The tool supporting decision making process in area of job-shop scheduling

Today most manufacturing companies from machine building industry are operating in single unit or short-run production which is very complex in terms of decision making processes in production planning area. The difficulty in decision making in the area of scheduling is caused by the necessity of analy sing multiple factors and evaluating various scheduling options due to numerous criteria. The article presents the author’s tool supporting decision making in the area of job-shop scheduling. The tool introduced in the article enables scheduling based on author’s priority rule allowing maximum usage of the most loaded resource (known as critical resource), which determines efficiency of the produc tion system. The tool has been designed and verified as a part of PhD dissertation research.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Shortening Changeover Time - An Industrial Study

This paper presents the results of the use of the Single Minute Exchange of Die method to shorten changeover time on machines in a polish production company. This project has been developed for a manufacturing company, whose products are fiberboard, hardboard and softboard products manufactured by a highly specialized industry using only pure wood fibers. Long changeover times used to conduct to bad results in timely delivery of orders. Therefore, in this work each element of the changeover time was analyzed to understand if it could be eliminated, moved or simplified. Implemented solutions significantly reduce setup time and improve the Company's competitiveness.This work is supported by Portuguese National Funds through FCT “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” under the projects: “Projeto Estratégico–UI 252–2011–2012”, reference PEst-OE/EME/UI0252/2014, and FCOMP-01-0124FEDER-PEst-OE/EEI/UI0760/2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estimation of the Reliability of Automatic Axial-balancing Devices for Multistage Centrifugal Pumps

The permanent increase of operating parameters of modern multistage centrifugal pumps requires more precise modelling for estimation their dynamic reliability and needs to develop new approach and methodology for the related calculations. It is necessary to change the approach assuming empirical coefficients to another one based on the probabilistic design for analysis of reliability for pumps and their nodes. In this case, the probabilistic parameters of the design features and fluid flow are significant for the calculation (e. g. geometry of gap seals, boundary conditions, material properties) and should be considered. The automatic axial-balancing device of the rotor is one of the most important nodes of multi-stage centrifugal pumps. It operates as the balancing disc for the axial force up to 1 MN. This paper presents the methodology for the numerical calculation of the balancing disc and its influence on the reliability of multistage centrifugal pumps. The proposed approach is based on the criterion of the permissible amplitudes of axial oscillations of the rotor with the automatic axial-balancing device considering probabilistic origin of main geometrical, hydromechanical and operating parameters

Cycle time reduction in deck roller assembly production unit with value stream mapping analysis

Cycle time reduction is of paramount importance in a manufacturing industry as the customer not only emphasizes on the quality of the product but also takes into consideration the timely delivery of the product. The proposed framework and the advanced methodology in this paper are capable of dealing with each stage of the considered manufacturing unit by maximizing the value of the product through reduction of cycle times and minimization of waste. The time required for all the processes in the manufacturing of the deck rollers is identified and are classified into value added (VA) and non-value added (NVA). Finally, the cycle times were reduced by applying the lean tools and principles on some managerial relevances. Also, Arena software was used to simulate the current and future value stream maps and the change in the cycle times, waiting times, machine utilization, etc. was determined.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of disseminated tumor cells in the bone marrow on survival and disease progression in patients with left‑sided colorectal cancer

Introduction Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) are a subset of circulating tumor cells that migrate to the bone marrow. Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease depending on the site of the primary tumor. Objectives We aimed to assess the association between the presence of DTCs in the bone marrow and tumor characteristics as well as long‑term treatment outcomes in patients with left‑sided colorectal cancer. Patients and methods This prospective study included 91 patients with left‑sided colorectal cancer (37 with colon cancer and 54 with rectal cancer) treated between 2007 and 2012 in a single tertiary center. Fifteen patients had stage I cancer; 26, stage II; 26, stage III; and 24, stage IV. Overall survival and cancer relapse rates were compared between patients with different cancer stages and DTC status. Results Bone marrow DTCs were identified in 42 patients (46.1%). The prevalence of DTCs was not related to tumor infiltration depth, nodal involvement, distant metastasis, tumor stage, or primary tumor site. The 5‑year overall survival rates were 59.5% and 53% in the DTC‑positive and DTC‑negative groups, respectively (P = 0.19). There was a notable trend favoring survival in patients with DTCs with stage II and III disease (both separately and when combined). The number of metachronous distant metastases was significantly lower in DTC‑positive patients. Conclusions The presence of DTCs in the bone marrow is not associated with primary tumor characteristics and seems to reduce metastasis formation in left‑sided colorectal cancer. There is also a trend for improved overall survival in DTC‑positive patients. These results are intriguing and warrant further confirmation

