Novel Deperming Protocols to Reduce Demagnetizing Time and Improve the Performance for the Magnetic Silence of Warships

Magnetic silence of warships is necessary to prevent damage caused by the magnetic mines detecting the magnetic field of the warship. Anhysteretic and Deperm-ME protocols are used to reduce permanent magnetization among magnetic signals. However, they have some disadvantages. Therefore, this paper proposes an effective deperming protocol that is easily controlled and reduces the demagnetization time. A protocol composed of two Anhysteretic protocols is presented using the Preisach model to easily manage and ensure excellent performance. Each stage has its own advantages by considering the Preisach density distribution. In Stage 1, the existing magnetic history is erased, and the demagnetization time is reduced. In Stage 2, the demagnetization performance is improved. The effectiveness of the protocol was verified via simulations using the Preisach model and experiments using a specimen. When the proposed protocol was applied, the results were excellent when applying Anhysteretic and Deperm-ME. In addition, even if the number of magnetic fields was reduced by 4 and 8 in the proposed protocol, the demagnetization result was maintained. Therefore, if the proposed protocol is applied, excellent demagnetization results can be obtained and the time required to perform demagnetization can be reduced, thereby improving the operational capability of the warship.

Securing Operational Capability for Exceptional Circumstances: How Do Professional First Responders Respond to the Unexpected?

Complexity and uncertainty are framing the modern world, whilst also affecting issues on security and sustainability. There is a need to prepare for known threats and identified risks, but also to improve the ability to cope in situations that are difficult to recognize or describe beforehand. What is at stake—both at the organizational and individual level—is the ability to make sense of uncertain and ambiguous situations. Analyzing two empirical cases, this study aims to shed light on the abilities of experts, who have acted in very challenging situations, in which deviating from established procedures and abandoning politeness have been necessary to respond effectively. The first case deals with a threat of serious violence faced by a police officer. The second case focuses on the actions of an executive fire officer during a rescue operation after an explosion at a shopping mall. This paper concludes by arguing that pre-established procedures require experts to reflect on their usability in exceptional situations as relying on them could also have detrimental effects.

Factors associated with neck pain in fighter aircrew: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neck pain is a common complaint among fighter aircrew, impacting workforce health and operational capability. This systematic review aimed to identify, evaluate and synthesise the current evidence for factors associated with the occurrence of neck pain among fighter aircrew. Six electronic databases were searched in June 2019 and updated in June 2020 utilising the maximum date ranges. Included studies were appraised for methodological quality, ranked according to level of evidence and relevant data extracted. Where methods were homogeneous and data availability allowed, meta-analyses were performed. A total of 20 studies (16 cross sectional, one case–control, one retrospective cohort and two prospective cohort) were eligible for inclusion. Of the 44 factors investigated, consistent evidence was reported for greater occurrence of neck pain among aircrew operating more advanced aircraft and those exposed to more desk/computer work, while another 12 factors reported consistent evidence for no association. Of the 20 factors where meta-analyses could be performed, greater occurrence of neck pain was indicated for aircrew: flying more advanced aircraft, undertaking warm-up stretching and not placing their head against the seat under greater +Gz. Despite many studies investigating factors associated with neck pain among fighter aircrew, methodological limitations limited the ability to identify those factors that are most important to future preventive programmes. High-quality prospective studies with consistent use of definitions are required before we can implement efficient and effective programmes to reduce the prevalence and impact of neck pain in fighter aircrew. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019128952.Neck pain is a common complaint among fighter aircrew, impacting workforce health and operational capability. This systematic review aimed to identify, evaluate and synthesise the current evidence for factors associated with the occurrence of neck pain among fighter aircrew.

