Risk Management in the Higher Education Quality Insurance System

Due to the factors that affect the results of work on a daily basis, higher education institutions, through their quality assurance systems, or their planning, must assess risks. In doing so, they must take into account all issues of the internal and external context as well as the needs and expectations of all stakeholders in higher education. The paper explains in an appropriate way the concept of risk as well as all the elements that determine it and their classification in the field of higher education. Subsequently, a possible approach to risk management is discussed, with an emphasis on clarifying the principles and the risk management process itself. Finally, the basics of practical application in risk identification, analysis, evaluation and treatment are outlined

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Centrifugal Vortex Pump Operating Benefits for Energy Efficient Systems

One of the ways to improve the performance of centrifugal pumps, proposed and experimentally validated by our research, is the method of creating so-called coherent structures, vortices and turbulence in the peripheral area of the centrifugal stage by adding a vortex rim to the back side of centrifugal rotor. A new construction of the pump, so called centrifugal vortex pump (CV), combines the good sides of these two types of pumps: high head of the vortex pump and high efficiency of the centrifugal pump. In addition, centrifugal pumps deliver higher flow rates with lower pressures, vortex pumps deliver higher pressures but with lower flow rates. For centrifugal vortex pumps, the vortex blades are located at the rear of the centrifugal rotor. The outer diameter of the vortex rim (VR) is smaller than the outer diameter of the centrifugal rotor (CR). The vortex rim induces vorticity to a portion of the flow that has passed through the centrifugal rotor. This vortexed flow is then reunited with the rest of the flow that has not been pulled down by vortex rotor. The vortex energy of that additional stream transfers some of its kinetic energy to the main stream. This added kinetic energy is converted to a pressure that accumulates the pressure exerted by the centrifugal rotor, and thus the vortex rim improves the overall pump performance. An intense process of gas dispersion occurs in the vortex region, which increases the stability of the pump when pumping a mixture of liquids and gases. The process of energy conversion in a centrifugal vortex pump, i.e., flow visualisation of mixing streams from a centrifugal rotor and a vortex rotor, and the quantization and superpositions have been shown in this paper

Istraživanje tehničko-ekonomske vrijednosti otpadne biomase kao jednog od kriterija tehnološkog i energetskog razvoja drvoprerađivačkih pogona

A precise establishing of quantity, share, structure and place where wood waste appears considerably influences the speed and direction of technological and energy development of wood processing plants. Technical and economic value of waste biomass projects energy usage and efficiency of a production plant. Lack of experimental studies and usage of general empirical relations are often reasons of inadequate practical compatibility and connection of waste biomass with total efficiency of the plant. Based on studies carried out in eight plants in the Republic of Croatia, it was possible to determine quantity, type, share, structure and place of wood residue/waste appearance in relation to annual raw material processing. Thermal and electrical energy consumption was measured during the thermal processing of sawn timber. Numerical values expressed the fuel and economic value, depending on the quantity and structure of waste biomass. The research suggests a new diagram for determination of existing efficiency and parameters for technical and economic values of waste biomass as one of the criteria for technological and energy development of wood processing plants.Precizno utvrđivanje količine, udjela, strukture i mjesta nastanka drvnog otpada značajno utječe na brzinu i smjer tehnološko-energetskog razvoja drvoprerađivačkih pogona. Tehničko – ekonomska vrijednost otpadne biomase projicira energetsku uporabu i učinkovitost proizvodnog pogona. Nedostatak eksperimentalnih istraživanja i korištenjem poopćenih empirijskih relacija često je razlog nedovoljne praktične usklađenosti i povezanosti otpadne biomase s ukupnom učinkovitosti pogona. Na temelju provedenih istraživanja u osam drvoprerađivačkih pogona u Republici Hrvatskoj kvantificirano su utvrđene količina, vrsta, udjel, struktura i mjesto nastanka drvnih otpadaka u odnosu na godišnju preradu sirovine. Izmjerena je potrošnja toplinske i električne energije pri toplinskoj obradi piljenog drva. Numeričkim vrijednostima iskazana je ogrjevna i ekonomska vrijednost ovisno o količini i strukturi otpadne biomase. Predložen je novi dijagram za utvrđivanje postojeće učinkovitosti i parametara tehničko-ekonomske vrijednosti otpadne biomase kao jednog od kriterija tehnološko-energetskog razvoja drvoprerađivačkih pogona