The prognostic significance of HLA-A2 expression on somatic cells in patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancers

Introduction. Current knowledge about colorectal cancer (CRC) identifies tumor immunogenicity as one of the more important issues. In cancers, a prerequisite for immune system activation is the presentation of tumor associated antigen (TAA) epitopes to immunocompetent cells. HLA-A2 is one of the antigens in the context of which TAAs are present, but data on the possible impact of HLA-A2 antigen expression on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer are scarce and sometimes contradictory. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between HLA-A2 expression in patients with left-sided colorectal cancer in various stages of disease and their long-term survival, and to answer the question of whether a lack of HLA-A2 expression is actually a negative prognostic factor. Material and methods.  A prospective analysis of 58 patients with left-sided colorectal cancer was carried out. Expression of HLA-A2 was determined by patient blood lymphocyte staining, and analysed using flow cytometry. Results. In the study group, patients with HLA-A2 expression lived statistically longer than HLA-A2 negative patients (p = 0.027). There was no significant difference in overall survival between the HLA-A2+ and HLA-A2- groups with stage II and III left-sided CRC. However, the Cox proportional hazard model showed that a lack of HLA-A2 expression was a negative prognostic factor in the group of radically operated patients without distant metastases. Conclusions. HLA-A2 status may affect the clinical course of patients with left-sided colon and rectal cancer, although left-sided tumors are less immunogenic than right-sided ones. HLA-A2-positive patients with left-sided colorectal cancer lived statistically longer than those who were HLA-A2-negative (p = 0.027). Lack of HLA-A2 expression was a negative prognostic factor in the group of radically operated patients

ISO standard as an instrument shaping organizational culture

Rozwój zarządzania jakością w przedsiębiorstwach doprowadził do tego, że standardy ISO są już powszechne na całym świecie, a organizacje, które takich standardów nie posiadają, jawią się jako mniej wiarygodne z punktu widzenia klientów. W pracy przedstawiono standard ISO, konkretnie ISO 9001, jako narzędzie kształtowania kultury organizacyjnej. Omówiono teoretyczne zagadnienia związane z kulturą organizacji oraz jakością. W trzecim rozdziale przedstawione zostały badania empiryczne związane z wpływem standardu ISO na kulturę organizacji. Badania wykazały, że normy ISO w pewnym stopniu kształtują kulturę, oraz wpływają na sposób zachowania i pracy członków organizacji.The development of quality management in enterprises has led to the widespread application of the ISO standards throughout the world, and those oranizations which have not implemented them are perceived as reliable by their customers.This thesis focuses on the ISO 9001 management standard as a tool of the development of organizational culture. It discusses theoretical aspects of both corporation culture and quality. Chapter 3 presents empirical studies on the ISO impact on the organizational culture. The research has proven that the ISO norms have some effect on the organizational culture shaping process as well as on employees’ behavior and their approach to work

Communication barriers in multigenerational teams

Ze względu na starzenie się społeczeństw oraz zróżnicowanie wiekowe na rynku pracy, coraz większe znaczenie w organizacjach ma zarządzanie różnorodnością, a konkretnie zarządzanie wiekiem. Jest to szczególnie istotne w odniesieniu do zespołów pracowniczych. W pracy przedstawiono teoretyczne aspekty zarządzania zespołami, zarządzania różnorodnością oraz komunikowania się w organizacjach. Czwarty rozdział dotyczył badań empirycznych związanych z barierami komunikacyjnymi powstającymi w zespołach zróżnicowanych wiekiem. Badania wykazały, że w takich zespołach istnieje szereg barier komunikacyjnych, zarówno po stronie młodszych, jak i starszych pracowników.Due to aging societies and age diversity in the labour market, diversity management is becoming increasingly important in organizations, and more specifically age management. This is particularly important with regard to employee teams.This thesis examines the theoretical aspects of the team management, diversity management and communication in organizations. Chapter 4 presents empirical studies on communication barriers in multigenerational teams. The research has proven that in such teams there are a number of communication barriers