Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Printing industry – Quality control – Standards'

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Technikon, 2003.
This research report is based on a case study. It follows up on the research of a previous study by Muregerera (1996). His thesis was compiled in order to develop a model for a world-class manufacturing organization. For his case study, he chose Omnigraphics. Although his focus was on world class manufacturing principles, he did address Omnigraphics prior to the organization receiving ISO 9000 certification through the SASS. This research report therefore looks at the transformation that Omnigraphics went through, from an organization without a formal quality management system, to one with a functional quality management system. Chapter one defines quality management systems and the benefits of a formal quality management system. Current research is discussed in chapter two together with the benefits and requirements of the ISO system. Chapter three addresses the challenges, which Omnigraphics faced prior to ISO 9000 implementation and the changes that occurred once this organization was certified to ISO 9001. A comprehensive survey was done to identify the actual benefits that suppliers and customers see in dealing with an ISO 9000 listed organization. Chapter four looks at the participants of the survey as well as the questions posed. Chapter five gives the results of the survey in a graphical format as well as an interpretation of the results. The research report also focuses on the new revision of the ISO 9000 series and this is addressed in chapter six. The report closes by reviewing the research and looking at the future of the ISO 9000 series.

This investigation attempts to examine the influences of validation on pharmaceutical processes especially at a new manufacturing facility that has to meet international requirements, and fulfil a cost effective business strategy. At Aspen Pharmacare, a pharmaceutical organisation, there are two manufacturing facilities situated adjacent to each other, one new and one old. The new facility creates ideal opportunities to supply products to local and international markets. The investigation compares legal requirements from local and international regulatory authorities. Validation and qualification practices as well as the problems encountered during the different phases are discussed. Particular attention is given to the validation approach at the new Aspen facility. Problems and proposed solutions relating to the design review, installation, operational, and performance qualification are discussed. Validation of analytical methods for cleaning analysis, cleaning validation of equipment, and optimisation of some tablet manufacturing processes are described. Statistical evaluations of analytical results are included to find the optimum conditions for integrating new personnel with new processes and equipment. A business model reviews the cost of non-conformances of the enalapril maleate 10 mg tablets manufactured at the two manufacturing facilities. Finally the dissertation proves that validation is not only a regulatory requirement but that it also provides benefits such as adding value to the business, and ultimately reducing the cost of medicines.

