are many tools and techniques that leaders and members of software teams can employ, but one of the most important factors is to gain a picture of the total process of continuous improvement and measurement. For this reason the author has included a large section on Jack Welch, who managed to use continuous improvement techniques to create one of the best, and biggest international organizations in recent years. It is vital that all people realize that they need an improvement and measurement model, and they need guidance in using such a model. This dissertation investigates the reasoning behind implementing strategic quality processes in software engineering organizations. Following the investigation into the necessity for a quality strategy, the methods, processes, tools and techniques that are required for a strategic quality framework (improvement and measurement model) for software engineering organizations will be researched to provide a basic framework and guidance in implementing such a model.
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Strategic advantage through customer value

- Harding, Vernon Victor

  • Authors: Harding, Vernon Victor
  • Date: 2012-08-21
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Strategic planning , Customer relations , Consumer satisfaction
  • Type: Mini-Dissertation
  • Identifier: uj:2909 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6339
  • Description: M.Comm. , Lots have been said in the literature in regard to customer value and the way it should influence the company and its management strategy. Customer focused, close to the customer, building customer relations creating customer value, becoming customer driven and exceeding customer expectations are some of the hottest subject executives are talking about. If so way are most companies in South Africa and in the world still content with their internal measurements without asking whether what they are measuring has any relevance on the companies performance (Fagiano, 1997:6). For South African companies competitiveness have never been more important because of the rapidly changing global environment and the swift changes in the demographic and socio-economic locally (De Villiers & Slabbert, 1996:35). The death of distance and the (Peters, 1997:2) current exchange rate of the rand makes it advantageous for international companies to invest in South-Africa putting local companies under a lot of strain. It is proposed to use customer value as a strategic performance measure tool and to develop a customer driven culture to insure that the perceived value of the product is above expectation and that branding is achieved through customer value. It was indicated that customer value can be a performance measurement tool and a major component in the strategic management process and that it is here to stay and will be a vehicle for many a company to achieve competitive advantage. The principle of customer value is not new and has been proven in the Total Quality Management process. It would thus be building on existing capabilities that have been acquired from total quality management of internal processes and products. The challenge lies in refocusing from the internal quality processes to an external customer value. This movement of focus will not be easy and organisations will have to rethink their culture, structure and managerial capabilities. Employees will need to learn a few new skills such as (1) customer responsiveness and evaluation, (2) innovation, (3) strategic thinking, (4) radical thinking and internal motivation
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Simulating a production environment for managerial decision making

- Law, J.

  • Authors: Law, J.
  • Date: 2010-03-25T06:47:02Z
  • Subjects: Total quality management , Industrial productivity simulation methods , Industrial productivity evaluation , Decision making , Strategic planning
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:6706 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3108
  • Description: M.Ing. , The purpose of this research investigation is to develop and simulate a current manufacturing production line, for a company by the name of Aerosud, using a 3- dimensional software tool called Delmia Quest ®. The company in question is a mechanical and aeronautical manufacturing organisation that supplies components to both the civil and military sectors to a variety of global points. The aim of this investigation was to develop a simulation model that, initially, mapped the actual workings of the real production line with the use of actual time data recorded through measurement. Secondly, various observations were made to discover how much work-in-progress (WIP) remains idle during the manufacturing procedure and how much productivity is reached after a standard production week of forty-five hours. Hence, the aim of the simulation model is to improve those two factors by increasing the productivity of the entire production line and reduce the amount of WIP idle to a minimum. To achieve this, the author created a baseline model for both the throughput time and the WIP at each cell of production. The results of these curves were obtained using actual statistical time data obtained during the observation period. These results were then plotted onto individual axis to visually identify the outputs. Next, the author analysed the baseline model, within the 3D virtual world of the software, to witness where possible errors exist in terms of throughput time and the amount of WIP idle at various stations of production. It was clearly identified that the cell with the most production problems, was assembly. The author thus identified possible methods of reducing these problems and simulated those actions. The results showed various improvements in the amount of throughput time gained as well as a significant reduction to the amount of WIP idle at that particular cell. The simulations were thus mapped onto the same axis as the baseline model, in terms of throughput time and WIP respectively. This provides visual identification to the outcome of such simulations so that the reader can identify clarity in the results. A basic comparison of each simulation was described with reference to the baseline curve in order to clarify what the results had shown. Finally, the investigation was concluded highlighting that the baseline model created was a good start to analysing the company’s production line; however, as further research, it was recommended that various types of improvements can still be made to this model in order to improve its realism when compared to the real production line.
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Review of critical success factors for the implementation of total quality management in the construction industry