Analitički postupak određivanja momenata i intervala vremena između preventivnih pregleda strojeva

This paper presents an analytical procedure for determining moments, i.e. time intervals between measuring vital characteristics of devices for the purpose of determining the moment at which a malfunction occurred, so that the maximum relative error remains constant during every measurement. This procedure is related to situations when measurements are not carried out continually, but occasionally.U članku je prikazan jedan analitički postupak određivanja momenata, odnosno intervala vremena između mjerenja vitalnih karakteristika uređaja u cilju utvrđivanja momenta nastupanja kvara, tako da maksimalna relativna greška, učinjena pri tom, bude konstantna pri bilo kojem mjerenju. Ovaj postupak odnosi se na slučaj kada se mjerenja na uređaju ne obavljaju kontinuirano, već se vrše povremeno

Application of thermoelectric modules as renewable energy sources

Thermoelectric modules are used for heating or cooling if an electric current flows through them. If one side of such a module is heated and the other side is cooled, the outputs show a potential difference that creates the current flow through an enclosed circuit. The paper describes briefly the physical basis of the operation of semiconductor thermoelectric modules and their application for generating electricity as thermoelectric generators. The experimental measurements were made with different available modules of thermoelectric generators. The analysis of obtained results has provided the conclusions about the possibility of their application as sources of electricity. Although the efficiency of thermoelectric modules is still quite low, the latest research reveals the possibility of the use of materials that make modules more efficient. Considering the fact that they do not contain moving parts, they are characterized by reliable, long-lasting work and simple operation and maintenance

Validacija realizirane mjerne nesigurnosti u postupku umjeravanja preciznih mjernih skala

Laboratorij za precizna mjerenja dužina koji je ujedno i Nacionalni laboratorij za duljinu sudjeluje (Laboratorij) CIPM MRA (Comité International des Poids et Mesures, Mutual Recognition Arrangement) ključnim usporedbama etalona duljine među kojima su od posebnog značaja i precizne mjerne skale. U usporedbenim mjerenjima pri iskazivanju rezultata mjerenja, neophodno je dati i procjenu mjerne nesigurnosti. U novije vrijeme, Monte Carlo simulacije (MCS) imaju sve veću primjenu u procjeni mjernih nesigurnosti. U radu se prezentira validacija realizirane mjerne nesigurnosti GUM metodom upotrebom MCS metode. MCS metoda temelji se na generiranju slučajnih brojeva iz funkcija gustoće vjerojatnosti za svaku ulaznu veličinu i stvaranju eksperimentalne funkcije gustoće vjerojatnosti izlazne veličine kombinirajući različite razdiobe kojima su definirane ulazne veličine. Isto tako, u radu se prezentiraju rezultati međunarodnog usporedbenog mjerenja koji predstavljaju stvarnu validaciju mjernog uređaja i procijenjene mjerne nesigurnosti

Korištenje alata za poboljšavanje kvalitete u Hrvatskoj metaloprerađivačkoj industriji

Modern production requires a daily monitoring process and seeks its continuous improvement in order to increase the quality, and therefore effectiveness. There are various tools and their use should become a daily routine to help participants in the process at all levels; from management to production workers. For the purpose of analyzing the frequency of use and confirming the insufficient use of tools and methods of improvement, a research was conducted among Croatian metal processing manufacturers. The research has confirmed a low frequency of tool use, but has also provided some guidelines for increasing their use in the future.Suvremena proizvodnja iziskuje svakodnevno praćenje procesa te teži njihovom kontinuiranom poboljšavanju kako bi se povećala njihova kvaliteta, a samim time i efektivnost. Alati koji se koriste su raznovrsni i njihovo korištenje trebalo bi postati svakodnevnica kako bi pomogle sudionicima procesa na svim nivoima proizvodnje od uprave do radnika u neposrednoj proizvodnji. U svrhu analize učestalosti korištenja i dokazivanju premalog korištenja alata i metoda poboljšavanja provedeno je istraživanje unutar hrvatskog metaloprerađivačkog sektora. Istraživanjem je dokazana premala učestalost korištenja alata, ali i daje neke smjernice za povećanje korištenja u budućnosti

