A generic business model and management information system for quick ERP implementation in a project-driven SME

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A demand exists in SMEs to implement an ERP system to provide intime transaction and management information to the employees and management respectively. The reason for this study developed from problems experienced in the past with ERP implementations. As a first step, a generic business model for project management in an SME was developed. This business model is based mainly on the PMBOK. Experienced project management consultants provided inputs for the business model. CAE accepted the business model after a few reviews. The business model was implemented in CAE and the employees trained to perform their daily tasks on Omuzik by using the processes suggested by the business model. The five main processes in the project management business model are Initiating, Planning, Executing, Controlling and Closing. The model is complete with inputs to the processes and the resulting outputs from them. The business model was implemented on Omuzik, and comments were included with every business process. Reports for project management were developed to provide in the information requirements of the project managers. The reports developed and deployed aim at providing detail and summary information to assist project managers in performing project control. The reports were developed and implemented and are currently used by the CAE project managers. The project management business model and reports fit into the bigger project for the complete enterprise with great success. The bigger project has completed the templates and is ready for the first fast implementation where the methodology will be tested.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Behoefte bestaan by kleinsakeondernemings om ERP-stelsels te implementeer om in hulle intydse inligtingsbehoeftes vir transaksieinligting aan werknemers en bestuursinligting aan bestuur te voorsien. Die rede vir hierdie studie het ontwikkel uit die probleme wat in die verlede met ERP-implementerings ondervind is. As 'n eerste stap is 'n generiese besigheidsmodel vir projekbestuur in 'n kleinsakeonderneming ontwikkel. Die besigheidsmodel is hoofsaaklik op die PMBOK gebaseer. Ervare projekbestuur konsultante het insette gelewer vir die besigheidsmodel. CAE het die besigheidsmodel ná 'n paar hersienings aanvaar. Die besigheidsmodel is geïmplementeer, en die werknemers is opgelei om in hulle daaglikse werk Omuzik vir die voorgestelde besigheidsmodelprosesse te gebruik. Die vyf hoofprosesse in die projekbestuur-besigheidsmodel is Inisiasie, Beplanning, Uitvoer, Beheer en Afsluiting. Die model is afgehandel met insette vir die prosesse en die resulterende uitsette daarvan. Die besigheidsmodel is op Omuzik geïmplementeer, en kommentaar is by elke proses ingesluit. Verslae vir projekbestuur is ontwikkel om in die inligtingsbehoeftes van die projekbestuurder te voorsien. Daar word beoog om met die verslae omvattende en samevattende inligting te voorsien aan projekbestuurders om projekbeheer te kan uitoefen. Die verslae is ontwikkel en geïmplementeer en word deur CAE-projekbestuurders gebruik. Die projekbestuur-besigheidsmodel en verslae pas met sukses in by die groter projek vir die totale onderneming. Die groter projek is in die proses om die model te verpak vir die eerste loodsprojek

Forecasting South African containers for international trade : a commodity-based approach

The original publication is available at http://www.jtscm.co.za/index.php/jtscm/article/view/72The most common approach used internationally for forecasting international trade containers is models based on the correlation between container trade and economic growth. While the strong historical correlation is indisputable, this paper argues that there will be saturation in the propensity to containerise as all the suitable volumes of the underlying commodities shift to containers over time. In addition, the link between freight transport and GDP will decouple as more sustainable approaches to economic development, and therefore freight transport, are necessitated by economic and environmental realities. A commodity-based model, taking into account the underlying drivers of containerisation, is proposed here as a more realistic forecast of container demand. This could have a material impact on how large-scale investment decisions are directed.Publishers' Versio

A network maturity mapping tool for demand-driven supply chain management : a case for the public healthcare sector

