Research Publications (Management Sciences)
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Item Standardisation of quality testing and inspection tools for product quality improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(2023-07-31) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniSouth Africa’s quality system in the automotive sector has developed a number of methods, tools and solutions to improve quality processes. The statistically analysed data, obtained from quality tests and inspections, is one of them. Thus, the product quality testing and inspection tools play a significant role in the control of variation in the production process. A good quality system cannot function without adequate quality testing and inspection tools. It has been established that the automotive sector has an abundance of such tools in their production processes, and it is necessary that they are standardised for optimum quality results. Therefore, this study examines the effects of standardising quality testing and inspection tools for product quality improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. The study was quantitative in design and examined production and related experiences of the automotive assembly organisation that has standardised its quality inspection tools for product quality improvement. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu Natal. The study was achieved by collecting pre- and post-quarterly data for spoilage, cost of quality inspection and the external product failure as well as product quality. The results establish that the standardisation of quality testing and inspection tools does not improve product quality in the automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. However, the cost of quality testing and inspection has a relation to product quality resulting from the standardisation of quality testing and inspection tools. This study uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of standardising quality testing and inspection tools for product quality in an automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.Item The impact of quality gates on product quality in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(2023-06-05) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniNowadays, quality control influences competitiveness of organisations, continually demanding managerial attention. With the arrival of total quality management, quality control has become an almost all-embracing control system. Thus, the philosophy of the quality gate as a quality control tool plays an important role in the assembly organisations of South Africa. Quality gate is used to improve the visibility of quality at strategic points in the production process, its main goal being to conform to the service quality as per customer’s expectation. As a result, this study examines the influence of the quality gate on product quality in the selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. The study was quantitative in design and examined production and related experiences of the automotive assembly organisation that have adopted quality gate strategy for product quality improvement. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model, using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data. The selected company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study was achieved by collecting pre- and post-quarterly data for spoilage, production targets achieved and cost on quality. The results indicate that product quality has a relationship with both the spoilage rate and the cost on quality. Any decrease in the spoilage rate or the cost on quality increases product quality. This study uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of the quality gate on product quality in an automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.Item The implications of automation in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(2023-05-16) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniImproving productivity in the manufacturing system is the core objective of all manufacturing companies as it determines how well the company utilises its resources compared to requirements. Emanating from a continued demand for efficiency and productivity, automation becomes the key driver in such an achievement. Thus, automated flow line manufacturing systems are becoming more relevant in the automotive sector. This study examines the influence of automation for productivity improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa, automation being the creation and application of technology to monitor and control the production and delivery of products and services. The study was quantitative in design and examined the production of an automotive assembly organisation that has adopted an automation system for productivity improvement in its automobile Deck Tailgate process in its weld plant. This company operates in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study was conducted by collecting pre- and postquarterly data for labour productivity and process efficiency. The results established that labour productivity and process efficiency improve as a result of the application of automation. However, automation will lead to the reduction of human participation in the production systems. This may result in uncertainties amongst employees that must be properly communicated and managed. The original value of this study is its approach in uncovering strengths and weaknesses of automation for productivity improvement in South Africa.Item The impact of Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) on labour productivity in the automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(2021-08) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniCompanies develop strategies of promoting innovativeness relating to productivity improvements in their production processes. These may require radical changes aimed at improving short-to long-term growth in productivity. This sentiment describes the concept of business process re-engineering (BPR). South Africa has, over the years, been experiencing low productivity growth in its manufacturing industry. Its labour productivity level is low when compared with BRICS countries like Russia, India and China. Hence, this study focuses on BPR, given low productivity levels in the South African automotive and manufacturing industries. The automotive company that has adopted a BPR strategy participated in the study. The collection of data was carried out in two phases. This includes the collection of pre- and post-BPR quarterly data from company records on overtime and spoilage rates. The pre-BPR results were quarterly data of the company’s performance over a three-year period prior to BPR implementation. The post-BPR data reflect the company’s performance for three years after BPR was implemented. Hence, the study examined the production and related experiences of the automotive assembly organisation that has adopted a BPR strategy. The company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The results established that BPR has a positive relationship with labour productivity. It has an influence on the levels of overtime and spoilage rates. Hence, the automotive companies in South Africa should assess their performance and implement structural changes that help achieve new business goals. These include the job structure, as well as the administrative procedures. The implementation of such changes must be based on an understanding of the economic factors affecting labour productivity.Item Assessing the effectiveness of an occupational health and safety system in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(AOSIS, 2021-01-26) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: It has been established that high levels of safety performance are achieved by strong and positive safety climates. Good safety, health and environmental practices reduce the cost of overall healthcare delivery while increasing general productivity. These sentiments underpin the concept of an occupational health and safety (OHS) system. Aim: This study assesses the effectiveness of an OHS in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. Settings: The automotive organisation that participated in the study has adopted an OHS system. Prior to its implementation, the company experienced an increase in the rate of occupational diseases and injuries. Methods: The study objectives were achieved by examining Health and Safety (H&S) related experiences in the company. The collection of data was carried out in two phases, namely the collection of pre-OHS and post-OHS results from company records for H&S compliance, occupational diseases, as well as workplace injury rates. The pre-OHS results were quarterly data reflecting the company’s H&S performance over the 3-year period prior to the implementation of the OHS system. This company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Results: The OHS system has no influence on occupational diseases, or on the workplace injury frequency rates. However, H&S compliance plays a role in the maintenance of the OHS system. Conclusion: In order to maximise performance, a comprehensive OHS policy must be developed that aligns management commitment to the OHS system. Thus, the study uncovered the strengths and weaknesses of OHS in this automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.Item Mechanisation : a radical approach for improvement in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(Siauliai University, 2022-06-06) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniThe increased practice of mechanisation in the execution of tasks in the manufacturing sector, as a method for productivity improvement through standard time achievement and downtime reduction, requires changes in layout and the application of robotics capabilities. In this way, using layout designs for optimum assembly process optimises the assembly process. Hence, this study examines the adoption of mechanisation for quality improvement and downtime reduction in a selected automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. The study was quantitative in design and examined the production process of the selected automotive assembly organisation that had adopted a mechanised system for quality improvement in its roof process in the weld plant. The company, which operates a three-shift system, is situated in the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The study was achieved by collecting pre- and post-quarterly data for product quality, defects per unit and downtime. The results indicate that downtime and product quality improved as a result of mechanisation. Through mechanisation, the organisation has made technological changes in their processes that have led to opportunities for greater flexibilities. This study uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of mechanisation in this automotive assembly organisation in South Africa.