Software implementation projects struggle with the delicate balance of low cost, on-time delivery and quality. The methodologies and processes used to create and maintain a quality software system are expensive to deploy and result in long development cycle-time. However, without their deployment into the software implementation life-cycle, a software system will be undependable, unsuccessful. The purpose of this research is to identify a succinct set of software implementation success criteria and assess the key independent constructs, activities, carried out to ensure a successful implementation project. The research will assess the success of a software implementation project as the dependent construct of interest and use the software process model (methodology) as the independent construct. This field research involved three phases: (1) criteria development, (2) data collection, and (3) testing of hypotheses and discriminant analysis. The first phase resulted in the development of the measurement instruments for the independent and dependent constructs. The measurement instrument for the independent construct was representative of the criteria from highly regarded software implementation process models and methodologies, e.g., ISO9000, Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model (SEI CMM). The dependent construct was developed from the categories and criteria from the Delone and McLean (1992) MIS List of Success Measures. The data collection and assessment phase employed a field survey research strategy to 80 companies involved in internal software implementation. Both successful and unsuccessful software implementation projects (identified by the Delone/McLean model) participated. Results from 165 projects were collected, 28 unsuccessful and 137 successful. The third phase used ANOVA to test the first 11 hypotheses and employed discriminant analysis for the 12th hypothesis to identify the "best set" of variables, criteria, that discriminate between successful and unsuccessful software implementation projects. Twelve discriminating variables out of 67 were identified and supported as significant discriminators between successful and unsuccessful projects. Three of the 11 constructs were found not to be significant investments for the successful projects.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the face of increasing competition, Business Schools increasingly have to evaluate the quality of the service that they offer to current and prospective students. The most significant factor affecting an organisation's performance is the quality of its products and services in relation to the products and services of competitors. Measurement of service quality is a function of customer satisfaction, which in tum is based on a perception of how the service conforms to prior expectations thereof. A widely accepted method of quality assurance used in industry is ISO 9000 certification. For academic institutions the de facto method of providing confidence in the quality of the education they offer is through academic accreditation. The University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) is unclear - in the light of its academic accreditations - of the benefits to be derived from implementing ISO standardisation within the organisation. The iso 9000 series is a set of quality standards, of which ISO 900 I: 2000 is one, which is primarily concerned with the quality management process. It deals with what the organisation does to enhance customer satisfaction by meeting customer and applicable regulatory requirements, and to continually improve the organisations performance in this regard. It is important to note that compliance with ISO standards is not intended to guarantee the quality of a product or service, it is however intended to provide confidence in the processes which produced or delivered the product or service. In evaluating the applicability of ISO 9000 in the service industry, it is concluded that there is little difference from how its standards and guidelines apply in manufacturing to how they apply in service industries. The USB is found to have implemented an extensive quality management system in order to attain various academic accreditations, most notably EQUIS accreditation. Thus from an academic perspective there would be little to gain from USB implementing ISO 9001: 2000, even though the standard is perfectly suited for academic environments. Where advantages would most likely be realised is in the peripheral business and support functions of the USB.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die aangesig van toenemende mededinging moet bestuurskole gereeld die kwaliteit van diens wat hulle aan huidige en voomemende studente bied, evalueer. Die mees veelseggende faktor in 'n organisasie se prestasie is hoe die kwaliteit van sy produkte en dienste vergelyk met die van sy mededingers. Die meet van die kwaliteit diens wat 'n organisasie lewer is 'n funksie van die tevredestelling van kliente, wat op sy beurt weer gebaseer is op insig tot die wyse waarop die diens ooreenstem met die oorspronklike verwagtinge daarvan. ISO 9000 sertifikasie word algemeen aanvaar in industrie as 'n betroubare maatstaf waarteen kwalitieit gemeet word. Vir akademiese instellings is die de facto metode om vertroue te wek in die kwaliteit van die opleiding wat hulle aanbied, deur middel van akademiese akkreditasie. Vir die Universiteit van Stellenbosch Bestuurskool (USB) is dit in die lig van hulle akademiese akkreditasie onduidelik wat die voordele verbonde aan die implementering van ISO standaardisering binne die organisasie sou wees. Die reeks ISO 9000 is 'n stel kwaliteitstandaarde, waarvan ISO 900 I: 2000 een is, en is hoofsaaklik gemoeid met die proses van kwaliteitsbestuur. Dit bemoei hom met die stappe wat 'n organisasie neem om klientebevrediging te bevorder deur die bereiking van die vereistes van beide sy kliente en die toepasbare voorskrifte. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat 'n onderworpenheid aan ISO standaarde geensins die bedoeling het om die kwaliteit van 'n produk of diens te waarborg nie - die oogmerk is egter om vertroue te wek in die prosesse wat die produk of diens veroorsaak of gelewer het. Deur die toepasbaarheid van ISO 9000 in die diensbedryfte evalueer, is dit vasgestel dat daar inderdaad min verskil is tussen die wyse waarop hierdie standaarde en riglyne van toepassing is in die vervaardigingsektor en hoe dit toegepas word in diensbedrywe. Dit is vasgestel dat USB 'n verreikende kwaliteitsbestuursisteem in werking het om verskeie akademiese akkreditasies te bekom, veral die EQUIS akkreditasie. Die gevolgtrekking is dat daar vanuit 'n akademiese oogpunt min rede is vir USB om ISO 900 I: 2000 te implementeer, selfs al is hierdie standaard goed van toepassing op 'n akademiese omgewing. Waar dit tot sy beste voordeel toegepas kan word, is in die omliggende sake- en ondersteuningsfunksies van USB.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017.
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of four High Performance Work Practices (HPWPs) on project performance in selected construction companies in Cape Town, South Africa. The four HPWPs comprised: recruitment and selection (RS); performance appraisal (PA); training and development (TD); and compensation system (CS). The study employed a positivist philosophy utilizing the survey method to collect data from 70 employees who were drawn from a select group of multi-project construction companies in Cape Town, South Africa. The respondents comprised employees who worked as project team members and line staff/ administrative staff. Non-probability sampling procedure in the form of convenience sampling technique was used for the selection of five (5) construction organisations in Cape Town, South Africa. Probability sampling procedure in the form of stratified sampling technique was employed in the selection of the respondents to complete the questionnaire.Collected data was captured and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. The main research question of the study was: What is the relationship between the four HPWPs and project performance? The results indicate that CS has a weak positive relationship with project performance, whereas TD, PA and RS have weak negative relationships with project performance. It also emerged that there are other factors that significantly affect project performance other than the HPWPs investigated.The results of this study are significant because they provide a unique view of the work environment that has been insufficiently examined. Also, very few studies have focused on the above four universal HPWPs, which this study was earmarked for. The results that are obtained from this study significantly add to the overall body of knowledge pertaining to theories and their application in HRM, project performance and multi-project environments issues.