CITATION: Bvuchete, M., Grobbelaar, S. S. & Van Eeden, J. 2021. A network maturity mapping tool for demand-driven supply chain management : a case for the public healthcare sector. Sustainability, 13(21):11988, doi:10.3390/su132111988.The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.comPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access FundThe healthcare supply chain is a complex adaptive ecosystem that facilitates the delivery of health products to the end patient in a cost-effective way. However, low forecast accuracy and high demand volatility in healthcare supply chains have resulted in an increase in stockouts, operational inefficiencies, poor health outcomes, and a significant increase in supply chain costs. To cope with these challenges, organisations are trying to adopt demand-driven supply chain management (DDSCM) operating practices which have been established in other sectors such as the telecommunications, fruit, and flower industries. However, previous studies have not considered these practices in the healthcare industry, and hence no methodologies exist that support the implementation of these practices in this context. Moreover, current studies present cases where the focus has been on improving and expanding individual organisational performance, but no supply chain network-level studies exist on the healthcare industry. Therefore, this paper provides a network-level analysis when addressing DDSCM in the healthcare industry. A grounded theory-based approach coupled with a conceptual framework analysis process was used to leverage a systematized literature review methodology with the development of a network maturity mapping tool for DDSCM which was validated in the public healthcare sector.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/21/11988Publisher's versio

Identification of key target markets for intermodal freight transport solutions in South Africa

The original publication version is available at http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_jtscm.htmlThe Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) identified South Africa’s freight logistics challenges as among the key binding constraints on the country’s growth aspirations. The research presented here points to the structural imbalance between road and rail freight transport as one of the key contributors to this state of affairs. Most long-distance corridor transport has been captured by road. However, longdistance transport is a market segment that is very suitable for intermodal transportation: rail is utilised for the high-density, long-distance component and road for the feeder and distribution services at the corridor end points. A market segmentation approach is developed to identify the corridors and industries that are natural candidates for such solutions, thereby paving the way for role-players and stakeholders to initiate a dialogue on the development of appropriate solutionsPublishers' Versio

A model for the translation of South African economic activity into shipping container demand

