Downtime analysis of drilling machines and suggestions for improvements

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussan S. Al-Chalabi ◽  
Jan Lundberg ◽  
Andi Wijaya ◽  
Behzad Ghodrati
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Interval Estimation ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Statistical Accuracy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Failure Data ◽  
Potential Component ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
General Method

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse and compare the downtime of four drilling machines used in two underground mines in Sweden. The downtime of these machines was compared to show what problems affect downtime and which strategies should be applied to reduce it. Design/methodology/approach – The study collects failure data from a two-year period for four drilling machines and performs reliability analysis. It also performs downtime analysis utilising a log-log diagram with a confidence interval. Findings – There are notable differences in the downtime of most of the studied components for all machines. The hoses and feeder have relatively high downtime. Depending on their downtime, the significant components can be ranked in three groups. The downtime of the studied components is due to reliability problems. The study suggests the need to improve the reliability of critical components to reduce the downtime of drilling machines. Originality/value – The method of analysing the downtime, identifying dominant factors and the interval estimation for the downtime, has never been studied on drilling machines. The research proposed in this paper provides a general method to link downtime analysis with potential component improvement. To increase the statistical accuracy; four case studies was performed in two different mines with completely different working environment and ore properties. Using the above method showed which components need to be improved and suggestions for improvement was proposed and will be implemented accordingly.

Study of Québec healthworkers shows a positive psychosocial safety climate (PSC) reduces reliance on “workarounds”

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 45-46
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Safety Climate ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Mutual Trust ◽  
Physical Fatigue ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Open Communication ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose was to work out whether by creating a positive working environment reduced turnarounds by reducing the risk of physical fatigue, cognitive weariness and emotional exhaustion. Design/methodology/approach The researchers conducted their study in Québec, with the partnership of the main union of nurses, the Inter-professional Federation of Health of Québec. They received 562 responses. Hypothesis 1 was: “High PSC will decrease workarounds via decreasing physical fatigue as a mediator.” H2 was: “High PSC will decrease workarounds via decreasing cognitive weariness as a mediator.” H3 was: “High PSC will decrease workarounds via decreasing emotional exhaustion as a mediator.” Findings The results supported all the three hypotheses, meaning that physical fatigue, cognitive weariness and emotional exhaustion all mediate relationships between PSC and workarounds. Originality/value The authors argue that their research demonstrates how healthcare organizations would benefit from changing the culture that sees nurses losing an average of 33 minutes on a 7.5-hour shift. The extra pressures lead directly to a workaround culture, the authors say. They argue that organizations should work to ensure that good systems for open communication and mutual trust exist. Managers should encourage workers to talk about difficulties, including issues around blockages and workarounds.

Learning and unlearning sexism in the workplace

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-20
Author(s):  
Heather L Jeffrey ◽  
Esme Beswick ◽  
Jessica Meade
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Safe Space ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Ethical Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Competitive Environments ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Female Experience

Purpose – Looks at the barriers that prevent women achieving equality in the workplace and examines how they may be overcome. Design/methodology/approach – Argues that there are two potentially important barriers to creating a more inclusive workplace: Employees may conform to discriminatory practices even though they do not really agree with them just to fit in, and overly competitive environments can create a situation whereby employees are afraid to speak out. Findings – Suggests that, in order to tackle these barriers, employers and managers at all levels must call upon insight, use fair judgment and communicate with their female staff to increase understanding of what may be perceived as sexist. Practical implications – Urges managers to create a safe space for women to speak out against discrimination as, even though the organization may be aiming at creating an ethical environment, there may be situations that go unnoticed. Social implications – Suggests that the working environment may also affect relationships between employees, creating a situation where they may not feel able to speak out. Originality/value – Advances the view that managers must use insight and call upon female experience in order to create a more equal environment.

