Masters Degrees (Industrial Engineering)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Industrial Engineering) by Author "Baum, Jan-Hendrik"

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    Investigating social network analysis as a method to map primary constraints in physical asset management strategy execution
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-12) Baum, Jan-Hendrik; Vlok, P. J.; Schutte, C. S. L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Industrial Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The successful execution of the Physical Asset Management Strategy (PAMS) is an important value driver for organisations, whose core business is highly dependent on the service delivery of physical assets. However, contemporary research demonstrates that scheduled targets are often not met and the means to detect the constraints that can undermine the strategy execution efforts are deficient. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate Social Network Analysis (SNA) as a method to map primary constraints in Physical Asset Management Strategy Execution (PAMSE). A comprehensive literature review addresses the domains of Physical Asset Management (PAM) and SNA. The review of the literature is supported by interviews with practitioners in the field of PAM. Consequently, the challenges experienced in PAM are contextualised along with the capabilities of SNA and the most important constraints in PAMSE are identified. As an interim result, the study found that dysfunctional information flow and poor decision making are the primary constraints that could hinder the execution of a PAMS. As a consequence thereof, a SNA application methodology was developed in order to scrutinise these areas of concern. The methodology was applied at two research sites in the South African mining industry. Network data for the study was collected by surveys conducted in June and July 2012. The case studies demonstrate that a SNA application in PAM requires a number of prerequisites that are crucial to its success. Nevertheless, a successful SNA application may yield valuable results identifying the problems encountered in PAMSE. Most importantly, the SNA highlights overloaded key employees, collaborative breakdowns and excessive intradepartmental collaboration that have the potential to hinder the PAMSE process. The results were validated by means of dialogue with the individuals involved in the study. This study found that SNA can be used as a method to map the primary constraints experienced by PAMSE. It also emphasises that there are important prerequisites that have to be established for SNA to be successful. Future research could be carried out based on the results of this thesis, in order to design improvement plans for the studied research site and possibly conduct a second SNA to investigate whether the constraints, identified in the study, had been resolved.