Human-automation collaboration in manufacturing: identifying key implementation factors

Human-automation collaboration refers to the concept of human operators and intelligent automation working together interactively within the same workspace without conventional physical separation. This concept has commanded significant attention in manufacturing because of the potential applications, such as the installation of large sub-assemblies. However, the key human factors relevant to human-automation collaboration have not yet been fully investigated. To maximise effective implementation and reduce development costs for future projects these factors need to be examined. In this paper, a collection of human factors likely to influence human-automation collaboration are identified from current literature. To test the validity of these and explore further factors associated with implementation success, different types of production processes in terms of stage of maturity are being explored via industrial case studies from the project’s stakeholders. Data was collected through a series of semi-structured interviews with shop floor operators, engineers, system designers and management personnel

Your new colleague is a robot. Is that ok?

Human robot collaboration is a concept under development that will be applied within manufacturing environments in the near future to increase efficiency and quality. While there have been significant advances in technology to enable this progress there is still little known about the wider human factors issues of employing such systems in High Value Manufacturing environments. This paper sets out our current understanding of key organisational and individual factors which need to be explored

The development of a Human Factors Readiness Level tool for implementing industrial human-robot collaboration

The concept of industrial human-robot collaboration (HRC) is becoming increasingly attractive as a means for enhancing manufacturing productivity and product. However, due to traditional preventive health and safety standards, there have been few operational examples of true HRC, so it has not been possible to explore the organisational human factors that need to be considered by manufacturing organisations to realise the benefits of industrial HRC until recently. Charalambous, Fletcher and Webb (2015) made the first attempt to identify the key organisational human factors for the successful implementation of industrial HRC through an industrial exploratory case study. This work enabled (i) development of a theoretical framework of key organisational human factors relevant to industrial HRC and (ii) identification of these factors as enablers or barriers. Although identifying the key organisational human factors (HF) was an important step, it presented a crucial question: when should practitioners involved in HRC design and implementation consider these factors? New industrial processes are typically designed and implemented using a maturity or readiness evaluation system, but these do not incorporate of or link to any formal considerations of HF. The aim of this paper is to expand on the previous findings and link the key human factors in the theoretical framework directly to a recognised industrial maturity readiness level system to develop a new Human Factors Readiness Level (HFRL) tool for system design practitioners to optimise successful implementation of industrial HRC

BIM communication waste

Developments in Information and Communication Technology can bring about significant improvements in the efficiency of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction and Facilities Management industry. Building Information Modelling (BIM), is a term which encompasses a type of software but more importantly a set of processes which, at their core, support an approach for integrated project delivery enabled by interoperable software systems. The last three years have seen intensified and coordinated adoption of BIM in the UK mainly as a result of the mandate of the UK government. One facet of these developments is the growing need for BIM collaboration tools which can interoperate effectively with the various BIM software systems, support the required standards and codes of practice and provide for requirements of construction project information production and management such as model-based workflows, model-based communication, model-based procurement, role-based data access and role-based privileges. The pre-requisites for collaboration can be broadly divided into two categories: (1) coordination of information and responsibilities, and (2) communication. This research recognizes the strong focus of recent and ongoing efforts to provide for coordination and aims to support the communication aspect. Additionally, successful collaborative practice results from (1) the "softer" or "human-aspect" issues: collaborative culture, software training and adherence to protocols as well as from (2) the provision of appropriate, intuitive and configurable collaboration tools and, more generally, digital collaboration environments. This research focuses on the latter. Despite efforts from a variety of software-as-a-service (SaaS) collaboration tool vendors to achieve dominance in the market, there is still uncertainty as to what type of solutions would best support BIM collaboration. Additionally, there is considerable variation in software configurations and a lack of a universally applicable method for evaluating the communication capabilities of BIM collaboration tools in a meaningful way. Vendors lack a robust conceptual framework to guide the long-term development of their tools and evaluate them. The process of requirements engineering, which in this context involves a diversity of stakeholders and involves projects at different BIM maturity levels would benefit significantly from a robust, context-specific conceptual model-ontology. The aim of this research is to produce a context-specific conceptual model-ontology which can support the discourse of requirements engineering and provide a robust and widely applicable framework for evaluating the communication capabilities of BIM collaboration tools. It is anticipated that this would help reduce BIM communication waste . To meet this aim, BIM collaboration tools were studied from five perspectives: 1.Users: their opinions, requirements and requests were collected through an online questionnaire survey. 2.Vendor: their perspective was captured through semi-structured interviews. 3.Schemata for interoperability: effectiveness of tools and schemata was evaluated through analysis of software by data fidelity study and scenario-based testing. 4.Tool use: patterns of digitally-enabled communication were explored through an analysis of communication data and meta-data collected from a collaboration tool. 5.Tool improvement: a successful approach in improving a collaboration tool was examined through the development of a context-specific requirements engineering process. This process was evaluated through semi-structured interviews with collaboration tool implementation consultants. Each perspective helped produce more specific requirements from the model as well as elements of the model itself. The end result was the Model for communication waste in BIM process interactions (WIMBIM). WIMBIM has the BIM process transmission as the fundamental unit of analysis and focuses on BIM communication waste and how it results from sub-optimal collaboration tools and schemata. The ultimate purpose of WIMBIM is to support the development of technology which would reduce this waste. This model was converted into a communicable format and was related to BIM standards to aid contextualization and gap identification. To evaluate the validity and utility of this model, interviews with BIM experts were conducted, and the proposed model was found to be a valid approach to address aspects of BIM waste, which is not usually examined and could potentially complement the existing model for BIM maturity. Additionally, the model provides a useful lens for further academic research into BIM collaboration tools

