TY - GEN
T1 - Challenges and opportunities in implementing engineering systems thinking in design, manufacturing and process industries in Zimbabwe
AU - Nyemba, W. R.
AU - Mbohwa, C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 IEEE.
PY - 2017/7/2
Y1 - 2017/7/2
N2 - Engineering and manufacturing companies in industrializing countries such as Zimbabwe, largely employ traditional methods as well as conventional machine tools. Research carried out at five companies in Zimbabwe specializing in different business operations, similarly revealed that although such methods and tools are still applicable and productive, the processes are time consuming and the conventional machines often break down thereby delaying production. However, the research, which was conducted through interviews, direct observations as well as surveys, also revealed disconnections in 3 aspects of company policies, techniques employed and continuous professional development training. The research focused on establishing the challenges faced by the companies in implementing holistic approaches encompassing and integrating these 3 aspects. Recommendations were made for turning the various challenges into opportunities through adopting engineering systems thinking for integrating these aspects in order to improve capacity utilization, productivity and efficiency in the various companies.
AB - Engineering and manufacturing companies in industrializing countries such as Zimbabwe, largely employ traditional methods as well as conventional machine tools. Research carried out at five companies in Zimbabwe specializing in different business operations, similarly revealed that although such methods and tools are still applicable and productive, the processes are time consuming and the conventional machines often break down thereby delaying production. However, the research, which was conducted through interviews, direct observations as well as surveys, also revealed disconnections in 3 aspects of company policies, techniques employed and continuous professional development training. The research focused on establishing the challenges faced by the companies in implementing holistic approaches encompassing and integrating these 3 aspects. Recommendations were made for turning the various challenges into opportunities through adopting engineering systems thinking for integrating these aspects in order to improve capacity utilization, productivity and efficiency in the various companies.
KW - Engineering
KW - manufacturing
KW - systems thinking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045243196&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/IEEM.2017.8289971
DO - 10.1109/IEEM.2017.8289971
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85045243196
T3 - IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management
SP - 649
EP - 653
BT - 2017 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, IEEM 2017
PB - IEEE Computer Society
T2 - 2017 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, IEEM 2017
Y2 - 10 December 2017 through 13 December 2017
ER -