Browsing by Author "Smit, R."
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- ItemEconomic requirements analysis for table grape check weighing(Industrial Engineering, Stellenbosch University, 2011-09) Smit, R.; Treurnicht, N. F.; Blanckenberg, M. M.South Africa’s table grape industry exports most of its production to the developed world where customer satisfaction is very important and strictly regulated. Severe penalties are levied for underweight packaged products and contracts could even be lost. This study aims to determine the feasibility of automated check weighing of final product prior to shipping. The frequency of occurrence of underweight packages is investigated by means of structured interviews conducted within the industry. The probable financial impact of underweight packing is estimated and the paper concludes with a presentation of the capital amount producers can spend to eliminate underweight packaging profitably.
- ItemOptimising perioperative care for hip and knee arthroplasty in South Africa : a Delphi consensus study(BioMed Central, 2018-05-09) Plenge, U.; Nortje, M. B.; Marais, L. C.; Jordaan, J. D.; Parker, R.; Van der Westhuizen, N.; Van der Merwe, J. F.; Marais, J.; September, W. V.; Davies, G. L.; Pretorius, T.; Solomon, C.; Ryan, P.; Torborg, A. M.; Farina, Z.; Smit, R.; Cairns, C.; Shanahan, H.; Sombili, S.; Mazibuko, A.; Hobbs, H. R.; Porrill, O. S.; Timothy, N. E.; Siebritz, R. E.; Van der Westhuizen, C.; Troskie, A. J.; Blake, C. A.; Gray, L. A.; Munting, T. W.; Steinhaus, H. K. S.; Rowe, P.; Van der Walt, J. G.; Isaacs Noordien, R.; Theron, A.; Biccard, B. M.Background: A structured approach to perioperative patient management based on an enhanced recovery pathway protocol facilitates early recovery and reduces morbidity in high income countries. However, in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the feasibility of implementing enhanced recovery pathways and its influence on patient outcomes is scarcely investigated. To inform similar practice in LMICs for total hip and knee arthroplasty, it is necessary to identify potential factors for inclusion in such a programme, appropriate for LMICs. Methods: Applying a Delphi method, 33 stakeholders (13 arthroplasty surgeons, 12 anaesthetists and 8 physiotherapists) from 10 state hospitals representing 4 South African provinces identified and prioritised i) risk factors associated with poor outcomes, ii) perioperative interventions to improve outcomes and iii) patient and clinical outcomes necessary to benchmark practice for patients scheduled for primary elective unilateral total hip and knee arthroplasty. Results: Thirty of the thirty-three stakeholders completed the 3 months Delphi study. The first round yielded i) 36 suggestions to preoperative risk factors, ii) 14 (preoperative), 18 (intraoperative) and 23 (postoperative) suggestions to best practices for perioperative interventions to improve outcomes and iii) 25 suggestions to important postsurgical outcomes. These items were prioritised by the group in the consecutive rounds and consensus was reached for the top ten priorities for each category. Conclusion: The consensus derived risk factors, perioperative interventions and important outcomes will inform the development of a structured, perioperative multidisciplinary enhanced patient care protocol for total hip and knee arthroplasty. It is anticipated that this study will provide the construct necessary for developing pragmatic enhanced care pathways aimed at improving patient outcomes after arthroplasty in LMICs.
- ItemTable grape punnet packaging : the influence of check-weighing(Southern African Institute of Industrial Engineering, 2012-11) Smit, R.; Treurnicht, N. F.; Blanckenberg, M. M.Most of South Africas table grapes are exported to the EU and the UK. In recent years, pre-packaged table grapes are now preferred in many European supermarkets. This increased demand has resulted in stringent quality standards, including the specification of punnet mass. Locally, table grapes are packed manually using seasonal labour, who often have limited formal education. Punnets must conform to upper and lower mass limits, but many deviations occur due to human and machine error. Check-weighing proved effective in reducing out-of-specification punnets, but human and machine errors were still problem factors.