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes and Competencies of Health Professionals Attended an International Training Programme in Public Health

Background: Continuing education is a fundamental aspect of health personnel professional life. These enable health professionals improve patient-centred care, stay current and provide quality services.Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitudes and competencies from the interprofessional training programme in public health held in cooperation with WHO/EURO.Methods: A structured questioner for self-ratings on perceived seminar usefulness and implementation was placed on the internet followed by email notification to the 300 participants. We have received 128 completed questionnaires (42.5%).Programme effects were tested by categorical analysis using Pearson chi-Square or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression was used to reveal correlation between implementation of competencies according to discipline and type of employer. All tests were considered to be significant at a 5% level. Analysis was carried out using SPSS 20.0. Findings: 85.9% (p = 0.021 <0.05) of the participants applied the knowledge they acquired in the seminar. The application of the competencies in public health services differed according to position (p<0.05). Supervisors achieved higher scores (81.4%) in the administration and management than the officers (48.5%). Health professionals felt that their performance has been improved and consequently the quality of the services (75%). Conclusion: The international programme gave them confidence that the acquired knowledge and skills were equal to those of their European colleagues and that they are able to deal with public health issues and to provide the respective services

Targeted KRAS Mutation Assessment on Patient Tumor Histologic Material in Real Time Diagnostics

BACKGROUND: Testing for tumor specific mutations on routine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues may predict response to treatment in Medical Oncology and has already entered diagnostics, with KRAS mutation assessment as a paradigm. The highly sensitive real time PCR (Q-PCR) methods developed for this purpose are usually standardized under optimal template conditions. In routine diagnostics, however, suboptimal templates pose the challenge. Herein, we addressed the applicability of sequencing and two Q-PCR methods on prospectively assessed diagnostic cases for KRAS mutations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Tumor FFPE-DNA from 135 diagnostic and 75 low-quality control samples was obtained upon macrodissection, tested for fragmentation and assessed for KRAS mutations with dideoxy-sequencing and with two Q-PCR methods (Taqman-minor-groove-binder [TMGB] probes and DxS-KRAS-IVD). Samples with relatively well preserved DNA could be accurately analyzed with sequencing, while Q-PCR methods yielded informative results even in cases with very fragmented DNA (p<0.0001) with 100% sensitivity and specificity vs each other. However, Q-PCR efficiency (Ct values) also depended on DNA-fragmentation (p<0.0001). Q-PCR methods were sensitive to detect<or=1% mutant cells, provided that samples yielded cycle thresholds (Ct)<29, but this condition was met in only 38.5% of diagnostic samples. In comparison, FFPE samples (>99%) could accurately be analyzed at a sensitivity level of 10% (external validation of TMGB results). DNA quality and tumor cell content were the main reasons for discrepant sequencing/Q-PCR results (1.5%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Diagnostic targeted mutation assessment on FFPE-DNA is very efficient with Q-PCR methods in comparison to dideoxy-sequencing. However, DNA fragmentation/amplification capacity and tumor DNA content must be considered for the interpretation of Q-PCR results in order to provide accurate information for clinical decision making

How to calculate incidence rates from proportionate data

This paper describes the methodological aspects of calculation of incidence rates from incomplete data in occupational epidemiology. Proportionate measures in epidemiological studies are useful e.g. to describe the proportion of slips, trips and falls compared to other types of injury mechanisms within single age-strata. However, a comparison of proportions of slips, trips and falls among the different age-strata gives no meaning and can hamper the conclusions. Examples of a constructed example and some selected studies show how estimates of incidence rates can be calculated from the proportionate data by applying estimates of denominators available from other information. The calculated examples show how the risks based on the incidence rates in some cases differ from the risks based on the proportionate rates with the consequence of hampering the conclusions and the recommendations for prevention. In some cases the proportionate rates give good estimates of the incidence rates, but in other studies this might cause errors. It is recommended that estimates of the incidence rates should be used, where this is possible, by estimation of the size of the population. The paper is intended to be useful for students and teachers in epidemiology by using the attached Excel training file.