A study of two innovative workplace programmes for workers with intellectual disabilities (WWID) in Australia revealed their positive influence

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings A study of two innovative workplace programs for workers with intellectual disabilities (WWIDs) in Australia revealed their positive influence. The study has a number of practical implications. The first is that HR departments can play a significant role in developing innovative projects that help WWIDs to settle down in a company. Ideally, the programs help them to move from feeling like “outsiders” to being “insiders,” who understand the working environment and feel closer to their colleagues. The best moment for such innovative programs is right at the start of employment. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Development of an environment characterization methodology for optimal design of an agricultural robot

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Bloch ◽  
Avital Bechar ◽  
Amir Degani
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Task Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Geometrical Features ◽  
Actual Environment ◽  
Robot Task ◽  
Cent Error ◽  
Agricultural Robot

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a methodology for characterization of the robot environment to help solve such problem as designing an optimal agricultural robot for a specific agricultural task. Design/methodology/approach Defining and characterizing a task is a crucial step in the optimization of a task-specific robot. It is especially difficult in the agricultural domain because of the complexity and unstructured nature of the environment. In this research, trees are modeled from orchards and are used as the robot working environment, the geometrical features of an agricultural task are investigated and a method for designing an optimal agricultural robot is developed. Using this method, a simplified characteristic environment, representing the actual environment, is developed and used. Findings Case studies showing that the optimal robot, which is designed based on the characteristic environment, is similar to the optimal robot, which is designed based on the actual environment (less than 4 per cent error), is presented, while the optimization run time is significantly shorter (up to 22 times) when using the characteristic environment. Originality/value This paper proposes a new concept for solving the robot task-based optimization by the analysis of the task environment and characterizing it by a simpler artificial task environment. The methodology decreases the time of the optimal robot design, allowing to take into account more details in an acceptable time.

A parametric and adaptive slicing (PAS) technique: general method and experimental validation

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Rosa ◽  
Serena Graziosi
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Constant Thickness ◽  
Parametric Surfaces ◽  
Adaptive Slicing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Staircase Effect ◽  
Multiple Reference ◽  
General Method

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe an innovative Parametric and Adaptive Slicing (PAS) technique to be used for generating material addition paths along three-dimensional surfaces. Design/methodology/approach The method is grounded on the possibility to generate layers starting from multiple reference surfaces (already available in the model or created on purpose). These are used for mathematically deriving a family of parametric surfaces whose shape and spacing (the layer thickness) can be tuned to get the desired aesthetic, technical and functional characteristics. The adhesion among layers is obtained guaranteeing a smooth transition among these surfaces. Findings The examples described in the paper demonstrate that the PAS technique enables the addition of the material along non-planar paths and, hence, the elimination of the staircase effect. In addition, objects printed using this technique show improved mechanical properties with respect to those printed using standard planar layers. Research limitations/implications As the method allows a local control of the material addition/deposition, it can be used to design the mechanical behavior of the objects to be printed. Originality/value The technique proposed in this paper overcomes the limitations of currently available adaptive and curved layer slicing strategies, by introducing the possibility to generate layers with a non-constant thickness whose shape morphs smoothly from one layer to another.

A qualitative study of hospital clinical staff perceptions of their interactions with healthcare middle managers

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Kendrick ◽  
Kevin B. Kendrick ◽  
Nicholas F. Taylor ◽  
Sandra G. Leggat
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Middle Management ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Staff Perceptions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe authors explored clinical staff perceptions of their interactions with middle management and their experiences of the uncongeniality of their working environment.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews of clinical staff from an Australian public health service's Emergency, Surgery and Psychiatry departments. Volunteer interview transcripts were inductively coded using a reflexive thematic content analysis.FindingsOf 73 interviews, 66 participants discussed their interactions with management. Most clinicians considered their interactions with middle management to be negative based on a violation of their expectations of support in the workplace. Collectively, these interactions formed the basis of clinical staff perceptions of management's lack of capacity and fit for the needs of staff to perform their roles.Practical implicationsStrategies to improve management's fit with clinicians' needs may be beneficial for reducing uncongenial workplaces for healthcare staff and enhanced patient care.Originality/valueThis article is among the few papers that discuss interactions with management from the perspective of clinical staff in healthcare. How these perspectives inform the perception of workplace uncongeniality for clinicians contributes greater understanding of the factors contributing to adversarial relationships between clinicians and managers.

