Repository logo
 

Faculty of Management Sciences

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/13

Browse

Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Automobile industry and trade--South Africa

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Assessment of lean manufacturing practices and strategic sustainability in Toyota South Africa motors
    (2023) Kheswa, Sanele Lungani; Ramdass, Kemlall
    The popularity of lean manufacturing mostly stems from empirical evidence that it enhances a company's competitiveness and quality by reducing any form of waste. However, a wide range of factors, compounded by a lack of training in essential components of lean, not achieving daily target in terms of defects per unit, straight delivery rate, run ratio, operation ratio in production lines, delay of parts from the inventory, developing personnel, and managerial support on the shop floor, make the application of lean principles extremely difficult. These difficulties have influenced South Africa's manufacturing industry, which contracted the capacity of manufacturing units in the entire Sub-Saharan African region. The purpose of this study was to assess lean manufacturing practices (LMPs) and the extent to which Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) utilises innovative strategies to improve their quality and sustainability in a highly competitive environment. The research methodology is mixed method in nature using a survey questionnaire as the primary instrument for data collection. A sample of 44 top management staff was chosen from a population of the 50 top management and other selected staff using random sampling, of these 44, 35 participated. The researcher followed five stages in the qualitative data analysis process. SPSS software version 27 was used to critically analyse the quantitative data to answer the research aims and objectives. Management was found to be aware of the elements that influence quality in TSAM. The staff members cited lack of training, lack of management support, and failure to follow standardised work as the most important factors affecting lean. Selected staff also raised the issue of sacrificing quality over volume as a key issue.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The sustainability of the South African automotive export leather sewing industry
    (2006) Molokoane, Lymon
    The South African automotive leather export sewing industry was established in about 1991, when domestic firms were exposed to international markets. The industry’s success was largely attributed to the relatively cheap labour, infrastructure, leather and tax incentives given by the South African government. Interest in investment shown by multinational companies has resulted in significant growth in the industry today. However, at one time, the socio-political status in South Africa meant that the environment in which the industry developed was artificial. Economic, political and cultural conditions were not conducive to export manufacturing due to international sanctions. Consequently, the leather export industry was provided with an opportunity to integrate into the international arena primarily through the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP). The MIDP initiative allows South African automotive companies to offset import duties against exports. This duty offset programme aims to encourage firms to focus on high volume production runs and import less popular models that are expensive to produce locally. However, with the inclusion of the Eastern European countries into the European Union, it is expected that the market will become highly competitive. It has already been predicted by Ballard (2002) in a study on the South African leather business that the automotive leather sewing export industry is an “easy-come-easy-go” industry, with its success not linked to any intrinsic advantages South Africa possesses, but due to rebates from the Motor Industry Development Programme. Although South Africa has a number of advantages such as relatively cheap labour, material in leather hides, and a good infrastructure, the automotive sewing industry has yet to establish its efficiency when exposed to open market competition. Therefore, to create a perception of stability for international investors, the industry must seek contact with outside partners for market access, technology and process know-how through collaboration and benchmarking. This study therefore aims to develop a discourse related specifically to the sustainability of the leather export sewing industry as it approaches deregulation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The impact of a piece rate incentive scheme on employee output at a selected automotive company
    (2005) Walsh, Anthony
    This study encompasses the triangulation of research methods in order to determine the impact of a piece rate incentive scheme on employee output within the South African context. The existing body of knowledge tends to reflect the conditions found in developed countries such as the USA, Canada and the UK, very little research appears to have been conducted in the South African context.