Modeliranje i simulacija transportnih sustava: pristup planiranja scenarija

It is increasingly realized that building more roads does not solve the traffic congestion problem but actually makes it worse. Instead of adding capacity to our roads there should be an effort to find ways in order to enhance the level of service of the public transport mode especially with the use of technology, such as applying computer and information technology to transportation systems. Advanced technologies such as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) provide a big opportunity for alleviating the traffic congestion problem. On the other hand, ITS technologies require though rigorous testing and evaluation, which can only be achieved with computer simulation modeling. This paper presents an overview on traffic simulation as well as the development process of a microscopic simulation model of a highly congested traffic network in Nicosia, Cyprus. The validated simulation model gives transportation planners and traffic managers the capability to test various Bus Rapid Transit scenario solutions involving the use of intelligent transportation systems prior to their implementation.Postaje sve razvidnije da se izgradnjom novih cesta ne može riješiti problem prometne zagušenosti, već se čak može i povećati. Dakle, umjesto proširenja mreže cesta trebalo bi uložiti energiju u povećanje razine usluga javnog transporta, poglavito primjenom novih tehnologija kao što su računalna i informacijska tehnologija. Napredne tehnologije uključene u tzv. Inteligentne transportne sustave (ITS) pružaju velike mogućnosti za ublažavanje problema prometne zagušenosti. S druge strane, ITS tehnologije zahtijevaju rigorozne provjere i vrednovanja koja se jedino mogu provesti pomoću računalnih simulacija. U radu se daje pregled načina simulacije prometa te proces razvoja mikroskopskog simulacijskog modela jako zagušene prometne mreže u Nikoziji na Cipru. Vrednovani simulacijski model pruža planerima transporta i upraviteljima prometa mogućnost provjeravanja raznih rješenja scenarija brzog autobusnog prometa, uključujući primjenu inteligentnih prometnih sustava prije njihove implementacije

Follow-up of citations of maritime epidemiological injury studies

Background: The article is based on a review and follow-up of the citations of 13 epidemiological studies that aimed to improve maritime health and safety. While it’s well-recognised that epidemiology is needed in occupational health and safety, the main research question: “How can epidemiology help workers to return healthy from the sea” was unanswered. Materials and methods: The 13 articles were selected as a representative sample of different epidemiological design studies intended to contribute to improving safety management in fishing, merchant shipping and offshore industry. The PubMed, Research Gate, Cochrane-Library and Google Scholar were searched for authors that had cited our articles by using full bibliographic information and the results analysed. Results: In all, 213 citation records were identified. After duplicates and records with insufficient information were removed, 123 full-text articles were eligible for evaluation with answers to the research questions: how did other authors use the studies, how has the injury epidemiology been developed, which recommendations are given for new policies and new studies and how can epidemiology help workers return safe and healthy from the sea? Conclusions: The answer to the main research question is yes, epidemiological studies are not only useful but a necessary component by providing the needed evidence for successful prevention programmes

Perceived Training Needs of Maritime Doctors and General Practitioners

Introduction: Medical practitioners provide pre-employment examinations and periodic health examinations to seafarers, fishermen, offshore employees, and maritime students to ensure that they are fit for work. So far, very little is known about doctors’ perceptions of their professional training needs and expectations. The objective of this study was to gain insight on (a) the breadth of services offered, (b) follow-up practices, and (c) perceived training needs on aspects of maritime medicine. Methods: All maritime doctors (110) recognized by the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) and 100 general practitioners (GPs) were invited to participate. A questionnaire was sent out electronically to gather information on the demographics, breadth of services, follow-up practices, and perceived training needs of the participants. Descriptive statistics described the characteristics of the 2 groups. Results: The training priorities of maritime doctors were rules and regulations (68.7%) followed by working conditions and health risks aboard ship (62.8%). The self-rated training priorities of the GPs were working conditions and health risks aboard ship (44.1%), occupational disease diagnostics, prevention, and follow-up (41.1%), and health and safety at work (38.2%). Conclusion: Members of both medical disciplines were in favor of flexible and accredited training. More specifically, GPs considered a course in occupational risks, diseases, and follow up targeting high-risk professions very important. Maritime doctors suggested the establishment of a website as a one-stop shop for relevant guidelines and information. The small size of the GPs sample prevented a more in-depth gap analysis; however, the results could be used to help the respective authorities establish relevant training programs