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Quay wall container forecasts are often done by broad-stroke methods with large-scale infrastructure decisions then based on these forecasts. This research problem requires an investigation into more accurate long-term forecasting methods. A mixed methods research design was followed, combining quantitative and qualitative data, with the primary objective to establish design requirements for and to develop a content-based quay wall container framework. Secondary objectives were to also establish design requirements for quay wall modelling frameworks for transhipment and empty containers. These secondary objectives originated from exposure to literature and data from the primary research. The aim of this dissertation was to redefine the importance and usefulness of content-based container forecasting techniques. This would enable port planners to base their container volume forecasts on economic activity, i.e. validated demand, and not on the perceived reality of historic containers or other broad indicators. The mixed method design combined literature on container modelling techniques, demand-side and supply-side container shipping factors and the impact of port networks on quay wall container volumes. The literature showed only a few scholars venturing into the field of high granularity container forecasting methods. Those that did propose methods used mostly derivatives of traded commodities like GDP, trade, or population growth as input drivers. Many scholars referred to, but very few used container contents in their modelling, mostly due to data unavailability. Rich secondary datasets received from various parties, i.e. TNPA, SARS, TFR and shipping lines, were all instrumental in understanding the relevant parameters. All datasets contributed in their own way to the development of the final set of parameters. To support this secondary data, primary research was conducted with freight owners, industry associations, LSP’s, shipping companies, port authorities and terminal operators via a survey and focus groups. Feedback from survey respondents and focus groups confirmed the user requirements identified earlier. It also confirmed the importance of the identified requirements and the inputs that were obtained from analysing container content data. Design requirements were consolidated from all the mixed methods research inputs. Key parameters to forecast full container volumes across the quay wall are: • Spatial disaggregation to define outputs per international geographic region and per port; • Rate of containerisation of each commodity; • Commodity port preference; • Physical container types; • Weight of commodity per physical container type. The container modelling frameworks and modelling process for three functional typologies, were developed based on the design requirements. The inputs, parameters, modelling process, forecasting influencers and outputs for each of the defined functional typologies were discussed separately with a confidence level for each of the aspects. The confidence levels provides an indication of the current status of the parameter values and provides guidance towards future improvement areas. The container modelling frameworks went through a verification and validation process. The proposed model is expected to provide a more accurate container forecast to port infrastructure planners. Using these drivers in forecasting models will inform port planners with validated demand towards calculated decisions on initiating port container infrastructure projects at the right moment in time.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kaaimuur houer vooruitskattings word dikwels gedoen deur breëstrook metodes met grootskaalse infrastruktuurbesluite wat dan gebaseer is op hierdie voorspellings. Hierdie navorsingsprobleem vereis 'n ondersoek na meer akkurate langtermynvoorspellingsmetodes. 'n Navorsingsontwerp met gemengde metodes is gevolg, deur kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data te kombineer, met die primêre doelwit om ontwerpvereistes vir en die ontwikkeling van 'n inhoudsgebaseerde kaaimuurhouerraamwerk te vestig. Sekondêre doelwitte was om ook ontwerpvereistes vir kaaimuurmodelleringsraamwerke vir oorladings- en leë houers te vestig. Hierdie sekondêre doelwitte het natuurlik ontstaan uit blootstelling aan literatuur en data uit die primêre navorsing. Die doel van hierdie proefskrif was om die belangrikheid en bruikbaarheid van inhoudsgebaseerde voorspellingsmetodes vir inhoud te herdefinieer. Dit sal hawebeplanners in staat stel om hul houervolume voorspellings op ekonomiese aktiwiteit te baseer, dit wil sê gevalideerde vraag, en nie op die waargenome werklikheid van historiese houers of ander breë aanwysers nie. Die gemengde metode ontwerp kombineer literatuur oor houermodelleringstegnieke, vraagkant- en aanbodkant-houer verskepingsfaktore en die impak van hawe netwerke op kaaimuurhouervolumes. Die literatuur het slegs 'n paar aktiewe navorsers getoon in die veld van hoë diepte houer voorspellingsmetodes. Diegene wat metodes voorgestel het, het hoofsaaklik afgeleides van verhandelde kommoditeite gebruik, soos BBP-, handels- of bevolkingsgroei as insetdrywers. Baie navorsers verwys na, maar baie min gebruikte houerinhoud in hul modellering, meestal weens die onbeskikbaarheid van data. Ryk sekondêre datastelle wat van verskillende partye ontvang is, soos TNPA, SARS, TFR en skeepsrederye, was instrumenteel in die verstaan van die relevante parameters. Alle datastelle het op hul eie manier bygedra tot die ontwikkeling van die finale stel parameters. Om hierdie sekondêre data te ondersteun, is primêre navorsing gedoen met vrageienaars, bedryfsverenigings, Logistieke diensverskaffers, rederye, hawe owerhede en terminaal operateurs via 'n opname en fokusgroepe. Terugvoer van opname respondente en fokusgroepe het die gebruikersvereistes wat voor hierdie gebeure geïdentifiseer is, bevestig. Dit het ook die belangrikheid van die geïdentifiseerde vereistes en die insette wat verkry is om die inhoud van die houerinhoud te ontleed, bevestig. Ontwerpvereistes is gekonsolideer uit al die navorsingsinsette vir gemengde metodes. Sleutelparameters om volhouervolumes oor die kaaimuur te voorspel, is: • Ruimtelike disaggregasie om uitsette per internasionale geografiese streek en per hawe te definieer; • Verhouding van houerverpakking van elke kommoditeit; • Kommoditeits hawe voorkeur; • Fisiese houertipes; • Gewig van kommoditeit per fisiese houertipe. Die raamwerkmodelleringsraamwerke en modelleringsproses vir drie funksionele tipes, is ontwikkel op grond van die ontwerpvereistes. Die insette, parameters, modelleringsproses, voorspellings-invloede en uitsette vir elk van die gedefinieerde funksionele tipes is afsonderlik bespreek met 'n vertroue vlak vir elk van die aspekte. Die vertroue vlakke gee 'n aanduiding van die huidige status van die parameterwaardes en bied leiding oor toekomstige verbeterings. Die houermodelleringsraamwerk het 'n verifikasie- en valideringsproses gevolg. Die model sal na verwagting 'n meer akkurate houervoorspelling vir haweinfrastruktuurbeplanners voorsien. Die gebruik van hierdie drywers in voorspellingsmodelle sal hawebeplanners van gevalideerde vraag inlig om berekende besluite te neem oor die inisiëring van hawe houerinfrastruktuurprojekte op die regte oomblik in tyd

