A statistical analysis of Cape Town wind profile

Abstract The increased integration of wind power into electric power systems presents new challenges for effective planning and operation of these systems. The Weibull distribution is a widely used distribution, especially for modelling the random variable of wind speed. In this respect, the authors present a comparative analysis of a number of methods used for estimating Weibull parameters. Results for a real-world database are presented in a case study format. The techniques require historical wind speed data, collected over a particular time interval, to establish the parameters of wind speed distribution for a specific location, namely Cape Town, South Africa

Business processes capability and performance : a South African perspective

Successful organisations depend on leadership, process optimisation, and utilisation of resources. Optimisation is achievable through well-defined systems and supporting processes that guide organisations towards excellence. Organisations need to understand operational and individual business processes as well as the strategic impact on the supply network. Effective optimisation impacts strategically on quality cost, revenue, investment, and capabilities. Business Process Capability measurements forces organisational leaders, managers and employees to critically analyse existing business processes, and determine gaps identifying existing performances and sub-optimal states. Many organizations in South Africa misunderstand business process capability and measure success on revenue and profits generated hiding inefficiencies that could be concealed by the profits. One of the contributing factors might be that some companies in South Africa lack international competitiveness, do not optimize their business processes nor align business processes and available resources to adhere to organizational goals and calls for radical redesign of business processes resulting from end-to-end fulfilling internal and external customer needs. The paper will show why organisations should base their competitiveness on a value chain and end - to - end business processes optimisation rather than only profit

Lean agility implementation and process optimisation decisions

Organisations face many challenges in their battle to survive in the current economic climate. A major challenge facing an organisation is the need to change and change rapidly to remain competitive. This imperative to change can be categorised as a key to survival. A major change agent in the current economic climate is the optimisation of resources and business processes. Consequently, optimisation has become an essential part in the strategy for survival. An important prerequisite in achieving optimisation is the elimination of waste and as a result adding value to business processes, products and services companywide. Recent research postulates that to be successful, organisations must implement strategies to boost process optimisation objectives that achieve customer satisfaction and competitiveness. This paper explores and investigates the interrelationship between lean agility implementation and process optimisation decisions. It particularly focuses on the impact of lean application in terms of speed, flexibility, reliability, quality and cost in an attempt to create value to survive and attain customer satisfaction

Critical success factors for Six Sigma Design and deployment to compliment lean operational strategy towards Capability Maturity

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Lean system implementation strategy and knowledge framework

Current research has exposed the fact that organisations in South Africa grapple with the implementation of lean systems. Lean systems affect the entire organisation and require strategies which link core and supporting processes from end-to-end. In many cases it requires the redesign of the supply chains’ supporting activities or processes that provide added value to the business processes of the organisation. Contemporary research postulates that to be successful, an organisation should have specific objectives when implementing a lean system. The objectives would ensure a smooth, rapid flow of materials and or work through a system. Primarily it compels management to perform a health-check or business capability performance gap analysis before attempting to formulate a lean implementation strategy. The objective of the paper based on topical research, is the development of a health-check. In developing a knowledge framework and measurement model, various tools were used for statistical analysis. The framework would assist organisations in identifying critical success factors during the implementation of lean. It addresses lean implementation strategy confirming the overall business improvement endeavour through value adding activities. An added advantage is that it would assist an organisation in performing a capability performance health-check before embarking on a lean or value adding project

An integrated process framework for engineering endeavours

With the exponential increase in the complexity of modern products, the enterprise which creates the product also increases in complexity. Projects to realise engineering products are often fraught with delays, budget overruns and unsatisfied clients. The study sets out exploring the domains of systems engineering, project management and quality management, by extensively referencing industry standards and international good practice in the quest of unravelling conflicts and uncertainties. Selected concepts and business processes of each domain are studied to arrive at an understanding of the objectives and scopes of those processes. This understanding enables the integration of these business processes and concepts by utilising the widely‐used plan‐do‐check‐act (PDCA) cycle. The business processes of each domain are divided into the four PDCA quadrants and integrated models of those quadrants are presented. The four quadrants are synthesised into a single framework which shows the project management, quality management and systems engineering processes performed during a single project phase. This Engineering Management Framework may be tailored for the design and realisation of any complex product, given adequate planning, understanding of the challenges and knowledge of the subject matter

