Visual Management in Engineering Can Improve Resource Utilization and Reduce Administrative Non-Value Added Time

This research has demonstrated how Visual Management (VM) can be used in an engineering environment to improve engineering resource utilization. Furthermore, it reduces the administrative time associated with unclear project scope, schedule, budget, and task alignment amongst engineers and project leadership. The research references a case study in which low engineering utilization was directly impacting overall project success. Inconsistent visibility of scheduled engineering activities, changes in tasking, and project metrics created uncertainty and resulted in greater than appropriate administrative time. The methodology used was to implement visual project management tools and track engineer utilization over two years. Quarterly utilization results for the engineering staff were captured from January 2017 thru June 2020 and used to show resulting trends and statistical analysis of results. This research has shown clear and consistent improvement from the point of visual management implementation and has sustained improved performance over the last 1.5 years of the research period. Moreover, two statistical t-tests were used to show if the research rejects or accepts the null hypothesis that there was zero statistical difference to utilization or administrative time burdens before and after implementing the visual management tools. Lastly, survey results from the engineers included as participants provided the qualitative data needed to support the research conclusion and quantitative analysis

Assessment of Symptom, Disability, and Financial Trajectories in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 at 6 Months

ImportanceIndividuals who survived COVID-19 often report persistent symptoms, disabilities, and financial consequences. However, national longitudinal estimates of symptom burden remain limited.ObjectiveTo measure the incidence and changes over time in symptoms, disability, and financial status after COVID-19–related hospitalization.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA national US multicenter prospective cohort study with 1-, 3-, and 6-month postdischarge visits was conducted at 44 sites participating in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury Network's Biology and Longitudinal Epidemiology: COVID-19 Observational (BLUE CORAL) study. Participants included hospitalized English- or Spanish-speaking adults without severe prehospitalization disabilities or cognitive impairment. Participants were enrolled between August 24, 2020, and July 20, 2021, with follow-up occurring through March 30, 2022.ExposureHospitalization for COVID-19 as identified with a positive SARS-CoV-2 molecular test.Main Outcomes and MeasuresNew or worsened cardiopulmonary symptoms, financial problems, functional impairments, perceived return to baseline health, and quality of life. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with new cardiopulmonary symptoms or financial problems at 6 months.ResultsA total of 825 adults (444 [54.0%] were male, and 379 [46.0%] were female) met eligibility criteria and completed at least 1 follow-up survey. Median age was 56 (IQR, 43-66) years; 253 (30.7%) participants were Hispanic, 145 (17.6%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 360 (43.6%) were non-Hispanic White. Symptoms, disabilities, and financial problems remained highly prevalent among hospitalization survivors at month 6. Rates increased between months 1 and 6 for cardiopulmonary symptoms (from 67.3% to 75.4%; P = .001) and fatigue (from 40.7% to 50.8%; P &amp;amp;lt; .001). Decreases were noted over the same interval for prevalent financial problems (from 66.1% to 56.4%; P &amp;amp;lt; .001) and functional limitations (from 55.3% to 47.3%; P = .004). Participants not reporting problems at month 1 often reported new symptoms (60.0%), financial problems (23.7%), disabilities (23.8%), or fatigue (41.4%) at month 6.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cohort study of people discharged after COVID-19 hospitalization suggest that recovery in symptoms, functional status, and fatigue was limited at 6 months, and some participants reported new problems 6 months after hospital discharge.</jats:sec