Essential amino acid requirements for growth in woolled sheep

Thesis (PhD(Agric) (Animal Sciences))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006.This project consisted of five studies. The objectives were to determine the essential amino acid (AA) requirements of growing woolled lambs (Merino and Dohne Merino) and the essential AA profile of duodenal digesta pre-dominantly derived from microbial protein. The limiting essential AA`s in high rumen degradable protein (RDP) diets to growing lambs, where microbial protein is the primary source of AA`s, were also identified. The first study determined the essential AA profile of duodenal protein on a high rumen degradable diet and evaluated the impact of dietary RDP concentration and source [true RDP vs. non-protein nitrogen (NPN)] on the AA composition of supplied in the duodenum. The first trial in this study evaluated the effects of increasing true RDP levels on the essential AA composition of duodenal protein primarily derived from rumen microbes. The lambs had free access to wheat straw and fresh water. The daily RDP supplements were administered in two equal doses into the rumens through rumen cannulas at 07:00 and 19:00. Duodenal digesta was extracted with 6h intervals through T-type cannulas, inserted proximally to the common bile duct. Sampling time was advanced 2h every day to obtain duodenal samples on every even hour of a 24h period after three days. As expected, deficient RDP limited the supply of essential AA`s in the iv duodenum. When the true RDP supplements increased, the duodenal flow of essential AA`s also increased concomitantly, but appeared to level off at the higher RDP levels. Despite the positive quantitative effects of true RDP supplementation on AA supply to the duodenum, the AA profile in the duodenum was unaltered. Consequently, the essential AA profile of duodenal protein of sheep receiving high RDP diets, where microbial protein is the primary source of AA`s in the duodenum, is relatively constant and insensitive to dietary RDP concentration. In the second trial the effects of RDP source (true RDP vs. NPN) on the essential AA profile of duodenal protein on high RDP diets were evaluated by substituting increasing amounts of urea for true RDP in isonitrogenous teatments. Higher NPN increments reduced the daily supply of essential AA`s in the duodenum. In corroboration of the first trial, the AA profile of the duodenal protein was very constant, irrespective of the RDP source. Since microbial protein is the major source of duodenal AA`s on high RDP diets, this study supports the view that microbial protein has a relatively constant AA profile, but microbial protein yield varies according to several rate limiting factors in the rumen. A constant microbial AA profile allows accurate estimates of microbial essential AA supply in the small intestine if microbial protein production and fluid and particulate outflow rates from the rumen can be accurately predicted. This allows the development of more accurate undegradable protein (UDP) supplementation strategies, based on the essential AA requirements of animals. In the second study growing male Merino and Dohne Merino lambs were slaughtered at different weights and body condition scores. The digesta was removed from the stomachs and intestines and every organ or body part were weighed to determine the whole empty body (WEB) composition. The WEB was partitioned into the carcass, internall offal (stomachs, intestines, organs and blood) and external offal (head, feet, skin and wool). No differences were apparent in the proportional weight distribution of similar body components of the same breed at different ages. In a comparison between breeds, the proportional weight contributions of the carcasses from both breeds to the WEB weight were remarkably similar at both slaughtering stages. The Dohne Merino lambs had proportionally larger internal offals and smaller external offals than the Merino lambs at both slaughters. Unless the essential amino acid compositions of the internal and external offals were identical to the carcass, the dissimilarities in weight and protein allocation to these two components within the WEB`s of Merino and Dohne Merino lambs imply a distinct WEB essential AA composition for each breed. The apparent digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), energy, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), fat and ash did not differ between Merino and Dohne Merino lambs. Energy retention was also similar for the two breeds, but the Merino lambs retained considerably more N than the Dohne Merino lambs. This may also impact on the respective amino acid requirements of the lambs. Since the Merino lambs utilise N more efficiently, they may have potentially lower essential amino acid requirements to achieve a similar growth rate. The WEB essential AA compositions of growing Merino and Dohne Merino lambs were determined in the third study. Based on the ideal protein concept, the WEB essential AA profile was accepted as representative of the AA requirements for growth. The use of a single body part as a representation of the WEB AA profile was also evaluated. Differences in the proportional weight and protein contribution of the three body components (carcass, internal