Research

Research Collaborations

South African Post Office and Unisa, Department of Industrial Engineering  Projects

The Department of Industrial Engineering has concluded a memorandum of agreement with the South African Post Office (SAPO). In addition, the conclusion of another memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Southern African Postal Operators Association, which comprises all the postal operators in southern Africa, is in the pipeline. The research streams that had resulted from the MoA with SAPO are geared toward building internal capability at SAPO through research in the broader industrial engineering field.

The following research areas are available:

• Human-system interaction and ergonomics, which is focused on human-centred design, quality engineering and management, business processes and business standards.
• Design thinking and business model development (post office of the future), which is focused on customer-centric products and services, e-commerce, technology adoption and digital transformation.
• Operations research, simulation and optimisation, which is focused on the development of mathematical and simulation approaches to solving complex postal logistics problems, including location studies, transport modelling, mailroom management modelling and optimisation, machine learning, big postal data and analytics, Internet of Postal Things (IoPT) platforms, and business process optimisation of end-to-end processes.
• Supply chain engineering, which is focused on material handling technologies, transportation networks, service engineering, production engineering and maintenance engineering.
• Sustainability engineering, which is focused on renewable energy technologies, green building assessments, design and operation.

 Research outputs

• Ngaka Mosia (2020). Dilemma of productivity improvement initiatives. The 2nd African International Conference on IEOM, Harare, Zimbabwe.
• Ngaka Mosia (2020). Application of mechanization in productivity improvement. The 2nd African International Conference on IEOM, Harare, Zimbabwe.
• Ngaka Mosia (2020). Adaptive learning implementation. EDEN 2020, Virtual Research Workshop.
• RL Selepe, OA Makinde, TT Munyai and KR Ramdass (2019). Performance assessment of the supply chain of an electronic product manufacturing company using simulation-enhanced value stream mapping. CIE48 Proceedings, 2-5 December 2018, The University of Auckland. ISBN 9781510877399
• KR Ramdass (2019). Social structures influencing quality in higher education and technology: A higher education perspective. AOMC Conference Proceedings. 4-6 June 2019. Unisa. 978-0-620-83394-3 (e-book)
• BM Mushwana and KR Ramdass (2019). Exploring the effects of integrated quality management system (IQMS) and the impact on employee performance at central Johannesburg TVET college: A case study of Alexandra Campus. AOMC Conference Proceedings. 4-6 June 2019. Unisa. 978-0-620-83394-3 (e-book)
• R Roopnarain, M Dewa and K Ramdasss (2019). Use of scientific ergonomic programmes to improve organisational performance. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 29(2), 16-27.
• ISSN 2224-7890 (online); ISSN 1012-277X (print)
• K Ramdass and P Mothibeli (2019). Selection of a computerized maintenance management system for mechanical and industrial lab equipment of the University of South Africa.  In Proceedings of the South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. SAIIEneXXXt Proceedings. 30 September–2 October 2019. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2308-8265
• O Makinde, R Selepe, T Munyai and K Ramdass (2020)Development of a supplier assessment form for an electronic product manufacturing organisation. Procedia Manufacturing, Volume 43, 2020, Pages 743-750, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2020.02.109
• R Naidoo and K Ramdass (2020). A study of the teaching and learning of a QA course in an engineering department at an ODEL institution. Journal of Educational Studies. Volume 18.  Issue 1. 2019. Pp1-11ISSN. 1680-7456 (for 2020) 0.5. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC-1d87535ec2 
• K Ramdass (2020). A critical reflection of teaching and learning in an open distance learning environment: An engineering perspective. In Proceedings of the 31st Southern African Institute of Industrial Engineering Conference. 5-7 October 2020. Virtual. ISSN. 2308-8265. ECSA CPD Nr: SAIIE / CPD / I / 2-20. pp 614-625
• N Sukdeo, KR Ramdass and G Petja (2020). Application of 7s methodology: A systematic approach in a bucket manufacturing organisation. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(4), 178-193. ISSN 2224-7890 (online); ISSN 1012-277X (print) DOI: https://doi.org/10.7166/31-4-2471
• Z Mpanza (2020). Identifying factors that contribute to poor performance of junior coal miners in South Africa. Proceedings of the 2nd African International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. Harare, Zimbabwe, 7-10 December 2020.
