Computer supported visualization to support continuous improvements within quality systems

This paper presents a study wherein computer supported visualization is used to design and enhance understanding of quality systems. The study attempts to discover if a quality system such as ISO 9000 can be visualized, and how the visualization should be designed in order to support continuous improvement. Three companies in southern Sweden have set up special groups (here called design groups) whose purpose is to establish principles for models to visualize their quality systems on the Intranet. Their goal is to find a web-based solution that eliminates problems with updating documents, but that also supports understanding as well as reflection about how to improve existing routines and workflows. The design groups create and evaluate computer supported prototypes and exchange ideas via the Internet. The companies prefer descriptions containing local symbols (pertaining to just their company) that connect non-physical aspects, e.g. communication, with the physical environment. They also prefer the use of pictures as much as possible, since this makes the context more understandable. A quality system based on visualization will have better possibilities to engage personnel in the quality work; it will be faster, easier, and more interesting to use than systems with paper documents or other text based systems on the intranet

An action learning network method for increased innovation capability in organizations

Product innovation in highly complex and technological areas, such as medical technology, puts high requirements on innovation capability of an organization. Previous research and publications have highlighted organizational issues and learning matters as important and necessary for the development of innovation capability. Action learning require reflections of the ways things are carried out, changes in the current actions, implementation and improvement and thereafter another round of reflections as in the learning cycle. This might be difficult for one organization to carry out internally and therefore this research use a learning network method with several organizations involved in the learning cycle. The purpose of this article is to describe and discuss a learning network method used in a present research project carried out in the med tech industry. The research project aims at increasing the innovation capability of the participating organizations. The method used, is based on action learning and involves representatives from industrial partners, public health organizations, and academic partners. The different organizations run innovation projects over a time period of three years, and meet three times a year in learning network sessions with the purpose of developing knowledge by interaction between the projects and the different actors. During these learning network sessions the participants are facilitated to go through the different phases, reflections, new concepts, new actions, implementations and new reflections. The paper elaborates on theories of innovation capability and learning network. Furthermore, the action learning network structure, the experiences gained in the initial phases of the project, and experience of action learning and learning networks is presented. The importance of trust building between partners in the network in order to facilitate action learning and development of innovation capability is experienced and discussed, as well as the learning that takes place in the interaction between academics from different disciplines in collaboration with practitioners

Lighting Recommendations in Operating Theatres

“The eyes lead the body.” A good visual environment is important for performance and wellbeing. Unsatisfactory visual conditions often induce a strained posture, more or less unconsciously, in an effort to improve vision. The requirements for the visual environment in an operating theatre are high. Surgeons or assistants who are having visual problems can induce treatment hazards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visual environment in operating theatres, and also examine if the surgeon’s visual acuity at near work can be improved with better glasses. Thirty percent of the surgeons had eyestrain, and those with eyestrain had three times as much musculoskeletal strain. The measurements of the illuminance and luminance show a low uniformity level on the operating table; the operating lamps give an average of 100.000 lux, while the surrounding area values are much lower. The most important recommendation for lighting intervention in the operating theatre is a more uniform illuminance on the operating table