Thesis (MTech (Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008
While there is a standard for quality and environmental auditors, there is no local or international standard for food safety auditing, which means auditors from different certification bodies can use their own discretion when auditing food establishments. There is a requirement to investigate the quality of work performed by South African food safety auditors. in order to establish whether they do in fact add value when conducting registration and certification audits. This is also an indication of the importance of improving and maintaining a high standard of food safety in the food services industry. The overall concept of food safety in South Africa IS clearly not defined. understood by only a few consumers, and not widely accepted. Research has shown that food retailers in South Africa in general do not believe food safety auditors are competent. In the wake of the Sudan Red scare two years ago. a long awaited food safety initiative was launched in February 2006. The scare pertaining to a carcinogenic food dye. which found its way into spices on local supermarket shelves, mobilized food industry role players to improve food safety standards. Under the auspices of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), the body responsible for establishing best practices and implementation standards, Food Safety South Africa (FSSA) will enable an organization to determine the exact nature and extent of possible and actual problems along the food supply chain. The key objectives of this research study are to determine whether one food certification standard is needed in South Africa and to assess the value added by the food auditors to their clients. Social research will be conducted within the ambit of the dissertation, with case study serving as research method. Both quantitative and qualitative research paradigms will be used to gather data for the research survey in support of the research question. forming the crux of the dissertation which reads as follow: "How can food safety auditors increase value added to the audit process in food environments in South Africa?"

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013.
In 1994, the South African government introduced low-cost housing construction through Reconstruction and Development Programme. The programme was intended to improve the quality of lives of the country's citizens. Many communities across the country benefited from the programme. However, concerns regarding the quality of low-cost housing produced through this programme have been raised. The programme has produced low-cost housing with many structural defects such as gaping wall cracks, roof leaks, unstable roof, water penetration and seepage. To protect the beneficiaries of low-cost housing against the inferior workmanship, unsuitable material and inappropriate construction methods, building standards and regulations have been introduced. The low-cost housing inspectors have been given power to enforce and ensure that the building standards and regulations are followed and met by low-cost housing contractors. Regardless of the measures, the programme still produces low-cost housing built with many structural problems. Hence, the researcher has conducted a research to assess the effectiveness and adequateness that inspection process contributes to quality assurance in low-cost housing construction projects in the Metropole. The findings of the research provided an overall low-cost housing inspectors' experience in the construction industry, education, training, knowledge, roles and responsibilities and the perception of the low-cost housing inspectors on the current housing inspection. The primary conclusion of this research suggest that the low-cost housing inspectors lack training in housing inspection, are not aware of their roles and responsibilities and lack knowledge in building standards and regulations. This resulted to failure to enforce and ensure that the contractors comply with building standards and regulations during the low-cost housing construction projects in the Metropole. The primary recommendations are to establish a standard continuous training and education for low-cost housing inspectors. Provide courses and training to improve the level of knowledge of building standards and regulations by low-cost housing inspectors and review the roles and responsibilities of low-cost housing inspectors and establish awareness of them among the affected parties.

