| Summary: | Thesis (MTech (Quality))Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, 2008. === The South African Government provides support to the clothing and textile
industry by making funding available through programs in the Department of
Science and Technology, such as the Tshumisano Technology Stations Program.
The Technology Stations Program in particular supports a Technology Station in
Clothing and Textiles (TSCT) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology
(CPUT), serving the needs for technology support and skills upgrading of the
industry in the Western Cape, and in some instances, nationally.
The TSCT testing laboratory provides testing services to small medium and large
companies in South Africa at a reduced cost. The laboratory emphasises that
customers should have fabrics tested before production commences. In this
regard, the company will know the quality of the fabric or garment being
purchased or manufactured.
The laboratory technicians and assistants undergo a 'Woolworths' certification
process on their test methods on an annual basis. The Woolworths certification is
customer based. The laboratory is faced on a daily bases with the problem that
more and more of their customers request that the facility should seek higher
'accreditation', as opposed to the current 'certification' it currently holds. The
TSCT testing laboratory in addition has a responsibility to satisfy all of its
customer certification and accreditation needs. Against this background, the
management of the CPUT TSCT testing laboratory is now seeking accreditation
from the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) to widen the
spectrum of its testing abilities.
The primary research objectives of this dissertation are:
To determine what the requirements are for SANAS accreditation by the
CPUT TSCT testing laboratory.
To determine if the CPUT TSCT testing laboratory is subject to a forced
intervention for SANAS accreditation.
To determine the criteria required for the CPUT TSCT testing laboratory
accreditation.
To determine the benefits that could be gleaned from this accreditation.
To determine the effectiveness of the laboratory system, with regard to the fact
that in addition to testing, the laboratory is used for teaching and learning.
Descriptive research will serve as the research type, as it will describe an existing
phenomena taking place. The research will be theoretical in nature and conducted
in terms of both positivistic and phenomenological paradigms. Case study
research will serve as research method. Data collection for the proposed research
will be conducted using questionnaires. The CPUT Clothing and Textile
Technology Department will serve as sampling frame, while the sample of
respondents will be drawn on the basis of probability sampling. The sample will
include lecturing staff, students, industry testing customers, textile test laboratory
technicians, administration and support staff, all of whom are directly involved with the operation or make use of the laboratory facilities.
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