Work Characteristics in Logistics 4.0 : Conceptualization of a qualitative assessment in order picking

Logistics 4.0 is an emerging phenomenon, where new digital technologies are used to fulfil increasing demands of delivering individualized products against high cost pressure and fast delivery times. Within this development, human factors should not be neglected, since they will remain an important aspect of process efficiency and business success. One logistics process that has undergone a major transformation within Logistics 4.0 regarding manual human work is warehouse order picking. However, the implications of increasing digitalization on human workers in order picking are not yet fully understood. Hence, this contribution grounds on a qualitative assessment of work characteristics in order picking and conceptualizes possible influences of the digital transformation on order pickers. These conceptual interrelations enable to design future workplaces that allow higher job satisfaction, motivation, quality and performance of work as well as lower turnover intentions

Evaluation of human workload in a hybrid order picking system

Order picking is a labor-intensive and costly process in supply chains, which is performed manually in most cases. Recently, picking robots have been developed which are capable of working together with human pickers in a shared working space. Such hybrid order picking system can ease human pickers’ workload and provide ergonomic improvements, because it partially automates the order picking process. We propose a simulation model to measure the energy expenditure of human pickers who work with the support of picking robots. The hybrid order picking system is evaluated based on its operational costs, efficiency, and ergonomic characteristics. Preliminary results presented in this study show that there are assignment rules for items to workers and robots that reduce human energy expenditure and costs per pick, as well as maintain average throughput time at a certain level. The aim of this preliminary study is to closely analyze the hybrid order picking system, evaluate managerial implications, and detect research opportunities for future works

Job satisfaction : An explorative study on work characteristics changes of employees in Intralogistics 4.0

The increasing trend toward digitalization in logistics poses a significant managerial challenge, particularly by fundamentally changing the traditional, manual workplaces in intralogistics. Although intralogistics processes have, in some cases, already been automated or are supported by smart technologies, humans remain an inevitable part of future intralogistics but with changing work characteristics. This study aims to examine the influences of the transition toward Intralogistics 4.0 on work characteristics of intralogistics employees. First, a systematic literature review on work characteristics and job satisfaction in a broader Logistics 4.0 context was conducted. Thereafter, a qualitative, explorative methodology was employed to examine the perception of work characteristics that impact job outcomes such as job satisfaction, motivation, and performance at different Intralogistics 4.0 maturity levels. The results of semi-structured interviews conducted across seven companies demonstrated the significant, heterogeneous changes of work characteristics related to the type of technology applied in Intralogistics 4.0. Our findings indicate that the development toward Intralogistics 4.0-implemented workplaces does not have a simple or predefined impact on humans; instead, the individual design is relevant and can improve the workplaces with more opportunities for satisfying and motivating jobs

"Sola Scriptura". Un principio de la Reforma en reflexión ecuménica

The author presents a current interpretation of the Lutheran principle of sola Scriptura from an ecumenical standpoint. Grounding himself in the understanding of traditio as vox viva, the author argues for the Scripture’s primacy without abandoning the hermeneutical sphere in which history and sacramental succession are significant. Ministry and individual reading ought to be interconnected so as to make a correct understanding of the inspired text possible. The principle of sola Scriptura would be a radicalization of the Word’s primacy over Tradition. Luther underlines that the Pope is also subject to God’s Word, while Vatican II insists on the order of priority between Scriptura et traditio after affirming the unicity of the source of Revelation. For this reason, the Constitution Dei Verbum constitutes a meeting point between the Catholic and the Lutheran traditions.El autor ofrece una interpretación actual del principio luterano de la sola Scriptura en prespectiva ecuménica. Parte de la traditio entendida como vox viva, y propone la primacía de la Escritura, sin renunciar a un ámbito hermenéutico, en el que la historia y la sucesión sacramental tienen también su importancia. El ministerio y la lectura individual se entrelazarían para posibilitar una correcta comprensión del texto inspirado. El principio de la sola Scriptura sería una radicalización de tal primacía de la Palabra sobre la tradición. Lutero subrayaba que también el Papa estaba sometido a la Palabra de Dios. El Vaticano II insiste en este orden de prioridad entre Scriptura et traditio, gracias a la enseñanza de la única fuente de la Revelación. En este sentido, la constitución Dei Verbum constituye un punto de encuentro entre ambas tradiciones confesionales, católica y luterana

Hybrid order picking : A simulation model of a joint manual and autonomous order picking system

Order picking is a key process in supply chains and a determinant of business success in many industries. Order picking is still performed manually by human operators in most companies; however, there are also increasingly more technologies available to automate order picking processes or to support human order pickers. One concept that has not attracted much research attention so far is hybrid order picking where autonomous robots and human order pickers work together in warehouses within a shared workspace for a joint target. This study presents a simulation model that considers various system characteristics and parameters of hybrid order picking systems, such as picker blocking, to evaluate the performance of such systems. Our results show that hybrid order picking is generally capable of improving pure manual or automated order picking operations in terms of throughput and total costs. Based on the simulation results, promising future research potentials are discussed

The Effect of Annealing Temperature on the Microstructure and Properties of Cr–C–Al Coatings on Zircaloy-4 for Accident-Tolerant Fuel (ATF) Applications