Thesis (MTech (Quality)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009
There is a South African Government initiative to use State-owned Enterprises (SOE’s) to roll out a programme for the development and stimulation of local small businesses in South Africa. The state has requested SOE’s to set targets on a voluntary basis to increase trade with small businesses, with the purpose of developing small enterprises to eventually enhance skills transfer, training and employment. However, when large customers such as Eskom Nuclear Generation require ISO certification as a prerequisite for a supplier to provide goods and/or services to them, most small businesses are unable to comply. The requirement of ISO9000 compliance inhibits the ability of most small businesses to compete with their larger counterparts. Small businesses constitute as much as 90% of most world economies. They have many advantages to offer customers, such as a high level of flexibility, innovation and responsiveness to customer needs. These attributes can introduce healthy competition to the supply chain. Small businesses, by their very nature experience more risks, such as a higher vulnerability to volatile market forces and skills loss. In addition, they are generally less specialised. They are under continuous competitive pressure, and are generally not able to provide assurance of a sustainable product over a longer period. Although there is an imperative to develop and use small suppliers, they introduce higher risk to the supply chain. The primary research objective of this dissertation is to develop a robust model to identify risks inherent to small businesses, and to propose measures to mitigate such risks. A classification of problems with small suppliers that have occurred at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station over a period of 3 years (from June 2005 to May 2008), will form the basis of the research methodology. The anticipated findings of the research include the following. _ Several common critical issues of failure will be identified in the internal processes of small suppliers, with variations between types of suppliers, which will indicate which elements within the context of ISO9000 can be applied to address shortcoming in the suppliers’ processes. _ A matrix will be compiled from this by which the customer can identify the type of supplier, the types of risks inherent to that supplier, and which elements of ISO9000 the customer should insist upon to be adopted into an elementary quality management system of that small supplier. This should be executed as part of a larger supplier development programme.

Nas últimas décadas, inúmeras organizações do setor da construção civil têm buscado a implantação e certificação de sistemas de gestão da qualidade. Uma certificação de qualidade, quando bem conduzida, pode ser uma importante ferramenta para garantir a eficácia e a melhoria do SGQ, trazendo vantagens para a organização. Entretanto, muitas organizações ainda não reconhecem as oportunidades de melhorias que as auditorias externas podem fornecer. O principal objetivo deste estudo consiste em analisar e comparar as variações das características organizacionais das empresas de construção civil atuantes em Curitiba e Região Metropolitana que possuem certificações de qualidade e as que não possuem. Este objetivo exige uma pesquisa para fornecer base teórica acerca da qualidade na construção, então realizou-se uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema para fundamentar a pesquisa. Outra parte da pesquisa realizada foi a coleta de informações de uma amostra representativa da população por meio do Método “Survey”. O instrumento adotado para a coleta de dados foi um questionário quantitativo, aplicado em empresas do setor da construção civil em Curitiba-PR e Região Metropolitana, para mensuração e identificação de correlação entre certificação de qualidade e características organizacionais. Os dados foram tratados e organizados com base em uma análise descritiva e multivariada. Fundamentandose na revisão bibliográfica e na interpretação dos dados obtidos na pesquisa quantitativa foi possível reconhecer que as características organizacionais que mais sofrem influência das certificações de qualidade são quantidade de horas de treinamento, formalização de cargos e funções e formalização de atividades e processos.
In the last decades, several organizations in the civil construction segment have been searching for the implementation and certification of quality management systems. A quality certification, when well conducted, can be an important tool to ensure QMS efficiency and continuous improvement, thus bringing advantages for the organization. However, many organizations have not yet recognized the opportunities for improvement that external audits may provide. The main objective of this study is to analyze and compare the variations of the organizational characteristics of the civil construction operating in Curitiba and Metropolitan Region that have quality certifications and those that do not. This objective requires a research to provide theoretical basis on the quality in the construction, then a review of the literature on the subject was made to base the research. Another part of the research was the collection of information from a representative sample of the population through the Survey Method. The instrument adopted for data collection was a quantitative questionnaire, applied to companies in the civil construction sector in Curitiba-PR and Metropolitan Region, to measure and identify the correlation between quality certification and organizational characteristics. The data were treated and organized based on a descriptive and multivariate analysis. Based on the bibliographic review and the interpretation of the data obtained in the quantitative research, it was possible to recognize that the organizational characteristics that are most influenced by the quality certifications are the number of hours of training, the formalization of positions and functions, and the formalization of activities and processes.

