Masters Degrees (Logistics)

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https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/727

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Assessing the need for a dry port to alleviate congestion surrounding the Port of Durban : a citrus case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Mkhabele, Nkensani Keneth; Krygsman, Stephanus Christiaan; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Port congestion poses a critical challenge to the efficient export of citrus fruits, thus impacting global trade and supply chain resilience within the industry. This research investigates the multifaceted dimensions of port congestion at the port of Durban within the context of the South African citrus industry. The primary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of establishing a dry port as a strategic intervention to mitigate existing logistical challenges faced at the port with the aim of providing a framework that aids in facilitating more efficient international trade. While employing a pragmatic mixed-method approach, the study analyses the implications of port congestion on key stakeholders, including shipping companies, industry associations, and regulatory bodies. The research encompasses a literature review, providing insights into global dry port management strategies, the role of dry ports, the importance of international trade, the citrus industry in South Africa as well as broader topics that fuel the readers’ understanding of the research. Through an analysis of primary data, including interviews with 17 industry experts and stakeholders, the study uncovers the specific challenges faced by the citrus industry in navigating port congestion, affecting export schedules, quality control, and market competitiveness. Data from the Ports Regulator of South Africa provides the quantitative data utilised within the study. The research findings highlight the need for strategic interventions, leading to a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing railway capacity and fostering government investment in port infrastructure. The exploration of long-term Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and the adoption of development-attracting methods, such as Special Economic Zones (SEZs), emerge as additional recommended strategies for mitigating congestion-related disruptions and avoiding future bottlenecks. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by illustrating how the strategic establishment of a dry port can address logistical challenges and stimulate economic growth within the perishable domain. The implications extend beyond congestion relief, encompassing economic stimulation, job creation, and a repositioning of South Africa favourably within global trade networks. The study highlights the necessity for ongoing research into the optimal location, design, and governance of dry ports within South Africa. Lastly, this research provides a practical framework for addressing operational inefficiencies in the citrus supply chain, emphasising the potential transformative impact of a dry port on trade dynamics and economic development for the Republic of South Africa.
The development of an Eldana Risk Index
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Prinsloo, Philip; Potgieter, Linke; Nel, Hannelie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The South African sugarcane industry faces significant challenges due to declining global sugar demand, a trend triggered by national government taxation of the sugar industry, consumer product regulations, and the need to address productivity losses caused by several pest species such as the African stem borer, Eldana saccharina Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Numerous mathematical models have been developed to investigate the population dynamics of this pest species and to improve pest control strategies through biological control, the release of sterile insects, and the use of genetically modified sugarcane containing insecticidal genes from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sugarcane. Additionally, detailed mechanistic sugarcane growth models are employed by the industry to predict yields based on climatic factors. However, an integrated framework that links sugarcane growth models with Eldana saccharina population dynamics models has not yet been established. Such a framework would enhance decision support for pest management by providing a more integrated view of the sugarcane agroecosystem. This study proposes an Eldana Risk Index (ERI) model as a decision support tool. Building on previous research, this model integrates output from sugarcane crop models with Eldana saccharina population growth models through seasonally integrated risk profiles. The ERI model’s primary structure includes two main dimensions, assessed daily by combining outputs from the sugarcane growth model CaneSim®, weather data, and an Eldana saccharina population growth model adapted from previously developed models. The first dimension focuses on sugarcane, encompassing factors such as temperature, water stress related to cane health, susceptibility to infestation, and damage due to infestation. The second dimension focuses on risks associated with Eldana saccharina, encompassing the effects of temperature on pest abundance, the stress of insect desiccation, and the influence of temperature and precipitation on insect desiccation and mortality due to temperature. The ERI model presents an interdisciplinary approach for quantifying infestation risks in the sugarcane industry, thereby offering improved decision support for integrated pest management. Additionally, this study seeks to underscore various opportunities in applying real-time pest abundance methods and technologies. These advancements aim to further augment the effectiveness of integrated pest management strategies, particularly against insects such as Eldana saccharina.
Understanding the impact of global supply chain risks on costs through the total landed cost methodology – a fashion retail organisation case study
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Allies, Audria; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Human, Daniel Benjamin Verwoerd; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The fashion retail industry is rapidly evolving due to globalisation and e-commerce, making understanding, and optimizing supply chain costs and their drivers crucial. However, there is limited research on the relationship between supply chain risks and total landed costs (TLC). Most literature focuses on procurement and supplier selection, but challenges exist in building a framework that considers evolving variables and unique industries. This research aims to expand understanding of supply chain risks and disruption, and their effect on the TLC within the South African fashion retail industry. To illustrate this research and its outcomes, the researcher identified a fashion retail organisation as their primary sponsor and stakeholder. This study investigates the impact of supply chain risks on a prominent fashion and lifestyle retailer operating in Southern Africa. With multiple retail brands that spans across luxury to value-market segments, quantifying these risks has become challenging. The research aims to ascertain the extent to which these risks affect the retailer over two financial years, the resulting disruptions, and their influence on the Organisation’s total landed cost (TLC). In addition, it explores strategies to mitigate these risks and preserve value by understanding and quantifying their impact and associated costs, enabling more effective responses. This