- Ansah, S. K., Aigbavboa, C. O., Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku

Quality management framework for incubation clusters

- Jura, Dudley

  • Authors: Jura, Dudley
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Business incubators , Total quality management , Business enterprises - South Africa - Quality control , Industrial management - South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213559 , uj:21168
  • Description: Abstract: This research has developed a quality management (QM) framework that incubation clusters can use to grow as well as establish review milestones for their progress. Quality management systems (QMSs) can be used as a vehicle to lead incubators through the various stages of growth. The adoption of a QMS can simplify complexity and ensure success. Small businesses are failing to secure markets due to stringent demands for quality products and compliance issues that can appear unachievable. However, by applying the concepts of QMSs, these problems that restrict market access can be addressed. There must be a progress monitoring tool enshrined in a system for it to realize growth. This tool must be able to trigger the realization that a specific development milestone has been attained. The first two years of this research were spent on developing the framework and in the third year the validation of the framework was the main activity. Data collected during the research was used to validate the developed framework. The sample population comprised incubators in the economic sectors of the South African economy that include construction, mining and mineral processing, jewellers, information technology, floriculture, the motor industry, agriculture, bio fuels, furniture and business development. South African small enterprises and incubators can adopt QMSs to increase sustainability. The need for communities to participate in the economic performance of a country has become urgent. This is as a result of job losses caused by the global economic pressures. Companies are also increasingly being put under pressure to participate in socio-economic development activities of the communities they operate in. At the same time, there is a need to develop the next generation of manufacturing systems in response to the emerging need for manufacturing to be rapidly responsive and customized. Such manufacturing systems need to be able to take advantage of opportunities in global supply chains, and create opportunities for local production, independent of global supply chains. In this way, the economic development of South... , D.Eng. (Engineering Management)
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Quality control in a university laboratory : a study of ISO/IEC-17025 implementation in the thin section laboratory

- Cebekhulu, B. M. B.

  • Authors: Cebekhulu, B. M. B.
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Laboratories - Quality control - Standards , Total quality management - Case studies , Total quality management , Standardization
  • Language: English
  • Type: Masters (Thesis)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/225091 , uj:22726
  • Description: Abstract: Quality management systems in research and teaching laboratories are difficult to implement due to various reasons and factors. The benefits that the implementation of such systems bring to testing and calibration laboratories make a compelling case for their deployment in teaching and research laboratories as well. The Thin Section laboratory, based at Wits University’s School of Geosciences is a research and teaching laboratory. The laboratory has funding and quality challenges and has to find ways of supplementing the grant it receives from the University. One of the ways identified is providing commercial testing services to other sectors. Testing and calibration laboratories are required to conform to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard which is the general requirements for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories. The Thin Section laboratory will have to comply with this standard to improve the quality of the products and to be able compete with other testing laboratories. Making use of laboratory experiments, surveys and interviews, this study aimed to evaluate the gap between the Thin Section laboratory processes and ISO/IEC 17025:2005 requirements, assess the ISO/IEC 17025 implementation challenges for such laboratories and evaluate the possible benefits of implementing such a system. The study found the gap between ISO/IEC 17025:2005 requirements and laboratory procedures to be wide but also recommended solutions to overcome implementation difficulties particular to this laboratory setting and narrowing the identified gap. This study also found that the benefits of implementing ISO/IEC 17025 in this laboratory will, in the long run, outweigh the cost associated with implementation. The findings of this study can be utilised by other teaching and research laboratories, who have intentions of implementing ISO/IEC 17025, to identify challenges inherent with this type of environment and how best to overcome them. , M.Tech. (Operations Management)
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