O setor automotivo é um dos mais arrojados em termos de qualidade, demandando a certificação ISO/TS 16949. Apesar dessas empresas dominarem essa certificação, algumas a perdem em auditorias posteriores ou obtêm poucas melhorias além das existentes. Há indícios de que elas não possuam maturidade suficiente para obter ou manter essa certificação, nem diretrizes para melhorar continuamente. Em trabalhos anteriores, constatou-se que empresas certificadas possuíam, no mínimo, nível 2 de maturidade, sendo 1 (mínimo) e 5 (máximo), o que significa uma empresa com processo definido e gerenciável. Entretanto, o que habilita a empresa a melhorar seus índices é ter o processo controlado e integrado. A falta de maturidade de um processo de desenvolvimento de produto (PDP) desencadeia refugos e retrabalhos, comprometendo o uso eficiente de recursos, impactando no tempo e no custo do desenvolvimento e, indiretamente, na qualidade do processo e do produto final. Porém, as empresas certificadas não possuem diretrizes para melhorar seus processos. Para isso, a ISO demandaria algum recurso associado, visando fornecer orientação quanto aos aspectos que precisariam ser melhorados. Considerando que o CMMI é um método eficaz na obtenção de diagnóstico de maturidade e que considera a integração do PDP, esse trabalho visa identificar a associação entre a certificação ISO/TS 16949 e o método CMMI-DEV 1.2. Para isso, apresenta uma revisão sobre PDPs, certificação da qualidade e maturidade de processo. Posteriormente, são associadas as variáveis envolvidas em um processo de certificação ISO 9001 e as variáveis avaliadas na ISO/TS 16949 com as variáveis envolvidas na avaliação do nível 2 de maturidade do modelo CMMI-DEV 1.2. O trabalho explicita quais itens são considerados pela ISO/TS 16949, ressaltando os itens do CMMI que poderiam ser usados para obter um diagnóstico complementar para as empresas que desejam melhorar o fator qualidade, agregando, em paralelo, mais eficiência e produtividade aos seus processos produtivos.
The automotive sector is one of the most daring in terms of quality, requiring because of that certification to ISO/TS 16949. Although these companies dominate this certification, some lose in the subsequent audits or get little improvement beyond existing. There is evidence that they do not have the maturity to obtain or maintain such certification or guidelines to continually improve. In previous work, it was found out that certified companies had at least level 2 maturity, 1 (minimum) and 5 (maximum), which means a company defined and manageable process. However, what enables the company to improve its indexes have the process is controlled and integrated. The lack of maturity of a product development process (PDP) triggers scrap and rework, compromising the efficient use of resources, impacting the time and cost of development and, indirectly, the quality of the process and final product. However, the guidelines do not have certified companies to improve their processes. For this, the ISO would require some resource associated in order to provide guidance on the aspects that need to be improved. Whereas CMMI is an effective method for obtaining diagnostic and maturity that considers the integration of PDP, this work aims to identify the association between the ISO/TS 16949 and CMMI-DEV 1.2 method. Presenting an overview of PDPs, quality certification and process maturity. Later, associated variables are involved in a process of ISO 9001 certification and the variables evaluated in the ISO/TS 16949 with the variables involved in assessing the maturity level 2 with CMMI-DEV 1.2. The paper explains which items are considered by the ISO/TS 16949, CMMI highlighting items that could be used for diagnosis complement for companies that wish to improve the quality factor, adding, in parallel, more efficiency and productivity of their production processes.

The International Organization for Standardization is one of the most popular quality management systems in the modern business environment. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Total Quality Management (TQM) interface the quality management systems within an organization. Over the last decade, the International Organization for Standardization has established a variety of quality management systems such as ISO9001:2008; ISO14001:2004; ISO10002:2007; ISO13485:2003; ISO9000:2005, ISO 9000:2008, ISO14971:2007; ISO18000:2007, and other ISO quality management systems are facilitating many professionally-run the businesses. This research topic, however, investigates how the ISO 9001:2008 quality management system affects the rubber and plastics industry of South Africa. This research is based on the qualitative and quantitative methods used to ascertain how the ISO 9001:2008 quality management system affects the rubber and plastics industry of South Africa. Samples are selected randomly at 95% confidence levels with a margin of error of 5%. The study was also retrospective in that it relied on the data collected from individuals who had been exposed to the ISO9001:2008 quality management system in the rubber and plastics industry in a South African manufacturing environment. The ISO 9001:2008 quality management system distinguishes between the end results and the means of achieving organizational objectives. The final recommendation after the indepth discussion in Chapter Six is aimed at improving levels of product and service quality; the reduction of product cost; an improvement in the working relationship between employer and employee; increasing customer satisfaction; offering confidence to suppliers, competitors, investors and in business ventures in general, while attaining greater profitability in the rubber and plastics industry of South Africa in particular.
Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2011.

