scholarly journals Digitalizing the Paints and Coatings Development Process

Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomaž Kern ◽  
Eva Krhač ◽  
Marjan Senegačnik ◽  
Benjamin Urh
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Development Process ◽  
New Products ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Digital Tools ◽  
Throughput Time ◽  
Ecological Problems ◽  
Minimum Requirements ◽  
Potential Benefits

Numerous laboratory tests are used to determine the appropriateness of new formulations in the development process in the paint and coatings industry. New formulations are most often functionally inadequate, unacceptable for environmental or health reasons, or too expensive. Formulators are obliged to repeat laboratory tests until one of the formulations fulfills the minimum requirements. This is cumbersome, slow, and expensive, and can cause ecological problems, wasting materials on tests that do not produce the desired results. The purpose of this research was to find out if there might be a better way forward to increase efficiency and free up formulators to focus on new products. In this experiment, a new paints and coatings development process was redesigned based on the potential benefits of formulation digitalization. Instead of laboratory testing, a digital platform was used that has been developed and stocked with relevant, up-to-date, and complete, usable data. This study found that, by going digital, developers could vastly reduce non-value-added activities in the development process (by as much as 70%) and significantly shorten the entire process throughput time (by up to 48%). Using digital tools to facilitate the development process appears to be a possible way forward for the paint and coatings industry, saving time, materials, and money and protecting the environment.

Measuring Benefits of Rural and Small Urban Transit in Greater Minnesota

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812199001
Author(s):  
Jeremy Mattson ◽  
Del Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Labor Income ◽  
Urban Transit ◽  
Societal Benefits ◽  
Transit Services ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Benefit Cost

The objective of this research was to measure the benefits of rural and small urban transit services in Minnesota. The study accomplished this by first identifying, describing, and classifying the potential benefits of transit. Second, a method was developed to measure these benefits. Where possible, benefits were quantified in dollar values. Other benefits that could not be quantified in monetary terms were either quantified in another way or described qualitatively. The study included an analysis of societal benefits and economic impacts within local communities. Third, the developed method was applied to a series of six case studies across Greater Minnesota. Data were collected through onboard rider surveys for each of the six transit agencies. Total benefits and benefit-cost ratios were estimated for the six transit agencies—all showed benefits that exceeded costs—and results were generalized to Greater Minnesota. Economic impacts were also estimated showing the effect on jobs, labor income, and value added. This research provides information to assess the benefits of public spending on transit, which gives decision makers the data needed to inform investment decisions.

Aligning the flow cytometric evaluation with the diagnostic need: an evidence-based approach

2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 740-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Williams-Voorbeijtel ◽  
Francisco Sanchez ◽  
Christine G Roth
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Care ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Just In Time ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Flow Cytometric ◽  
A Value ◽  
Screening Approach ◽  
Minimum Requirements

AimsElimination of non-value added testing without compromising high-quality clinical care is an important mandate for laboratories in a value-based reimbursement system. The goal of this study was to determine the optimal combination of flow cytometric markers for a screening approach that balances efficiency and accuracy.MethodsAn audit over 9 months of flow cytometric testing was performed, including rereview of all dot plots from positive cases.ResultsOf the 807 cases in which leukaemia/lymphoma testing was performed, 23 were non-diagnostic and 189 represented bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. Of the remaining 595 cases, 137 (23%) were positive for an abnormal haematolymphoid population. Review of the positive cases identified minimum requirements for a screening tube as well as analysis strategies to overcome the diagnostic pitfalls noted. It is estimated that 38% fewer antibodies would be used in a screening approach, representing an opportunity for significant cost savings.ConclusionsWe provide a framework for developing an evidence-based screening combination for cost-effective characterisation of haematolymphoid malignancies, promoting adoption of ‘just-in-time’ testing systems that tailor the evaluation to the diagnostic need.

scholarly journals LABORATORY TESTING OF LEICA AT401 LASER TRACKER

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filip Dvořáček
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Angle Measurement ◽  
Distance Measurement ◽  
Additive Constant ◽  
Laser Tracker ◽  
Simple Test ◽  
Absolute Distance ◽  
Warm Up ◽  
The Stability