• Z Mpanza, A Nel and M Khumalo (2019). Simulating variables that cause disturbances on arterial roads. Proceedings of the 30th Annual South African Institute for Industrial Engineering Conference, 30 September–2 October 2019, Port Elizabeth.
• Z Mpanza and H Ncube (2018). Estimating delay at signalized intersection using queuing models. Proceedings of the 29th Annual South African Institute for Industrial Engineering Conference, 24-26 October 2018, Stellenbosch.
• P Nyelisani, K Ramdass and K Mokgohloa (2019). The impact of change management strategies in enhancing organizational performance: The case of NPWP Public Organization. In Proceedings of the South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. SAIIEneXXXt Proceedings. 30 September–2 October 2019. Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• K Ramdass, K Mokgohloa and F Nemavhola (2019). Understanding the impact and applications of industrial engineering principles: A South Africa case. In Proceedings of the South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. SAIIEneXXXt Proceedings. 30 September–2 October 2019. Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
• K Ramdass and K Mokgohloa (2019). An investigation into key enabling factors for the successful implementation of Kanban systems in South Africa: A case study. In Proceedings of the South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. SAIIEneXXXt Proceedings. 30 September–2 October 2019. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2308-8265
• K Ramdass and K Mokgohloa (2019). Decoding line balancing as a lean strategy in assembly line balancing: A clothing manufacturing perspective. In Proceedings of the South African Institute of Industrial Engineering. SAIIEneXXXt Proceedings. 30 September–2 October 2019. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2308-8265
• K Mokgohloa, MG Kanakana-Katumba, RW Maladzhi and JA Trimble (2019). Postal development: Literature review into adoption models. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. IEEM Proceedings. 15-18 December 2019. Macao, People’s Republic of China. https://doi.org/10.1109/IEEM44572.2019.8978531 0.125
• K Ramdass, F Nemavhola and K Mokgohloa (2020). Leadership competencies for high performance - a quality system’s perspective. International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering. IJISE14322.  0.33
• K Ramdass and K Mokgohloa (2020). Ergonomic assessment of workers in the clothing and textile industries. In Proceedings of the 31st Southern African Institute of Industrial Engineering Conference. 5-7 October 2020. Virtual. ISSN. 2308-8265. ECSA CPD Nr: SAIIE / CPD / I / 2-20. pp 30-42 0.25
• K Ramdass and K Mokgohloa (2020). Optimisation of the value stream through reverse logistics: A retail case. In Proceedings of the 31st Southern African Institute of Industrial Engineering Conference. 5-7 October 2020. Virtual. ISSN. 2308-8265. ECSA CPD Nr: SAIIE / CPD / I / 2-20. pp 60-69 0.25
• S Mngomezulu, KR Ramdass, K Mokgohloa, N Ndou and K Mpofu (2020). An investigation into the effective use of Total Quality Tools to improve production performance at XYZ Rubber: Case study. In Proceedings of the 31st Southern African Institute of Industrial Engineering Conference. 5-7 October 2020. Virtual. ISSN. 2308-8265. ECSA CPD Nr: SAIIE / CPD / I / 2-20. pp 86-98 0.125
• G Mapande, KR Ramdass and K Mokgohloa (2020). Sustainability of quality practices: A maintenance perspective. In Proceedings of the 31st Southern African Institute of Industrial Engineering Conference. 5-7 October 2020. Virtual. ISSN. 2308-8265. ECSA CPD Nr: SAIIE / CPD / I / 2-20. pp 20-29 0.17
• K Mokgohloa, S Xaba, KR Ramdass and JA Trimble (2020). Application of internet of postal things for community development: An appropriate technology and sustainability development perspective. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Appropriate Technology: Technology exchange and employment creation for community empowerment. 23-27 November 2020. Virtual. ISBN: 978-0-9993666-8-4, ISSN: 978-0-9870163-7-9. pp 870-887 0.125
• K Mokgohloa, MG Kanakana-Katumba and RW Maladzhi (2020). Development of a technology and digital transformation adoption framework of the postal industry in southern Africa: From critical literature review to a theoretical framework. Advances in Science, Technology and Engineering Systems Journal, 5(6), 1190-1206 (2020). 14 December 2020, ISSN: 2415-6698, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.25046/aj0506143 0.33
• P Chikasha, KR Ramdass, K Mokgohloa and RW Maladzhi (2020). Aligning industrial engineering education with industry through atomic curriculum manipulation. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 31(4), 92-103 (2020). 14 December 2020; ISSN: ISSN 2224-7890 (on-line), ISSN 1012-277X (print), DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7166/31-4-2393 0.25

Conference proceedings (double-blind peer reviewed)