This study focuses on the development of effective Staff Training Programs to meet ISO Food Factory standards. It is set in the context of significant changes required to meet these standards in order to improve international business opportunities in the food industry in Thailand. The study is based on a needs assessment within the proactive form of evaluation as categorised by Owen, with Rogers (1999) and Owen (2006). The research was conducted in four phases: a needs assessment, an expert review, a determination of best practice, and the formulation of a staff training policy. The purely qualitative methodology involved focus group and semi-structured interviews, a SWOT analysis, inductive data reduction, and policy development using Dror’s (1973) Optimal Method of policymaking. The findings of this study were validated by means of triangulation involving the outcomes of the needs assessment, the semistructured interviews with the QMRs of two registered ISO certificated food factories, and the testing of the draft policy against the perceptions of the Chief Executive Officers of two registered ISO certificated food factories.

M.Tech.
South African government is one of the countries in the world that has delivered the highest number of houses to the poor through various delivery mechanisms to fulfill her vision to adequate housing for all as reflected in the National Housing Policy framework. Since 1994, about One Million Eight Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty Eight (1 877 958) houses has been delivered. People’s Housing Process is a state-assisted, self help housing programme and about 3% of the total houses built were delivered through the PHP housing delivery programme. The Government’s goal is, subject to fiscal affordability, to increase housing delivery on a sustainable basis to a peak level of 350 000 units per annum until the housing backlog is overcome (South Africa’s National Housing code policy, 2000:5). The government focused on quantitative housing delivery with qualitative shortcomings. However the focus has now shifted to the quality of the end product delivered. Defects in houses manifest themselves primarily through cracking, dampness, detachment, and water leakages. Defects may be patent or latent, and could be discovered through checking, observations and tests. This research work is a study of structural qualities of houses delivered through PHP. The study investigated the causes of structural inadequacies in PHP houses focusing in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The findings show that different types of structural defects occurred in houses delivered through PHP scheme, these defects include roof leakages, cracks in walls, wall not being straight and defects in roof trusses. The cause of these defects was as a result of poor quality control mechanism put in place by the Department of Housing.

by Law Po-yee, Annie and Li Lai-fong.
Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1995.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53).
ABSTRACT --- p.ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv
LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v
Chapter
Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1
Objective of Study --- p.1
Scope of Study --- p.2
Background --- p.2
Development of ISO 9000 --- p.4
Concept of ISO 9000 --- p.5
Chapter II. --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.9
The Experience of Singapore --- p.9
The Experience of U.S. and Canada --- p.11
The Experience of Hong Kong --- p.13
Chapter III. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.17
Secondary Data Source --- p.17
Primary Data Source --- p.21
Chapter IV. --- FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS --- p.24
Findings from Questionnaires and Interviews with Respondents --- p.24
Experience of a Consultant : HKPC --- p.31
Experience of the Registrar : HKQAA --- p.33
Limitations --- p.37
Chapter V. --- CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.39
APPENDIX --- p.46
BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.51

This study centres on curriculum development for a master craftsman level in the Printing, Newspaper and Packaging Industries which is didactically sound and takes cognisance of the dynamic vocational education and training milieu in which it occurs. Curriculum and curriculum development is viewed from a systems perspective and incorporates the specific andragogic didactic needs of the learner target group as well as the unique needs of an industrial sector. Because the National Qualification Framework model advocates an outcomes-based approach to curriculum development this necessitated the identification of a suitable standards generating process to articulate the master craftsman unit standards into a qualification capable of being recognised by the National Qualification Framework. The nature and complexity of the underpinning knowledge, skills and competencies for the master craftsman level were quantified and qualified by means of skills and competency profiling and the development of a job outcome taxonomy of skills, knowledge and attributes which incorporated critical cross field and fundamental skills, and their underpinning knowledge requirements. Using aspects ofvarious vocational education and training models and empirical research course content was sourced, evaluated and developed into appropriate modules of learning that are congruent with the accepted competency based modular training system used in the Industries. Course maps that integrate theory and practice were developed with multi skilling milestones linked to learner certification. Evaluation of resources for the delivery of the Master Craftsman Programme was facilitated by means of a provider quality assessment and accreditation system. The interactive teaching-learning situation and the evaluation processes and procedures were developed to enhance the assessment of applied competencies in the world of work. A pilot study and unit standards generating activities are to be used as a means of implementing and institutionalising the master craftsman curriculum. The findings of this study revealed that by viewing the curriculum from a systems perspective and using a suitable curriculum development model a creative master craftsman curriculum development process could take place. The competency profiling technique and taxonomy of competencies, skills, knowledge and attributes enabled the curriculum process to be a top-down approach which is outcomes-based.
Didactics
D.Ed. (Didactics)