Successful strategy execution for public sector firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 26-28
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Strategy Execution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Sector Organizations ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Poor execution is the main reason for the failure of most strategies. Addressing nine critical components can enable public sector organizations to increase the rate of successful implementations and enhance overall performance as a result. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

A longitudinal study of the efficacy of lean learning experienced through a simulated working environment (SWE)

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 651-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl R. van der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
Experiential Learning ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Assembly Line ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Views ◽  
New Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the efficacy of lean learning as experienced and demonstrated by a group of students who were exposed to a purpose built simulated working environment (SWE). The study expands on previous research aimed at establishing the student views of the new type of training by including the perceptions of the industry mentors. Design/methodology/approach An SWE was developed to allow students to experience an assembly line environment and practice lean tools. The students’ perceptions of the learning process and the perceptions of their industry mentors were then measured to gauge the success of the programme. Findings Groups of students indicated that they believed their grasp of the basic lean concepts had been significantly enhanced through exposure to the SWE teaching exercises. The outcome of this initial study was endorsed by the findings of the second study that measured the perceptions of their industry mentors after a six-month experiential learning period. Research limitations/implications The research covered in this paper reflects only the findings of these two groups as they progressed from the SWE-type training to industry-based experiential learning. It is acknowledged that expanded research would be beneficial to not only verify initial findings but also to refine the lean learning experienced in the simulated work environment. Originality/value The paper describes a lean learning process that is more effective than current processes and could therefore be universally utilised to enhance the lean learning experience in higher education.

Long engagement

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Stock Options ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reading Time ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pertinent Information

Purpose The need to foster engagement in employees is often talked about in the C-suite of large organizations, but one wonders if anyone sate round board tables in expensive suits really gets what that means. For sure, they know what employee engagement entails – what it entails are higher levels of productivity from the same set of employees, a more profitable business, a safer working environment and a healthier workforce. What’s not to like? Employee engagement will therefore be a top priority for the suits, who will order someone to get right on it and meanwhile go back to studying the fluctuating value of their stock options. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds his/her own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings The need to foster engagement in employees is often talked about in the C-suite of large organizations, but one wonders if anyone sate round board tables in expensive suits really gets what that means. For sure, they know what employee engagement entails – what it entails are higher levels of productivity from the same set of employees, a more profitable business, a safer working environment and a healthier workforce. What’s not to like? Employee engagement will therefore be a top priority for the suits, who will order someone to get right on it and meanwhile go back to studying the fluctuating value of their stock options. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

An improvement model to optimise hospital interdisciplinary learning

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 550-558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A. McNamara ◽  
Paul Rafferty ◽  
Fidelma Fitzpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Junior Doctor ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Learning Collaborative ◽  
Learning Session ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interdisciplinary Learning ◽  
Interdisciplinary Healthcare ◽  
Delivery Style ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Interdisciplinary healthcare education and collaboration facilitates healthcare quality improvement (QI). Education challenges include cost, logistics and defining the optimum staff-engaging method. The purpose of this paper is to determine the optimum QI educational model and measure its impact using plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles. Design/methodology/approach – The authors established an on-site interdisciplinary QI learning collaborative: weekly 30-minute learning sessions close to the working environment; a learning materials Twitter repository; and junior doctor-led QI work streams aligned with surgical directorate quality goals supported by a mentorship network. Delivery style (lectures, workshops and QI project reporting) and learning session content was planned weekly using PDSA cycles and modified using participant feedback (score 0-10). All surgical directorate QI work streams were measured before and at nine months. Findings – From May 2014 to February 2015, there were 32 learning sessions with 266 scores (median 12 weekly, range 5-21). Workshop delivery scored the highest (mean score 9.0), followed by live project reports (mean score 8.8). The surgical QI work streams increased threefold from four to 12, including six junior doctor-led projects. Practical implications – By proactively acting upon feedback, the authors centralised QI measurement and tailored learning sessions to staff needs. Building sustainability involves continually refining learning curriculum and QI work streams, and expanding the mentorship network. Originality/value – The collaborative was established at no additional cost. Twitter is used to promote meetings, facilitate conversations and act as a learning repository. The mentorship framework builds QI and coaching expertise.

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