Determination of Rational Processing Modes Based on Electromagnetic Properties of Tool Materials

Currently, enterprises appoint cutting conditions according to reference data or on the recommendations of manufacturers. Often this information does not provide rational processing conditions. The situation is getting worse if we talk about modern automated metalworking equipment. The tool's premature failure involves high economic losses due to damage to the processed detail surface and according to receiving a manufacturing defect. Prevention of premature exit of metalworking tools will allow investigating changes of their operability under the effect of temperatures arising during cutting. Research subject: interchangeable cutter elements (plates) The goal of research: determine rational machining conditions based on electromagnetic properties of instrumental materials.The article analysed existing methods for determining the temperatures of the ultimate operational capability of cutting elements from tool hard alloys (THA). We analysed the existing test facilities. As a result, a new facility was developed to determine the temperature of the ultimate operational capability of cutting THA elements, eliminating existing devices' identified shortcomings. A description of the developed method of determining the temperature of ultimate operational capability by changing the electrical conductivity of cutting elements from instrumental two-carbide titanium-tungsten-cobalt hard alloys WC-TiC-Co is given. As a result of the work, electrical conductivity was studied depending on alloys' test temperature of group WC-TiC-Co. We determined the temperature conditions of ultimate operational capability of alloys 15%TIC+79%WC+6%CO, 5%TIC+75%WC+10%CO and obtained the corresponding temperature range of ultimate operational capability based on the obtained data. The obtained results can be used to determine rational cutting conditions when processing with these tool materials.

The effect of competency management on organizational performance through supply chain integration and quality

Synergy is built by manufacturing companies with suppliers and customers in the supply chain to improve organization performance. The research provides simultaneous testing of competency management, supply chain integration, supply chain quality, operational capability as a strategy to improve company performance. Collecting data for medium and large manufacturing companies in Indonesia are performed by sending a questionnaire link via email and WhatsApp. 625 respondents received the questionnaires and 152 respondents filled them with a response rate of 24.32%. Data analysis were performed using partial least squares to test the hypotheses and found that competency management had a direct impact on supply chain integration (0.598), supply chain quality (0.387) and operational capability (0.346). Supply chain integration affects increasing supply chain quality (0.428), operational capability (0.619) and organizational performance (0.255). Supply chain quality impacts increasing operational capability (0.260) and does not significantly affect organizational performance (0.018). The operational capability of a manufacturing company has an impact on improving organizational performance (0.584). Practical contribution is that managers who manage the supply chain must continue to enhance skills and knowledge and supply chain components in quality for increased performance.

Accelerating Digitalization – Ansatzpunkte zur Beschleunigung der Digitalisierung

ZusammenfassungWir entwickeln in diesem Kapitel Ansatzpunkte zur Beschleunigung der digitalen Transformation: Zunächst werden Wege aufgezeigt, wie die sechs in Kap. 10.1007/978-3-658-31456-9_5 unterschiedenen Archetypen digitaler Unter-nehmen die digitale Reife erhöhen können. Dabei gilt es, konsequent die Schwachstellen zu beseitigen, die die vier Teilindizes (Digital Activity Index, Digtal Business Index, Dynamic Capability Index und Operational Capability Index) aufdecken. Anschließend wird die Notwendigkeit begründet, die Digitalisierung angesichts des zunehmenden Wettbewerbs um optimale digitale Leistungen weiter zu beschleunigen. Dafür werden Ansatzpunkte aufgezeigt: Vernetzung und Skalierung von Leistungen über geeignete digitale Schlüssel – Accelerator of Digitalization (1), rechtzeitige Quantifizierung von Einspar- und Erlöspotenzialen der Digitalisierung – Accelerator of Digitalization (2), Umsetzung digitaler Fähigkeiten durch minimal lebensfähige Leistungen, d. h. durch organisationale Agilität, die in kapitalintensiven Branchen die Notwendigkeit der Fixkostendegression durch Erzielung von Größen- und Verbundvorteilen berücksichtigen muss (hybride Agilität – Accelerator of Digitalization (3) und Schutz vor ungewolltem Datenabfluss (Cyber Security – Accelerator of Digitalization (4).