The main objective of this study was to analyse South African (SA) citrus farmers’ perceptions of the benefits and costs of complying with quality assurance (QA) certification schemes for citrus exports to the European Union (EU). The study used an e-mail and postal survey questionnaire mailed to a stratified random sample of 260 SA commercial citrus growers during July 2007. The survey yielded 108 usable responses - a response rate of 10.8% from the target population of 1001 commercial SA citrus growers. The main factors motivating respondents to adopt QA certification were to keep and maintain access to existing markets; to improve customer confidence in their products; to access new markets; and to meet food safety and retailer requirements. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified six underlying dimensions of motivators, which suggest a drive by sampled respondents to gain certification to meet market requirements, achieve intra-farm benefits such as cost-reduction, and to remain competitive in existing and new foreign markets. The sampled respondents identified the main internal benefits from QA certification as the ability to retain existing markets; improved worker health and safety; better access to foreign markets; better farm organisation; and improved fruit safety and orchard management. The PCA identified six broad dimensions of these internal benefits. Comparing the motivator and perceived benefit dimensions, most of the motivators seem to have been in part realised by the respondents. Respondents rated shared goals and values about the product; more joint decision making on fruit safety; more working together on quality assurance; a better business working relationship; improved coordination; and improved trust as the six major supply chain benefits from QA certification. The two dimensions identified from these external benefits by PCA were: (1) Improved working relationship and product quality benefits, and (2) Improved cooperation and contractual benefits. The major costs of implementing EUREPGAP certification related to initial investment costs and the recurrent annual costs of compliance. The respondents, on average, spent an estimated R70655 on initial compliance costs, mainly for infrastructure, additional buildings and employees training. Some 60% of respondents spent less than 1% of annual farm turnover on initial compliance costs, while most of the respondents (84%) spent less than 1% of annual farm turnover on recurrent costs of compliance. Growers that owned a pack-house had statistically significantly higher initial and annual costs of compliance. Most (63%) of the respondents had a relatively high level of overall satisfaction with QA certification. The second objective of this study was to analyse the determinants of SA citrus farmers’ overall level of satisfaction with QA certification. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression estimated that perceived dimensions of internal benefits, namely (1) Foreign market access benefits; (2) Intra-farm benefits; (3) Improved fruit safety and orchard management; (4) Quality and worker welfare benefits; and (5) Ability to retain existing markets, all had a statistically significant positive influence on the sampled growers’ overall level of satisfaction with QA certification. Supply chain benefits also had a positive effect on overall level of satisfaction, although the effects were not statistically significant. Similarly, no statistically significant relationship could be established between farm size or the respondents’ level of satisfaction with their certifying agents and their overall level of satisfaction with QA certification. Record keeping is required by nearly all EUREPGAP control chapters and for farm audits. Crop protection is also perceived as a complex requirement of the EUREPGAP protocol. Policymakers thus need to be aware of the extra costs that protocols create for management. The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) could consider providing more extension advice to farmers on the technical requirements of certification (particularly best practices for implementing the control chapters). Comparing the motivator and perceived benefit dimensions, most of the motivators for QA certification seem to have been in part realised by the respondents. For instance, the drivers to improve business image/market competitiveness/market access requirements/farm profitability were realised via perceived reputation/input cost savings/foreign market and profit improvement benefits. The study results, therefore, provide some evidence that QA certification is a necessary strategy for maintaining competitiveness in EU citrus markets.
Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.