Masters Degrees (Industrial Engineering)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Industrial Engineering) by browse.metadata.advisor "Berry, Tarl"

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    An integrated analysis of the flow volumes, conditions and cold storage capacities in the South African citrus supply chain.
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Bulterman, Stuart; Louw, Louis ; Berry, Tarl; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African citrus industry is expected to grow another 33% over the next 6 years and is defined as the second-largest exporter of fresh citrus globally. Ultimately, the supply chain that facilitates this flow has various processes throughout it, and the perishable nature of citrus means that the underlying timelines and conditions are of the utmost importance for the success of the industry. The overall quality of the fruit is ultimately a function of time and temperature, which are currently unknown variables. Additional cold stores are extensively utilised to reduce fruit degradation and ensure proper phytosanitary measures. While prior research has provided excellent examples of individual sections of the supply chain, effects of certain sections, or a general capacity overview, there is no specific study that brings together all of these disparate elements to create a holistic supply chain overview. As such, using a pragmatic mixed methods approach, the problem of defining the various stages of the supply chain, the underlying conditions, timelines, their effects, and the overall ability of the industry to export was embarked upon. Ultimately, the golden thread that runs through this research is the interconnectedness of all the individual processes, which is what ultimately defines an industry and its supply chain. Although citrus is a winter crop, the regions in which it is grown throughout South Africa mean that there is significant temperature variability during the harvest of fruit, with temperatures in excess of 28 °C at harvest. This is then combined with on-farm dwells lasting 1-2 days, which have a significant impact on fruit quality, with fruit losing upwards of 5 days of shelf life on the farm alone. Ultimately, this is having cumulative effects throughout the supply chain, as fruit progresses, taking 10-15 days before being loaded into a container and then an additional 20-40 days before arriving at the destination, with losses estimated to be upwards of 6% of all shipments. The additional growth is likely to add additional capacity constraints within the industry, with severe capacity constraints forecasted to occur by 2026 without additional cold storage capacity. Regulatory requirements may add an additional burden in the coming years, as fruit destined for the European Union has to undergo additional cooling. As such, the industry will likely have to invest R 1.7 billion (11% of its gross value) over the next 5 years to ensure sufficient cold storage capacity. The findings of the research show that the coming years will present significant hurdles within the South African citrus industry, requiring targeted and pragmatic interventions to ensure the continued profitability and success of the industry as a whole.