Design of pedestrian bridge according to Eurocode 9

Aluminum alloys, due to its numerous advantages, is widely used in the construction of various types of structures in civil engineering. Design of pedestrian bridge, entirely constructed of extruded elements made of aluminum alloy EN-AW 6082 T6 with cross sections designed to enable the use of innovative joints, is presented in this paper. The design and construction of special bolted joints is presented using the recommendations given in standard for design of aluminum structures CNR-DT 208/2011. Also, calculation of pedestrian bridge vibrations through different design methods is given here. Results of numerical analysis are compared with the recommendations from different currently available standards and literature referring to the comfort criteria of pedestrian bridge vibrations

The choice of the optimum alternative of the process results quality control

Efikasna kontrola kvalitete rezultata procesa zahtijeva pravilan odabir vrste kontrole koja ovisi o: fazi poslovanja, periodu u kojem se izvodi, predmetu kontrole, kontroliranim parametrima, sustavu i razini kontrole, pristupu kontroli, tipu i planu kontrole te primijenjenim normama. U članku se obrađuju navedena pitanja s ciljem iznalaska optimalne varijante kontrole.An effective quality control of the process results requires the right choice regarding the type of control that depends on the following: the business stage, a period when it is implemented, the subject of control, controlled parameters, the control system, the control level, the control approach, the control plan type, the control plan, and the standard. This article discusses the aforementioned issues with the aim of finding the optimum control alternative

ISTRAŽIVANJE STAVOVA PREMA MINIMALISTIČKOM DIZAJNU U MARKETINŠKIM KOMUNIKACIJAMA

The marketing industry has been grappling with the challenge of declining attention spans and disengagement among individuals towards marketing messages they come across for an extended period. Marketers find it increasingly hard to reach, effectively communicate with, and convert their audiences. A possible way out of this situation can be minimalism. Minimalism in marketing is based on the “less is more” approach, focusing on a smaller number of visual elements and/or short wording constructions. This study examined overall attitudes toward minimalism, including its influence on buying decisions and the relationship between minimalistic design elements and liking of marketing communication. It was found that all age groups have a positive attitude toward minimalism and applying its principles in shopping behaviour. However, millennials rated it better than Gen Z and Gen X. Respondents were asked to judge three different variations of product packages, outdoor ads, logos, posters, and web homepages with different levels of minimalistic design, using a five-point liking scale. Marketing communication with minimalistic elements was preferred over the non-minimalistic one, but it cannot be concluded that younger populations like it more. Minimalism will influence higher liking of all different marketing communication means, and it should be used more in the future across different target groups, considering age. The issue can be to have a clear understanding of what customers perceive as minimalistic elements.Marketinška industrija već dugo osjeća kako zakon opadajućih povrata utječe na raspon pažnje i interes ljudi prema bilo kojem obliku tržišne komunikacije kojoj su izloženi. Marketinškim stručnjacima sve je teže doseći publiku, učinkovito komunicirati i osigurati konverzije. Jedan od mogućih izlaza iz ove situacije je minimalizam. Minimalizam u marketingu temelji se na pristupu „manje je više“, fokusirajući se na manji broj vizualnih elemenata i/ili kratke konstrukcije teksta. Ovo istraživanje ispitivalo je opća stajališta prema minimalizmu, uključujući njegov utjecaj na odluke o kupnji te odnos između minimalističkih dizajnerskih elemenata i sviđanja marketinške komunikacije. Utvrđeno je da sve dobne skupine imaju pozitivan stav prema minimalizmu i primjeni njegovih principa u ponašanju tijekom kupovine. Međutim, Milenijalci su ocijenili to bolje od Generacije Z i Generacije X. Ispitanici su bili zamoljeni da ocijene tri različite varijacije pakiranja proizvoda, vanjske oglase, logotipe, plakate i početne web stranice s različitim razinama minimalističkog dizajna koristeći ljestvicu sviđanja od pet stupnjeva. Marketinška komunikacija s minimalističkim elementima više se svidjela nego ne-minimalistička, ali nije moguće zaključiti da mlađa populacija ima veću razinu sviđanja takvih oglasa od starije. Minimalizam će utjecati na veće sviđanje svih sredstava marketinške komunikacije i trebao bi se više koristiti u budućnosti među različitim ciljnim skupinama s obzirom na dob. Izazov bi jedino moglo biti kako utvrditi što kupci smatraju minimalističkim elementima