Research Publications (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/217
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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 influence of employee engagement on labour productivity in an automotive assembly organisation in South Africa(AOSIS, 2020-03-17) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: Productivity of the South African work force remains an issue of central concern for business. It plays an important role in the life of every person and the performance of every business. Creating a working environment that encourages worker participation is one way to create the kind of workplace that attracts motivated work teams for productivity improvement. This sentiment underpins the concept of employee engagement. Employee engagement is the level of commitment and involvement an employee has towards their organisation and its values. Aim: This study examines the influence of employee engagement on labour productivity improvement in the automotive assembly organisations in South Africa. Settings: The study objectives were achieved by examining the production and related experiences of an automotive assembly organisation that has adopted an employee engagement strategy for labour productivity improvement. The company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. It assessed if employee engagement is responsible for company’s labour productivity. Method: The investigation was achieved by collecting quarterly data on absenteeism, employee participation in quality circles and labour productivity before and after the implementation of the strategy. Results: Employee engagement does not have the ability to improve labour productivity in an automotive assembly organisation in South Africa. However, absenteeism rate has an influence on labour productivity resulting from the implementation of employee engagement. Conclusion: South African organisations should revise their performance management systems and develop employee engagement strategies that help achieve new business goals. Consequently, this study uncovers the strengths and weaknesses of employee engagement for labour productivity improvement in South Africa.Item Influence of a shop floor management system on labour productivity in an automotive parts manufacturing organisation in South Africa(AOSIS, 2020-02-18) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: South Africa’s labour productivity at the shop floor remains an issue of central concern for business. It plays a role in the life of every person and the performance of every business, thus requiring the business to solve problems at the shop floor level. This sentiment underpins the concept of a shop floor management (SFM) system. An SFM system refers to the extent of control exercised at the shop floor level for commitment and involvement of shop floor employees aimed at improving productivity. It is a process that facilitates employee engagement. Aim: This study examines the influence of an SFM system for productivity improvement in automotive parts manufacturing companies in South Africa. Productivity in the South African’s manufacturing sector is low compared to its counterpart industries in the Asian and Western countries. This sector experiences the lack in short to medium term growth in productivity. Setting: The automotive parts manufacturing company that has adopted an SFM strategy for productivity improvement participated in the study. Methods: The study objectives were achieved by examining the production and related experiences in the company. The collection of data was carried out in two phases. This includes the collection of results pre and post-SFM implementation from company records for spoilage, absenteeism and housekeeping rates. The pre-SFM results were quarterly data reflecting the company’s performance over the three-year period prior to the implementation of the SFM. This company operates in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Results: The study established that housekeeping and SFM have no relation to labour productivity. However, it revealed the relationship of both absenteeism and spoilage rates with labour productivity. Conclusion: SFM is an employee engagement process that creates a working environment that encourage worker participation and commitment. Contribution: The original value of this paper is its approach in uncovering strengths and weaknesses of SFM for productivity in South Africa.Item The influence of a 360-degree performance appraisal on labour productivity in an automotive manufacturing organisation(AOSIS, 2018-07-30) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniBackground: South Africa’s (SAs) decline in labour productivity in the manufacturing sector is a cause for concern. The sector turns to employees for innovative productivity improvement initiatives. Employees need to know what activities they are currently performing that need to improve. This is where a 360-degree performance appraisal system plays a growing role. The 360-degree performance appraisal is a valuable tool that provides an opportunity for employees to work together to identify strengths and areas that need improvement. Aim: This study investigates the influence of a 360-degree performance appraisal system for the improvement of labour productivity in the automotive parts manufacturing sector in SA. Settings: The study investigated the production and related experiences of an automotive parts manufacturing company that has adopted a 360-degree strategy. The company operates in the eThekwini district Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. It assessed if 360-degree performance appraisal is responsible for the company’s labour productivity improvements. Methods: The investigation was achieved by collecting pre- and post-360-degree quarterly data for spoilage, absenteeism, capital investment and labour productivity. Results: The 360-degree performance appraisal has no influence on labour productivity improvement. However, past capital investment plays a significant role in labour productivity increase. Results also showed a relationship between spoilage rate and labour productivity improvement. Conclusion: In order to maximise performance, a comprehensive performance policy must be developed, which aligns employee appraisal to performance. The study uncovered the strengths and weaknesses of a 360-degree performance appraisal system for labour productivity improvement in SA.Item Evaluating the effectiveness of a gainsharinng programme for labour productivity improvement(2017) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniOrientation: Companies are faced with the challenge of promoting innovation for productivity improvement among employees. They create a work environment that promotes worker participation for productivity improvement. This sentiment underpins the concept of gainsharing. Purpose: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a gainsharing programme for productivity improvement in automotive parts manufacturing companies in South Africa (SA). Motivation for the study: SA’s labour productivity, in the manufacturing sector, is low when compared with Korea, the United States of America, Taiwan, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. Hence, this study focused on gainsharing, given the low labour productivity levels in the South African manufacturing industries. Research design, approach and method: The two automotive parts manufacturing companies that have adopted a gainsharing strategy participated in the study. A third automotive parts manufacturing company that has adopted the 360-degree performance appraisal system was included for comparative purposes. These companies operated in the eThekwini District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Study objectives were achieved by collecting pre- and postquarterly data for spoilage, absenteeism, capital investment and labour productivity. Main findings: Results established that gainsharing improves productivity and reduces spoilage and absenteeism rates. Managerial implication: The South African companies are encouraged to revise their reward philosophies and develop strategies, policies and practices that help achieve productivity goals and support organisational change. Contribution: Gainsharing is a desirable alternative as it contributes to raising the competence levels and productivity improvement of an organisation. As a comparison, the 360-degree performance appraisal does not have an impact on labour productivityItem 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.