Elemental Cr/C/Al multilayers (stoichiometric ratio: 2:1:1) with and without a Cr overlayer have been synthesized on Zircaloy-4 substrates by magnetron sputtering. The effects of annealing temperatures (400 and 550 °C) on phase/microstructure formation, mechanical properties, and oxidation/corrosion performance have been comparatively studied. Annealing of the multilayers at 400 °C led to the formation of nanocrystalline composite consisting of intermetallic and binary carbide phases. Single-phase Cr$_{2}$AlC was obtained after 550 °C annealing, but with microcracking of the coatings. Both annealed coatings displayed similar mechanical properties, high-temperature oxidation, and hydrothermal corrosion mechanisms. The composite coatings annealed at 400 °C significantly enhance the high-temperature oxidation resistance (α-Al$_{2}$O$_{3}$ scale growth) and hydrothermal corrosion (Cr$_{2}$O$_{3}$ passivation layer formation) of a Zircaloy-4 substrate without coating microcracking and delamination. Nanocomposite CrCAl-based coatings are promising candidates for coated ATF applications with acceptable processing temperatures and excellent oxidation/corrosion resistances for a zirconium alloy substrate

Magnetron-sputtered Al-containing MAX phase carbide thin films and their application as oxidation-resistant coatings

Ternary compounds denominated by the structure formula Mn+1AXn (MAX) phases comprise an extended family of layered, hexagonal transition metal carbides and nitrides. Due to their unique crystal chemistries and layered atomic structures, MAX phase materials combine many unique attributes of both ceramics and metals. These include low density, easy machinability, high thermal and electrical conductivities, thermal shock and damage tolerance, and excellent high-temperature resistance to oxidation and corrosion. These remarkable properties attract growing interest on the fabrication, characterization and implementation of MAX phase materials considered for structural and nonstructural applications under extreme conditions in the form of both bulk materials and thin films. Alumina-forming MAX phases, like Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC with self-healing capabilities, have shown great potential in applications as high-temperature oxidation and corrosion resistant coatings. However, deposition of phase-pure polycrystalline MAX phase coatings, either by spraying technology or physical vapor deposition (PVD), often remains a challenge. The retention of stable competing phases, like binary carbides and intermetallics, degrade the performance of the coatings. In this study, a two-step approach has been established, i.e. first magnetron sputtering of nanoscale elemental multilayer stacks and subsequently thermal annealing in argon, for potential growth of three phase-pure MAX phase carbide (Ti2AlC, Cr2AlC and Zr2AlC) coatings. The temperature-dependent phase and microstructural evolutions during annealing were systemically investigated by high-temperature XRD, HRTEM and Raman spectroscopy. Dense and phase-pure Ti2AlC and Cr2AlC coatings were successfully fabricated, while growth of Zr(Al)C carbide rather than Zr2AlC MAX phase was confirmed in the Zr-C-Al system. In addition, the high-temperature oxidation behaviors of the three coatings were examined in steam

Job satisfaction: An explorative study on work characteristics changes of employees in Intralogistics 4.0

The increasing trend toward digitalization in logistics poses a significant managerial challenge, particularly by fundamentally changing the traditional, manual workplaces in intralogistics. Although intralogistics processes have, in some cases, already been automated or are supported by smart technologies, humans remain an inevitable part of future intralogistics but with changing work characteristics. This study aims to examine the influences of the transition toward Intralogistics 4.0 on work characteristics of intralogistics employees. First, a systematic literature review on work characteristics and job satisfaction in a broader Logistics 4.0 context was conducted. Thereafter, a qualitative, explorative methodology was employed to examine the perception of work characteristics that impact job outcomes such as job satisfaction, motivation, and performance at different Intralogistics 4.0 maturity levels. The results of semi‐structured interviews conducted across seven companies demonstrated the significant, heterogeneous changes of work characteristics related to the type of technology applied in Intralogistics 4.0. Our findings indicate that the development toward Intralogistics 4.0‐implemented workplaces does not have a simple or predefined impact on humans; instead, the individual design is relevant and can improve the workplaces with more opportunities for satisfying and motivating jobs

Energiedispersive Untersuchung der Wechselwirkung schneller Neutronen mit Materie; Teilbericht : Auslegung des Neutronen-Produktionstargets

Der Aufbau und die erste Nutzung eines kompakten Flugzeitsystems zur energiedispersiven Untersuchung der Wechselwirkung von schnellen Neutronen mit Materialien sind Inhalt eines Vernetzungsprojektes des Forschungszentrums Rossendorf, an dem auch die Technische Universität Dresden im Rahmen eines gemeinsamen DFG-Projektes mitarbeitet. Die geplanten Flugzeit-Experimente mit gepulsten Neutronen werden an der Strahlungsquelle ELBE durchgeführt werden. Erste Ergebnisse zur Entwicklung eines Neutronen-Produktionstargets werden vorgestellt. Mit Hilfe von Strahlungstransport- und Finite-Elemente-Programmen wurden die Verteilungen der Energiefreisetzung des von der Strahlungsquelle ELBE genutzten Elektronenstrahls und der Temperatur im Neutronen-Radiator sowie die zu erwartenden Teilchenspektren und -flüsse am Messplatz berechnet. Überlegungen zur Entwicklung des Strahlfängers werden diskutiert