<p>This paper describes laboratory tests on a Leica AT401laser tracker. As the newer Leica AT402 model also uses the same firmware package, most of the results should also be valid for this device. First, we present the instrument’s firmware errors and the software used for testing. The ASME B89.4.19-2006 standard for testing laser trackers is briefly presented. The warm-up effect of the instrument is inspected with respect to both angle measurement and distance measurement. The absolute distance meter (ADM) is compared with a laboratory interferometer on a 30-meter long rail and also on a bench with automated movement of the carriage of the reflector. A time series of measurements for determining the additive constant is evaluated. A simple test of the stability of the distance measurement in field conditions is introduced. Most of the tests were carried out at the Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography (RIGTC) and at the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FCE) of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU).</p>

scholarly journals NECESSITY OF MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR SERVICES IN PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Līga Brūniņa ◽  
Elīna Konstantinova ◽  
Aija Peršēvica
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
National Level ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Integrate Assessment ◽  
Reporting Systems ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Eu

The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 determines that “Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, will map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory by 2014, assess the economic value of such services, and promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020”. Mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provides several benefits, one of which is baseline data providing to measure net future gains or losses and data integration into spatial development process. The aim of the paper is to present and discuss the approach taken to assessing ecosystem services in order to introduce necessity of mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services for planning and decision-making process in Latvia. The paper will focus on terminology interpretation of ecosystem services, introducing with set of developed indicators for assessment of ecosystem services and define appropriate for Latvia. The paper closes with estimation of potential benefits and necessity to integrate assessment of ecosystems services in spatial planning and decision-making process.

scholarly journals Efficiency over thoroughness in laboratory testing decision-making in primary care: findings from a realist review

BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. bjgpopen20X101146
Author(s):  
Claire Duddy ◽  
Geoff Wong
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Realist Review ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Important Means ◽  
Test Ordering

Background: Existing research demonstrates significant variation in test-ordering practice, and growth in the use of laboratory tests in primary care. Reviews of interventions designed to change test-ordering practice report heterogeneity in design and effectiveness. Improving understanding of clinicians’ decision making in relation to laboratory testing is an important means of understanding practice patterns and developing theory-informed interventions. Aim: To develop explanations for the underlying causes of patterns of variation and increasing use of laboratory tests in primary care and make recommendations for future research and intervention design. Design and setting: Realist review of secondary data from primary care. Method: Diverse evidence including data from qualitative and quantitative studies was gathered via systematic and iterative searching processes. Data was synthesised according to realist principles to develop explanations accounting for clinicians’ decision-making in relation to laboratory tests. Results: 145 documents contributed data to the synthesis. Laboratory test ordering can fulfil many roles in primary care. Decisions about tests are incorporated into practice heuristics and tests are deployed as a tool to manage patient interactions. Ordering tests may be easier than not ordering tests in existing systems. Alongside high workloads and limited time to devote to decision-making, there is a common perception that laboratory tests are relatively inconsequential interventions. Clinicians prioritise efficiency over thoroughness in decision-making about laboratory tests. Conclusions: Interventions to change test-ordering practice can be understood as aiming to preserve efficiency or encourage thoroughness in decision-making. Intervention designs and evaluations should consider how testing decisions are made in real-world clinical practice.

scholarly journals Chemical industry and value-added trade – A comparative study on Hungary and Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawel Folfas ◽  
Beáta Udvari
Keyword(s):  
Economic Policy ◽  
World Economy ◽  
New Products ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Production Networks ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Global Production Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
Chemical Products

Nowadays, global production networks (GPN) and global value chains (GVC) play an important role in the world economy intensifying the trade and production networks and resulting in products having value-added in different countries. The analysis of how many intermediate products a country imports in order to produce a product and of how many products a country exports to another country in order to produce new products draws the attention to value-added trade. In the present study, we compare the Hungarian and Polish value-added trade of chemicals and chemical products. We use the OECD-WTO data of value-added trade, which is based on an input-output table. By calculating numerous indices, we reveal that the domestic value-added of chemicals and chemical products in the two countries was relatively low and should be increased by adequate economic policy.

