Annlize Marnewick

A perspective on human factors contributing to quality requirements: A cross-case analysis

Although formal definitions and processes do exist for requirements engineering, projects are still failing due to the poor quality of requirements. This study investigates this phenomenon, in particular the reasons why high quality requirements cannot be delivered.

Factors contributing to delays regarding aircraft during A-check maintenance

The aviation industry is a competitive and regulated business. It is a function of the engineering manager in aviation to ensure that the aircraft operates cost effectively. One way to manage aircraft operation cost is to speed up aircraft turnaround time during maintenance checks.

Requirements degradation for the creation of a first prototype

The requirements engineering process is typically executed, irrespective of the process model chosen, for the final commercially viable system. The system requirements generated are for a system deployed and used in its final form and function. However, the first prototype that is generated is typically representative of a minimum viable technology, and represents a degraded set of the initial system requirements specification. Typically, a first prototype is used as a technology demonstrator, and its failure or success will determine the continuation of the project, with success triggering the allocation of additional financial and personal resources. This paper explores techniques for requirements degradation that can be used to form the system requirements specification for the first prototype. A requirements Engineering methodology is proposed based upon a survey of literature. It takes into consideration the characteristics of the project, i.e. a market driven, technology implementation research project with limited budget and a flexible timeline executed in an academic environment. The techniques must take into cognizance the main risk items, and core requirements, that need to be demonstrated in the minimum viable technology to secure the future of the project. The degradation cannot undermine or jeopardize the future success of the commercially viable system in determining the subset of requirements for the minimum viable technology.

Selection process for commercial-off-the-shelf products used as defence equipment

The use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products provides the Department of Defence with benefits such as reduced costs and time associated with the research and development of new military defence equipment. However, acquisition organizations face several challenges in the evaluation and selection process of the correct COTS products that comply with the requirements of a client such as the Department of Defence. The purpose of this research was to present a systematic customized framework for the evaluation and selection of COTS products for use as military defence equipment. The phases involved in the COTS evaluation and selection processes, challenges faced by the evaluators and mitigation to overcome the problem were identified through the reviewed literature and evidence collected from a case study. A framework for the selection of COTS products for use as military defence equipment is proposed with the aim to eliminate the lack of support by the acquisition organization to the client during the user requirements definition phase.

A review of risk management techniques and challenges in harbour and port expansions

The paper reviewed risk management techniques and its challenges during implementation in infrastructure projects with a focus on harbour and seaport construction projects. Literature indicates that beyond year 2020, eighty percent of world trade which is conducted through seaports will require additional facilities. This need could potentially be met through rehabilitation of existing ports and development of new terminals. Globally, there is a high rate of project delays and failure due to unsuccessful risk management and implementation. The research was conducted through a systematic literature review of journal articles on risk management techniques and their implementation limitations. The research found that the most employed risk management techniques were enterprise and construction risk management systems, major infrastructure assessment frameworks, dynamic risk management, analytical hierarchy based techniques and the innovative risk management implementation approach. Impediments in implementation of risk management plans were found to be political influence, technical complications, environmental constraints and lack of adequately skilled personnel. This study could benefit risk managers in developing effective risk management frameworks.

A model for postgraduate supervision of large student numbers in Engineering Management at the University of Johannesburg

The paper presents a three-stage supervision model that was implemented by two senior academics in the Postgraduate School of Engineering Management at the University of Johannesburg as a pedagogical approach for the supervision of large numbers of postgraduate students. The model was considered as an alternative to the traditional dyadic supervision model and incorporates communities of practice, group learning and team supervision as supervisory methodologies, whilst integrating select supervisory principles. The model was designed and implemented in 2016 and observations from both supervisors and students are presented to reflect the value derived towards efficient and quality academic supervision.

Identification of delay factors that affect high dwell times of freight trains

The operation of the freight railway industry is a complex system which is accompanied by various challenges. The main objective of the freight rail industry is to provide customers with quality and reliable service, but different forms of delay prevent the achievement of this objective. A case study was conducted in Transnet, the largest freight rail network in South Africa, to identify factors that affect the on-time performance of trains during the execution process. This paper presents a discussion of the nature of train delays and the comparative findings. The results indicate that most delays are a result of crew shortage, locomotive imbalance and defective perway. If the delay factors were resolved, dwell times in the freight rail industry could potentially be minimized, resulting in significant improvement of service reliability.

Trends preventing engineers from obtaining professional registration with ECSA in the required time

Graduate engineers in South Africa are expected to operate as professional engineers within a timeframe of approximately 3 years after graduation; however they do not achieve this. It is vital that engineers are able to operate at the expected levels of a professional engineer in the required time to promote the growth of the engineering sector. An industry survey was used to investigate the trends why professional registration is not obtained within time. It was confirmed that engineers do not achieve professional registration within the required time. Secondly it was highlighted that they do not always operate at the expected levels of responsibility in the workplace as suggested by literature. Ensuring that engineers operate at the suggested levels of responsibility could further assist them in obtaining professional registration within the required time. The research identified self-development and training needs of engineers in South Africa to enable registration within required time.

Pothole- and patch repair failure recurrence in Gauteng: The human influence

A reduction in the in-service life spans of Gauteng roadways, have been seen due to increases in the formation and recurrence of potholes and patch repair failures. With much attention being focused on the technical causes, human factors adding to this problem have not received the attention it requires resulting in increased cost and risk to road users and asset owners. With roadway maintenance and management as the focus of the research, highlighting these human aspects and their influence on degrading roadway conditions within Gauteng was crucial. A survey performed during the research, showed that human factors pose as large a threat to asset service life and quality during the in-service maintenance period, as the technical aspects. Failure to consider both human aspects, as well as technical aspects during roadway maintenance management can therefore trap a roadway in a continual cycle of decline.

Energy efficiency through the use of technology in South African industry

South Africas increasing cost of industrial energy has recently caused the country to be ranked among the top five countries in the world with the most expensive industrial electricity tariffs. For various reasons, energy is often not optimally used in industry. According to Zavanella and Zanoni (2009), there has been a growing interest in more rational and responsible consumption of energy, especially in industrial processes and services. This research study demonstrates the use of technology for energy efficiency in the industry, in order to reduce energy consumed per unit produced on industrial process plants.