Continuous Quality Improvement: The Relationship Between Order Dispatches, Ergonomics & the Design Layout The South African manufacturing and logistics industry is one main economic growth driver in the country. The sector contributes to the employment of most semiskilled and unskilled workers. This research paper addressed the inaccurate order despatches to customers that is influenced by the design layout, ergonomics involved, and the quality standard facilitating the process. The study applied an interpretive approach through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, carried in out as a single with dual warehouse case studies. The study made recommendations from the research findings. The South African manufacturing and logistics industry needs to address the quality continuous improvement challenges to reduce inaccurate order despatches to customers and increase productivity.

The Effectiveness of Rolling Stock Maintenance on Quality Assurance at the Largest South African Rail Company This paper presents the results of the evaluation of the effectiveness that rolling stock maintenance (RSM) has on quality assurance (QA) at the largest rail, port and pipeline company in South Africa, as a case study conducted at its Koedoespoort depots and factories. Using a quantitative approach descriptive in nature, the researchers aimed to gain an insight into the research problem and to investigate the effectiveness RSM has on QA at freight rail company. Data was collected from a sample of 30 employees randomly selected at the engineering division. The evidence collected shows that the engineering division does not have a criterion to monitor the effectiveness of the current maintenance plan, the division does not have a maintenance system that is well understood by the artisans as well as technicians. The recommendations emphasized on a continuous training program on quality planning and implementation for the whole engineering division to ensure that the proposed maintenance strategy delivers as expected right the first time.