Robust Assembly Assistance Using Informed Tree Search with Markov Chains

Manual work accounts for one of the largest workgroups in the European manufacturing sector, and improving the training capacity, quality, and speed brings significant competitive benefits to companies. In this context, this paper presents an informed tree search on top of a Markov chain that suggests possible next assembly steps as a key component of an innovative assembly training station for manual operations. The goal of the next step suggestions is to provide support to inexperienced workers or to assist experienced workers by providing choices for the next assembly step in an automated manner without the involvement of a human trainer on site. Data stemming from 179 experiment participants, 111 factory workers, and 68 students, were used to evaluate different prediction methods. From our analysis, Markov chains fail in new scenarios and, therefore, by using an informed tree search to predict the possible next assembly step in such situations, the prediction capability of the hybrid algorithm increases significantly while providing robust solutions to unseen scenarios. The proposed method proved to be the most efficient for next assembly step prediction among all the evaluated predictors and, thus, the most suitable method for an adaptive assembly support system such as for manual operations in industry.

Analysing Factory Workers’ Acceptance of Collaborative Robots: A Web-Based Tool for Company Representatives

Collaborative robots are a new type of lightweight robots that are especially suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. They offer new interaction opportunities and thereby pose new challenges with regard to technology acceptance. Despite acknowledging the importance of acceptance issues, small and medium-sized enterprises often lack coherent strategies to identify barriers and foster acceptance. Therefore, in this article, we present a collection of crucial acceptance factors with regard to collaborative robot use at the industrial workplace. Based on these factors, we present a web-based tool to estimate employee acceptance, to provide company representatives with practical recommendations and to stimulate reflection on acceptance issues. An evaluation with three German small and medium-sized enterprises reveals that the tool’s concept meets the demands of small and medium-sized enterprises and is perceived as beneficial as it raises awareness and deepens knowledge on this topic. In order to realise economic potentials, further low-threshold usable tools are needed to transfer research findings into the daily practice of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Genotype TNF-α(-308) and Silicosis on Factory Workers in Vietnam in 2020

The studFigy aims to determine the TNF-α single-nucleotide polymorphism TNF-α (-308) andassess the association of TNF-a(-308) SNP with the risk of silicosis among workers directly exposed tosilica dust in Vietnam. A study was undertaken among 78 cases with silicosis and 103 controls withoutsilicosis in Vietnam. Blood samples were collected for genomic DNA extraction from each subject. Thephenotyping of TNF-α(-308) was performed using polymerase chain reaction‐based restriction fragmentlength polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) and dye termination sequencing. Results: The average exposure timeof the case group was slightly higher than that of the control group (12.46 ± 6.732 years vs. 12.09 ± 7.854years). The majority of genotypes in both silicosis and non-silicosis was GG. When analyzing theconcentration of TNF-α in the study participants' blood, it is shown that the average concentration of TNF-α in the case group was higher than that in the control group. The genotype AG in the case group was1.368 times higher than that in the control group. The percentage of all A alleles in the case group withsilicosis was 1.342 times higher than the control group without the disease, similar to previous studies.Conclusion: The majority of genotypes in both groups was GG. The average concentration of TNF-α inblood, genotype AG, and the percentage of all A alleles in the case group was higher than that in thecontrol group.

PEMBERDAYAAN IBU-IBU DESA SRIMULYO MELALUI PENDAMPINGAN PEMBUATAN TING-TING JAHE ASRI GUNA MENINGKATKAN PEREKONOMIAN KELUARGA

ABSTRAKCovid-19 menyebabkan banyak buruh pabrik desa Srimulyo di-PHK. Kondisi ini mengakibatkan perekonomian keluarga mengalami penurunan. Hasil pengamatan awal menunjukkan hampir semua halaman rumah warga ditanami jahe. Kurangnya pengetahuan warga menyebabkan jahe hanya digunakan sebagai minuman dan bumbu dapur. Jahe belum diolah dengan berbagai macam olahan lain. Pengabdian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan perekonomian keluarga Desa Srimulyo melalui pendampingan pembuatan ting-ting jahe ASRI. Metode yang ditawarkan dalam pengabdian antara lain pendampingan pembuatan ting-ting jahe berupa pelatihan serta pengemasan dan pelabelan. Hasil pengabdian menunjukkan pengetahuan ibu-ibu Desa Srimulyo bertambah dalam pembuatan ting-ting jahe dan hasil penjualan ting-ting jahe dapat meningkatkan perekonomian keluarga. Diharapkan kegiatan pengabdian dapat dilanjutkan dengan pemasaran ting-ting jahe ASRI secara online. Kata kunci: pemberdayaan; ting-ting jahe; perekonomian. ABSTRACTCovid-19 has caused many factory workers in Srimulyo village to be laid off. This condition causes the family economy to decline. Initial observations show that almost all of the residents' yards are planted with ginger. Lack of knowledge of residents causes ginger is only used as a drink and a kitchen spice. Ginger has not been processed with various other preparations. This service aims to improve the economy of the Srimulyo Village family through assistance in making ASRI ginger ting-ting. The methods offered in the service include assistance in making ginger ting-ting in the form of training as well as packaging and labeling. The results of the service show that the knowledge of the Srimulyo Village women increases in making ginger ting-ting and the sales of ginger ting-ting can improve the family economy. It is hoped that service activities can be continued with online marketing of ASRI ginger. Keywords: empowerment; ting-ting ginger; economy.

Analysis of Occupational Hazard Factors and Control Measures at a Shoe Factory

Shoe factory workers are exposed to many kinds of occupational hazard factors, including organic solvents, dust and noise. In order to prevent and control occupational diseases and protect the health of workers, the situation of occupational harmful factors in production site of shoe factory was investigated. The concentrations of toxic substances in air were measured. The results showed that benzene, toluene, ethylene dichloride and noise exceeded the standards by 13.0%, 8.7%, 26.1% and 8.7%, respectively. The effect of occupational hazards management and control is poor, and the qualified rate of monitoring in workplaces is low. The employers should strengthen the management and control of benzene series, dust and noise in the workplace to reduce the health hazards to workers.