offal and external offal) of the two breeds strongly suggested that the WEB AA composition of the breeds would differ, because of likely differences in the AA profiles of these components. The essential AA profiles of the carcasses from the two breeds were surprisingly similar. However, the essential AA compositions of the internal offal and external offal differed substantially from each other, as well as from the carcass. In addition, the internal offal and external offals of each breed had characteristic essential AA profiles. Inevitably, the WEB essential AA profiles of Merino and Dohne Merino lambs differed considerably. Only the leucine and phenylalanine concentrations in the WEB`s of Merino and Dohne Merino lambs did not differ. Significant differences in the concentrations of eight essential AA`s implied that the two breeds have different AA requirements for growth. The different AA compositions of the internal and external offal within each breed also illustrated that the use of a single body component, like the carcass, as a predictor of WEB essential AA composition contains considerable inaccuracies. The essential AA index indicated that the duodenal protein, primarily derived from rumen microbes, provided approximately 81 % of the qualitative AA requirements of growing lambs. During periods of sufficient availability of very low-quality forage, as the diet in this study simulated, microbial protein is not able to support maximum growth. The first two limiting AA`s (histidine and methionine) could not even support daily growth rates of 100 g/d. This is very low and stresses the need for effective undegradable AA supplementation under these conditions. Chemical scores identified histidine as the first limiting AA in high RDP diets (predominantly microbial protein), followed by methionine, leucine, arginine and phenylalanine. However, the requirements for histidine and arginine are frequently over estimated and these AA`s should actually be considered semi-essential, which could render methionine, leucine and phenylalanine the first three limiting AA`s to growing lambs receiving high RDP diets. Because of the limitations of static measurement systems for the determination of AA requirements, a more comprehensive evaluation method was introduced for determination of the limiting AA`s in duodenal protein of lambs on high RDP diets, in the fourth study. The fourth study focused on the identification of limiting AA`s to growing lambs being limit-fed a high RDP diet. The diet consisted primarily of soybean hulls, for its’ low rumen UDP content. Microbial protein production was calculated as 13 % of total digestible nutrient intake and complementary AA supplements prepared to simulate the WEB AA profile, determined in the previous study, in the small intestine. To eliminate the influence of the rumen on the AA supplements, the latter were infused into the abomasums via flexible tubing. Each essential AA was in turn removed from the control treatment (simulating the WEB composition) and the effect on N retention measured. When methionine or the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA`s) were removed from the infusate, N retention of the lambs was reduced. Consequently, methionine and at least one of the BCAA`s limited growth performance of young lambs when microbial protein was the predominant source of AA`s. The concomitant increased plasma concentrations of total AA`s when methionine or the BCAA`s were removed from the infusate corroborates the effects on N retention, since it indicates that AA utilisation was reduced when these AA imbalances were introduced. Amino acid imbalances had no effect on apparent DM, organic matter (OM) or NDF digestion, but N digestibility was reduced. The final study verified whether the BCAA’s were co-limiting the growth of lambs, or if any single BCAA was responsible for the limitation. Again the WEB AA profile of growing lambs was simulated in the small intestine via abomasal infusions to lambs receiving a soybean hull-based diet. Leucine, isoleucine and valine were individually or simultaneously removed from the infusate and the impact on N retention measured. On an individual basis valine had the largest negative impact on the efficiency of N utilisation. However, the simultaneous removal of the BCAA`s resulted in the lowest N retention, suggesting that valine might be limiting, but the three BCAA`s are more likely to be co-limiting in diets to growing lambs where microbial protein is the primary source of AA`s. Once again, neither DM, OM or NDF digestibility were affected by the AA imbalances. Nitrogen digestibility was, however, negatively affected by AA imbalances. This project succeeded in establishing the essential AA profile of duodenal protein in sheep receiving high RDP diets. The WEB essential AA compositions of growing lambs from two prominent sheep breeds in South Afica were then determined and the duodenal essential AA profile evaluated against the calculated AA requirements. Finally, the AA`s that limit growth in diets where microbial protein is the predominant source thereof were identified. These results contribute to the current knowledge of AA requirements in growing lambs, and highlight areas for future research, as discussed in the General Conclusion