The readiness of systems engineering at a South African engineering organisation

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore and gain a broad perspective on the systems engineering methods currently employed at a South African research council. The aim is to question if these methods are ideal by comparing them with their alternatives. This paper focuses on the systems engineering methods used within the various competency areas of one of the engineering business units. The suitability of these methods for the nature of work being done in the respective competency areas is also explored. Systems Engineering Management Base Theory (SEMBASE) is used as a framework to find the gaps in each competency area and conclude possible ways of improvement thereof. A qualitative research method is used for this study. The data and information received from the interviews are analysed for emerging patterns that will confirm the theory. The findings show that the competency area focusing on Systems Engineering and Enterprise Architecture is adequately aware of the systems engineering processes and is well-equipped with its tools. The research also reveals that the Technical Competency Areas are not always aware of all the systems engineering processes and lack certain systems engineering tools. Some competency areas are indirectly using Systems Engineering but are unaware of it. More training and awareness is required to fill these gaps amongst the Technical Competency Areas

Towards unification of product and enterprise system descriptions

An argument is presented for the unification of descriptions of product systems and enterprise systems. Product systems are developed and produced by enterprises, thus forming an integral part of the enterprise's architecture. However, many products are utilised by enterprises and some product systems contain entire businesses, such as the operating and maintenance business of a power station. Thus, products are part of enterprises, but enterprises may also be part of product systems. To enable the design of systems that include the product, its user and all the enterprises that make the product available and possible, it is necessary to align the enterprise engineering and systems engineering views. This article presents a starting point that allows the two disciplines to more accurately refer to a specific element of the complete system‐of‐interest. The aim is that this will allow for improved communication between the practitioners of the different disciplines and perhaps the development of improved solutions

Developing and improving quality efficiency in the South Africa energy industry

Businesses today need to be more effective and efficient in order to design the best products and provide outstanding services to their customers. The purpose of this research is to develop and improve quality efficiency while sustaining continuous improvement at a South African Energy provider's Mpumalanga plant, which is one of the nine regions in South Africa. Accomplishing quality efficiency is challenging, as customers expect quality of service at all times. In general an organisation's or a business's success depends on the reliability of delivering electricity. Therefore the South African Energy provider should be able and capable to deliver electricity at all times. Current research results revealed that: (1) organisations need to do more to raise quality awareness and inform other employees about the quality unit, (2) organisations should go the extra mile in planning, monitoring and evaluating quality, (3) departmental quality objectives and goals should involve employees in formulating the goals and objectives, eliminating misunderstanding and mistakes committed by the workforce where quality is concerned, (4) management should be committed and involved in accomplishing quality efficiency in any capacity and making sure that continuous improvement is sustained, (5) commitment by management and employee recognition will improve capability, performance and innovation. The research study accordingly has a realistic and methodological significance in terms of achieving and improving quality efficiency and sustaining continuous improvement in providing energy in South Africa

Framework assessment for costs of poor quality in higher education processes

Higher education quality costs are escalating daily and the cost of poor quality is becoming excessive. The higher education department has indicated that inefficiencies within the higher education environment are affecting the performance and the return of investments. This research uses 2011 and 2012 records retrieved on Industrial Engineering department from the Management Information System unit of Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa. It focuses on how cost of poor quality can be categorized within higher education environment, and identifies methods which can be used to minimize these costs with the purpose of improving the performance and return of investments. The paper established the cost of poor quality for the department using the teaching input grant, teaching output grant, research output grant, and institutional factor grants, teaching input unit, students' full credit load and among other factors. The results of this research indicated that USD94,3166.24 and USD933,431.92 were lost for the year 2011 and 2012 respectively on just one department and affirmed that failure cost and preventative costs are the main costs associated with higher education inefficiencies and shortfalls. Thus, application of lean enterprise or lean six sigma tools is recommended to salvage the situation