The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering

Business model innovation (BMI) approaches are critical for maintaining a competitive advantage, yet assessment methods are limited. This foundational study identifies eight criteria to assess BMI approaches. The research uses a hybrid comparative analysis, assessing four prominent approaches using a multi-criteria decision analysis framework, anchored in quantitative content analysis, as an input to the analytical hierarchy process, combined with qualitative validation. The findings indicate that, while current approaches achieve theoretical saturation in value creation, they exhibit critical deficits in financial feasibility and temporal efficiency, revealing a significant gap between design capability and execution readiness. The analysis provides a pathway for academics and industry practitioners seeking to optimise business models.

Large-scale combinatorial problems are often computationally intractable, and alternative solution approaches are frequently used to find effective approximate solutions for these problems. This paper introduces a six-step methodology, adapted from an existing framework in the literature, and based on a set partitioning scheme, aimed at generating near-optimal solutions for combinatorial problems. The proposed approach specifically considers the classic travelling salesman problem, and the methodology’s performance is demonstrated on a real-world 2508-node instance. The results confirm that the proposed set partitioning approach yields satisfactory solution quality and offers practical implementation advantages.

This research focuses on the impact of 5S adoption on households. Much research has been done on the outcome of quality concepts in many institutions and industries; but only a very few, or no, studies have been done on households. Thus, the objective of this research is to find out the outcome of 5S adoption with a special focus on South Indian households. A structured pilot questionnaire was circulated to 50 employees and their spouses in a leading company in Coimbatore. The respondents were well versed in 5S, Lean, Kaizen, and safety. The analysis indicates that 5S adoption in homes could lead to continuous improvement, reduced waste, and improved safety, all of which would be beneficial to families.

This research aimed to design an implementation strategy for hydrological information system and water quality (SIHKA), a portal managing hydrology and water quality data. SIHKA has been integrated with 37 river basin organisations across Indonesia. Despite being operational, SIHKA’s performance was hindered by data complexity and stakeholder dynamics. Using the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) multi-criteria decision-making models, this research identified stakeholders as critical factors, with objectives and constraints serving as causal factors. The integrated approach produced a prioritised, cause-and-effect-based strategy, enabling centralised real-time data management with stakeholder support.

This study investigates the incorporation of virtual reality (VR) into industrial engineering (IE) education to close the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. A VR-based framework was created by conducting a systematic literature review and applying the design science research methodology (DSRM) to improve hands-on learning, to model intricate industrial systems, and to increase student engagement. The framework aims to create engaging, hands-on experiences to improve understanding and to ensure preparedness for industry. Although suggestions for improvement were provided, evaluations from experts and students using a questionnaire demonstrated the framework’s potential to enhance learning outcomes. This study emphasises how VR could modernise IE education.