An evaluation of degradable protein and nonprotein nitrogen on intake and digestion by Dohne merino sheep fed wheat straw

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa, like many other developing countries throughout the world, has a rapidly growing human population, resulting in a consequent increased demand for food. Ironically, this increased food supply has to be produced on a smaller area of available agricultural land, which means that agricultural production processes have to become more efficient. Furthermore, the majority of the people in these countries are unschooled and poverty is a common phenomenon. Therefore, animal scientists are faced with the challenge and the responsibility to provide affordable, high quality food to these people. One way of reaching this objective is to improve the utilisation of low-quality, high roughage feedstuffs like crop residues and dry natural grass pastures. In the winter rainfall area of South Africa alone, about 460 000 ha of wheat straw are annually available. The ruminant animal has the ability to utilise the relatively unavailable energy (cellulose, hemi-cellulose and pectin) in the fibre component of these low-quality forages. Unfortunately, various factors, of which a N deficiency is the pre-dominant one, limit the utilisation of these feedstuffs. If the ability of the ruminant to utilise low-quality, fibrous energy sources is improved, these abundantly available and relatively inexpensive crop residues and natural pastures can be converted into high quality protein food for human consumption. Therefore, in order to rectify the N deficiency caused by these low-quality forages, the supplemental N requirement to optimise the fermentation and digestive processes of the ruminant animal has to be determined. The first study was conducted to determine the supplemental rumen degradable protein (RDP) requirement, to maximise the digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) of Dohne Merino sheep fed wheat straw. Keeping the high cost of natural protein supplementation in mind, the purpose of the second study was to determine the amount of true protein that can be replaced by nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) in RDP supplements fed to Dohne Merino sheep consuming wheat straw. In both trials animals had ad libitum access to low-quality wheat straw (3.2% CP; 74.2% NDF) and water. In the first trial, RDP (calsium caseinate: 90% CP; 100% rumen degradable) was intraruminally administered at 07hOOand 19hOO,at the following levels: 0, 40,80, 120 and 160 gld. Intake, fermentation and digestion were monitored to determine the RDP requirement to maximise DOM!. Digestible organic matter (OM) intake displayed a quadratic increase with elevated amounts of RDP (P < .01), and was maximised at an estimated 3.15 g RDPlkg BW·75 or 11.6% of DOM. Forage OM intake tended to increase quadratically (P = .15) with higher RDP levels. Microbial nitrogen (MN) flow to the duodenum and microbial efficiency increased quadratically (P ~ .04) and fluid dilution rate tended to increase in a quadratic manner (P = .15) with increased RDP supplementation levels. Rumina! ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations increased linearly (P ~ .07), while rumen pH exhibited a variable response to increased RDP levels (cubic; P = .08). Increasing RDP supplementation to Dohne Merino wethers consuming wheat straw, generally enhanced forage utilisation and DOM!. In the second trial, urea replaced different levels of casein N on an isonitrogenous basis, ranging from 0 - 100%. Since true protein is much more expensive than urea, the purpose of this study was to determine the maximum natural protein level that can be replaced by urea in RDP supplements, without adversely affecting intake and/or fermentation and digestive processes. The control treatment provided all of the RDP in the form of calcium caseinate (90% CP; 100% rumen degradable). The percentages of supplemental RDP from urea in the other treatments were 25, 50, 75 and 100%. The 100% urea treatment was balanced with maize starch to contain 40% CP and all other treatments received the same amount (150 gld) of starch. Intake of forage OM showed a weak decreasing trend (linear; P = .16) with increasing urea levels. Ruminal digestibilities of OM and NDF were not affected (P ;;::.:18) by urea level. Increasing urea levels resulted in linearly reduced total tract OM and NDF digestibilities (P ~ .10). As a result, DOMI declined (linear; P < .01) with increasing proportions of urea. Effects of increasing urea proportions on duodenal N flow, microbial efficiency and fluid dilution rate were minimal. Ruminal NH3-N tended to increase quadratically with increasing urea levels (P = .l4). Total VFA concentration decreased linearly (P = .03), while rumen pH increased in a linear manner (P = .08) with increasing urea proportions. Branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA's) and valerate decreased linearly (P ~ .05) with increasing urea levels, while other VFA's and the acetate:propionate ratio were generally not affected by treatment (P ;;:::.16). It appears as though ruminal and total tract OM and NDF digestibility criteria, as well as DOMI reached maximum values at substituting 25% of casein for urea. It is therefore concluded that replacing 25% of casein with urea in RDP supplements, will maintain effective utilisation of low-quality forages by sheep.