study utilised a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data analysis of internal and external secondary data. It analysed the impact of macro-economic supply chain events and the Organisation’s Total Landed Cost (TLC). Power Query and MS Excel was used to extract, cleanse, and analyse actual transactional data, recorded during periods of significant supply chain disruption, based on the Organisation’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Supply Chain Cost measurements. The study identified trends and gaps for further research. The findings indicated that supply chain disruptions directly affect the total landed cost (TLC), with some events having indirect impacts. The Organisation managed to mitigate additional costs by minimising negative business effects through cost estimation and shifting production. However, delays from lengthy supply chains lead times to substantial sales losses. Macro-economic events like Covid-19, the Suez Canal incident and South African unrest significantly impacted the Organisation's supply chain. The study underscores the importance of identifying inbound supply chain risks and tailoring mitigation strategies accordingly. It further recommends adopting advanced predictive analytics tools to mitigate risks and facilitate timely, data-driven decision-making, enhancing operational efficiency and cost savings.
Determining the viability of apple transportation without refrigeration in a domestic supply chain : a case study
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Waldek, Alex Vernon; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Freiboth, Heinrich Wilhelm; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: There is a growing concern in South African cold chains linked to the ever-increasing cost of domestic distribution. Several logistics cost components, such as rising vehicle operating costs due to the increase in fuel price, have forced local cold chains to explore innovative transportation solutions to reduce the financial impact of these external pressures. The concern was so significant that Company X, a pome fruit distributor, prompted an investigation into the reduction of refrigerated transport expenditure in the apple supply chain. The study sought to investigate whether domestic apple transportation without refrigeration is a viable option in South Africa. The objective was to compare the ability of refrigerated and non-refrigerated trucks to maintain an acceptable ambient temperature. Should pulp temperatures be able to meet quality control standards without refrigeration, then non refrigerated truck alternatives could be a viable option to reduce Company X’s road freight expenditure. Primary quantitative data was collected through temperature trials that were conducted over the distribution route between the packhouse in the Western Cape and the cold storage facility in Gauteng. The trials took place over the months June to October in 2021 using temperature monitoring devices placed on both the internal and external body of the truck. Secondary quantitative data was gathered by collecting data from similar trials conducted over the same route in 2019, classifying the research as a longitudinal study. Historical weather data from the National Weather Service in conjunction with geospatial tracking reports received from transporters allowed the research to determine the weather conditions per truck location. The study measured the level of resistance of three different truck alternatives, namely: cooled refrigerated, uncooled refrigerated and tautliner. This was done by calculating the difference in external and internal temperatures recorded along the route. In addition, pulp measurements were analyzed upon arrival at the cold storage facility to determine whether or not internal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were met. The research provided key insights into the durability of apples in the presence of unfavourable conditions. Despite the increase in internal truck temperatures associated with low levels of truck insulation, internal pulp KPIs were able to be met using non-refrigerated transport alternatives. The study proved that non-refrigerated transportation should be considered as a viable option in local apple cold chains. This strategy has the potential to reduce both transportation costs and carbon emissions within the supply chain.
A toolkit for cold chain requirements from supplier to distribution centre : a fruit and vegetable case
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Chen, Pinquan; Goedhals-Gerber, Leila Louise; Van Eeden, Joubert; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Logistics.
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Food loss and waste are a growing concern globally due to its environmental, social, and economic impacts. It is estimated that one-third of food produced for human consumption is wasted or lost in South Africa annually, which equates to an estimated 10 million tonnes of food, and fresh fruit and vegetables account for 44% of the total food loss and waste. The alarming amount of fresh fruit and vegetable food loss must be investigated from upstream the supply chain, from the suppliers to the first distribution centres. Ensuring members in this section of the supply chain are well-educated and informed about the cold chain requirements that influence food loss motivates the need for this research to be conducted. The objectives of the research study can be divided into five categories. Firstly, the study aims to understand the functionality and procedures of a fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, specifically from suppliers to the first distribution centres. Secondly, it aims to identify the stakeholders in this section of the supply chain. Thirdly, it aims to comprehend and categorise fresh fruit and vegetable products according to their cold chain requirements. Fourthly, it aims to identify and define the fundamental protocols and best practices that supply chain members can implement to ensure the effective handling, storage, and distribution of fresh fruit and vegetables. Lastly, by synthesising the inputs from the first four objectives, the researcher developed a toolkit to provide guidance and education to supply chain members on an operational level from a cold chain integrity and food loss perspective. The research study followed a deductive approach and was exploratory and cross-sectional in nature. An integration between quantitative data and qualitative data was used, which resulted in a mixed-method approach. The study made use of both primary and secondary data collection methods. Primary qualitative data was collected in the form of exploratory interviews during observations and semi-structured interviews with industry experts. Furthermore, this study used secondary qualitative data in the form of a systematic literature review and a stakeholder analysis. Secondary quantitative data were also used in the form of historical industry data and data from an independent trial conducted by the researcher. Research objectives were met successfully by answering all the research questions, and an operational toolkit was developed as the output of the study. The toolkit consists of four tools: namely, the fresh fruit and vegetable cold chain stakeholders and related processes, the fresh fruit and vegetable categorisation and cold chain requirements, the fresh fruit and vegetable handling, storage, and distribution protocols, and the fresh fruit and vegetable supplier onboarding checklist. Finally, the toolkit was validated by industry experts to ensure its reliability and validity.

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