scholarly journals Alopecia and Iron Deficiency: An Interventional Pilot Study in Primary Care to Improve the Request of Ferritin

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Maria Salinas ◽  
Maria Leiva-Salinas ◽  
Emilio Flores ◽  
Maite López-Garrigós ◽  
Carlos Leiva-Salinas
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practitioner ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Care Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Studies

Background. The aim was to study the demographic and laboratory pattern of primary care patients with alopecia undergoing laboratory testing, more specifically, the request of hemoglobin and ferritin and values showing anemia and iron deficiency, and to evaluate the effects of an intervention involving automatic ferritin registration and measurement when not requested. Methods. Retrospective and prospective observational cross-sectional studies were conducted, as well as an intervention to automatically register and measure ferritin when not requested by the general practitioner. Results. There were 343 and 1032 primary care laboratory requests prompted by alopecia in the retrospective and prospective studies. Hemoglobin was requested in almost every patient and ferritin in 88%. 5% of the cohort had anemia, and 25% had iron deficiency. The intervention registered and measured that 123 ferritin and 24 iron deficiencies were detected in patients with alopecia, all women, at a cost of 10.6€. Conclusion. Primary care patients with alopecia and laboratory tests request were mainly young female. Our intervention added ferritin when not requested, detecting iron deficiency in 27.9% of women, potentially avoiding the adverse effects of iron deficiency on hair loss.

CSFs for Pre-Development Implementation of New Product Development in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

2011 ◽  
Vol 338 ◽  
pp. 171-176
Author(s):  
Noor Hidayah Abu ◽  
Baba M. Deros ◽  
Dzuraidah Abdul Wahab ◽  
Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Development Process ◽  
New Products ◽  
New Product ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
The Past ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Systematic Identification

Success in the pre-development process is important for every organization in order to compete with competitors. In order to survive, organizations need to introduce new products in the marketplace drastically. In view of that, understanding critical success factors (CSFs) that contribute to successfully implementing pre-development is becoming more important. However, most of the past studies were conducted in large organizations; very little has been done in small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs). SMEs have certain limitations in terms of their financial, human, and technical resources that could hinder their progress towards implementing the pre-development. This paper reviews and analyses CSFs developed by previous authors in order to propose a set of CSFs, which were thought to be critical for SMEs. Besides, pre-testing with pre-development experts and SMEs practitioners, the questionnaire was also validated through a pilot study with fifty five SMEs. The questionnaire was designed comprising three compulsory activities of pre-development and CSFs for successful pre-development implementation. The final form of the questionnaire consists of twenty five items of pre-development activities within four constructs, and thirty six items of CSFs within nine constructs. Through systematic identification and validation, it is hoped that the set of CSFs could be used as guides for SMEs to implement the pre-development process successfully.

Beyond Target Costing: Manufacturing Cost Policy Deployment for New Products

2015 ◽  
Vol 809-810 ◽  
pp. 1480-1485
Author(s):  
Alin Posteucă ◽  
Miron Zapciu
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Product Life Cycle ◽  
New Products ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Feasibility Studies ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Target Cost ◽  
Future Production ◽  
Customer Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to present a method to quantify the costs of potential losses from production processes for new products to prioritize improvement projects based on the target cost and provide data and information for feasibility studies of continuous improvement projects. The specificity of the manufacturing cost policy deployment for new products is to identify the percentage of cost of future production phases which does not add value from a customer perspective, dynamically throughout the product life cycle. The percentage of non-value added cost is based on loss of each manufacturing process and is determined scientifically based on data and facts. Using the proposed method helps manufacturing companies in the acceptance of certain orders which at first glance are unprofitable. Moreover, the proposed method will help develop scenarios for continuous cost reduction after starting production through continuous improvement of productivity and quality required. The empirical results are based on the study during a year and a half in the automotive company, using action research methodology.

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