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelende lande, insluitend Suid-Afrika, word gekenmerk deur 'n vmmge bevolkingsaanwas. Dit lei tot 'n verhoogde vraag na voedsel, wat op 'n gevolglik kleinerwordende beskikbare kommersiële lanbbou-area geproduseer moet word. Die doeltreffendheid van produksieprosesse in die landbousektor moet dus noodgedwonge verbeter word. Die oorgrootte meerderheid van die bevolkings in ontwikkelende lande is ongeletterd en armoede en hongersnood is soms 'n algemene verskynsel. Veekundiges word dus gekonfronteer met die uitdaging en verantwoordelikheid om bekostigbare, hoë kwaliteit voedsel aan hierdie mense te voorsien. Een van die mees doeltreffende metodes om hierdie probleem aan te spreek, is om die benutting van lae kwaliteit, hoë-vesel voerbronne, bv. oesreste en droë grasweidings te verhoog. In die winterreënstreek van Suid-Afrika alleen, is 460 000 ha koringstrooi jaarliks beskikbaar. Herkouers beskik oor die besondere vermoë om die relatief onbeskikbare energie (sellulose, hemi-sellulose en pektien) in die veselkomponent van hierdie lae kwaliteit voere te benut. Verskeie faktore, waarvan 'n N-tekort die mees prominente is, beperk egter die benutting van hierdie voerbronne. Die uitdaging is dus om die herkouer se vermoë om hierdie voere te benut, te optimaliseer. Sodoende word 'n geredelik beskikbare, onderbenutte en relatief goedkoop voerbron omgeskakel in hoë kwaliteit proteïen vir menslike gebruik. Die N-aanvullingsbehoefte om die fermentasie- en verteringsprosesse van die herkouerdier te optimaliseer moet dus bepaal word, sodat die N-tekort in herkouers, wat soortgelyke weidings benut, reggestel kan word. Gevolglik was die doel met die eerste proef om die behoefte aan rumen degradeerbare proteïen-(RDP)-aanvulling, vir die maksimum inname van verteerbare organiese materiaal (VOM) van Dohne Merino skape wat koringstrooi ontvang, te bepaal. Weens die hoë koste van natuurlike proteïenaanvulling, was die doel met die tweede proef om die hoeveelheid ware proteïen in RDP-aanvullings, vir Dohne Merino skape wat koringstrooi ontvang, wat met nie-proteïen stikstof (NPN) vervang kan word, te bepaal. In beide eksperimente het die diere ad libitum toegang tot koringstrooi (3.2% RP; 74.2% NBV) en water gehad. In die eerste proefis RDP (kalsiumkaseïnaat; 90% RP; 100% rumen degradeerbaar) teen 07hOOen 19hOOintraruminaal toegedien, teen die volgende peile: 0, 40, 80, 120 en 160 gld. Inname, fermentasie en vertering is gemonitor om die RDP behoefte vir die maksimum inname van VOM te bepaal. Verteerbare OM-inname het 'n stygende kwadratiese tendens (P < .01) getoon met verhoogde RDP-peile en het 'n maksimum bereik by 'n aanvullingspeil van 3.15 g RDPlkg metaboliese liggaamsmassa (LM·75 ) of 11.6% van VOM. Organiese materiaalinname vanaf koringstrooi het geneig om kwadraties toe te neem (P = .15) met verhoogde RDP-peile. Mikrobiese stikstof-(MN)-vloei na die duodenum en mikrobiese effektiwiteit het kwadraties toegeneem (P :::;.;04) en vloeistof deurvloeitempo het 'n neiging vir 'n kwadratiese toename (P = .15) met verhoogde RDPpeile getoon. Rumen-ammoniakstikstof (NH3-N) en vlugtige vetsuur-(VVS)-konsentrasies het lineêr toegeneem (P :::;.;07), terwyl rumen pH 'n wisselende reaksie (kubies; P = .08) met stygende RDP-peile getoon het. Verteerbare OM-inname en benutting van koringstrooi is verbeter deur stygende peile van RDP aanvulling by Dohne Merino hamels. In die tweede proef is kaseïen op 'n iso-stikstof basis met verskillende ureumpeile, vanaf o - 100%, vervang. Omdat ureum baie goedkoper is as natuurlike proteïen, was die doel van die tweede proef om die hoeveelheid natuurlike proteïen in RDP-aanvullings te bepaal wat met ureum vervang kan word, sonder om inname, fermentasie en vertering te benadeel. Die kontrolebehandeling het 100% van die RDP in die vorm van kalsiumkaseïnaat (90% RP; 100% rumen degradeerbaar) voorsien, terwyl ureum in die ander behandelings onderskeidelik 25, 50, 75 en 100% van die kaseïen-N vervang het. Die 100% ureumbehandeling is met mieliestysel tot 40% RP gebalanseer en dieselfde hoeveelheid stysel (150 gld) is by al die ander behandelings ingesluit, om moontlike effekte van stysel op rumenfermentasie te elimineer. Organiese materiaalinname vanafkoringstrooi het 'n swak dalende tendens getoon met stygende ureum insluitingsvlakke (lineêr; P = .16). Rumenverteerbaarheid van OM en neutraal bestande vesel (NBV) is nie deur die ureumpeil beïnvloed nie (P ;;:: .18). Toenemende ureumpeile het gelei tot 'n lineêre afname in totale kanaal OM en NBVverteerbaarheid (P ~ .10). Gevolglik het VOM inname lineêr afgeneem (P < .01) met stygende ureum insluitingspeile. Die effek van behandeling op duodenale N-vloei, mikrobiese effektiwiteit en vloeistof deurvloeitempo was minimaal. Rumenammoniakstikstof-( NH3-N)-konsentrasie het 'n stygende kwadratiese tendens getoon (P = .14) met toenemende ureum peile. Totale vlugtige vetsuur-(VVS)-konsentrasies het lineêr gedaal (P = .03), terwyl rumen pH lineêr toegeneem het (P = .08) met stygende ureum insluitingsvlakke. Vertakte ketting VVS' e en valeriaansuurkonsentrasies het lineêr gedaal (P ~ .05) met stygende ureumpeile, terwyl die ander VVS' e en die asynsuur:propioonsuurverhouding oor die algemeen nie deur behandeling beïnvloed N; nie (P ;;:: .16). Dit blyk asof VOM inname, sowel as rumen- en totale kanaal verteerbaarheidsmaatstawwe, by 25% vervanging van kaseïen-N met ureum-N 'n maksimum bereik het. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die doeltreffende benutting van lae kwaliteit ruvoere deur skape, gehandhaaf sal word deur 25% van die ware proteïen in RDP-aanvullings met ureum te vervang

Best practices for demand-driven supply chain management in public healthcare sector : a systematic literature review

CITATION: Bvuchete, M., Grobbelaar, S. S. & Van Eeden, J. 2020. Best practices for demand-driven supply chain management in public healthcare sector : a systematic literature review. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(2):11-27, doi:10.7166/31-2-2006.The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.zaENGLISH ABSTRACT: Healthcare supply chains ensure that there is a cost-effective availability of medicines at healthcare facilities. However, it appears that public healthcare supply chains in South Africa are experiencing significant challenges in the management and distribution of the right medicines, at the right time, and at the right cost. This has resulted in poor healthcare outcomes. Moreover, public health supply chains also face major challenges due to rising patient expectations and inefficiencies in supply chain operations. There is recent interest in increasing public health supply chain efficiency and improving patient services. To address these challenges and opportunities, other studies have suggested the transformation of healthcare supply chains from the current pure ‘push’ approach into a ‘pull’ approach, which is driven by actual customer demand (demand-driven supply chain management DDSCM). However, no guidelines exist to support the design of DDSCM in public healthcare supply chains. Therefore, through a systematic literature review, this study aims to distinguish the key success factors for the DDSCM approach from those of other industries, and subsequently develops a framework to guide the design of DDSCM for the public healthcare sector.http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/2006Publisher's versio

A concept demonstrator for self-organising demand-driven inventory management in pharmaceutical supply chains

CITATION: Du Plessis, M., Van Vuuren, J. H. & Van Eeden, J. 2018. A concept demonstrator for self-organising demand-driven inventory management in pharmaceutical supply chains. In SAIIE29 Proceedings, 24-26 October 2018, Spier, Stellenbosch, South Africa.The original publication is available at https://conferences.sun.ac.za/index.php/saiie29/saiie29/schedConf/presentationsENGLISH ABSTRACT: Perennial stock-outs of essential medicines are commonplace in the pharmaceutical supply chains of developing countries. Stock-outs are mainly attributed to a general lack of collective information sharing in pharmaceutical supply chains. In this paper, a computerised agent-based simulation model concept demonstrator is proposed and demonstrated hypothetically as part of a larger drive to establish the value of leveraging information sharing in pharmaceutical supply chains with a view to enhance decision-making. The objective of this paper is to outline the prerequisite research inputs, design requirements and hypothetical implementation of the aforementioned demonstrator. The work reported on in this paper remains a work in progress.https://conferences.sun.ac.za/index.php/saiie29/saiie29/paper/view/3633Publisher's versio

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