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Students frequently believe that mathematics is a challenging subject to learn. The learners must have the necessary skills to study the material quickly as a result. The idea that learners can select various methods for completing particular tasks is implied frequently by the term "strategic learning skills". This strategy can help students develop their critical-thinking and artistic abilities in the classroom. The investigation aims to determine the level of strategic learning skills of students that affect their level of metacognitive skills in Mathematics. The study used the survey-correlational method of research in gathering data. The participants of this study were the 158 BS in Industrial Technology second-year students, officially enrolled in Capiz State University - Main Campus randomly selected using stratified sampling. Data were gathered using a 50-item researcher-made Strategic Learning Skills Questionnaire and a 35-item standardized Metacognitive Skills Questionnaire. Frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson r were used as statistical tools. Inferential tests were at the alpha level of significance set at 0.05. Findings revealed that the level of strategic learning skills of the second-year learners of the BS in Industrial Technology was "high". In consonance, the level of their metacognitive skills in Mathematics was "evident". These led to the conclusion that there were no appreciable differences in the metacognitive abilities among the strategic learning skill levels of the second-year BS in Industrial Technology learners. There was no connection between the second-year students of BS in Industrial Technology's strategic learning and metacognitive skills in Mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robots bring eventful impacts to the workplace, benefiting from the advantages of implementing any technology should be based on the premise of safety. This work proposes a systematic method to establish a postprocessor module for any specified 6R articulated robot. Instead of obsessively emphasizing achieving the desired locations and orientations by hand guiding grab and dragging a robotic arm for operation in teaching mode, the significant end-effector poses are calculated to form a new path for the joints efficiently in this study. Since robotic motion control is usually a complex system whose users must be well trained and acquainted with using them. There is a need for a GUI solution that can provide intuitive robotic motion control on the current location by the user independently, easy setup, arrangement, adjustment, and monitoring robot motion tasks. The proposed system simplifies the interaction between the technician and the industrial robotic arm in the case of robotic motion control and tracking at a distant location. The presented method is fully adapted to alternate between joint angles and end-effector poses on a graphic user interface system. After developing the capabilities of the solver, a functional postprocessor is programmed inside the proposed GUI system. Examples with specified posture and predefined movements are demonstrated for corroborating the algorithm. The results show considerable efficiency and reliability in task planning and are fully supported for automatic path generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The COVID‐19 pandemic generated impacts on all segments of society, including the food industry, which had to adapt to the reality of greater demand and increased costs. During the pandemic period, the new Brazilian legislation on microbiological food standards came into force, demanding documentary evidence of the adequacy of production processes and food safety. Every day, the need for international cooperation, local actions and agile working methods becomes more evident. The objective of this work was to engage professionals remotely to verify a new egg handling process in a food industry, where powdered eggs were replaced by the in natura form during the pandemic. A process description was developed with a flowchart and microbiological sampling plan to verify the process, using the design thinking method, conducted by videoconference by professionals from four microbiology laboratories together with professors, researchers and industry technicians. The analysis results proved the microbiological adequacy of the egg handling process. The method of remote decision‐making by design thinking and the engagement of different laboratories and professionals intends to subsidise other food and food service industries, making it possible to structure the monitoring and verification of food processes, in an agile and economical way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We conducted an exploratory study to test the delivery of technical instructions built on the principles of minimalism. The aim was to investigate how we could support target users’ skill levels in a context-sensitive manner. Literature review: Related work examines minimalism, user needs and profiling, and industrial maintenance and technician experience. Research questions: 1. How can the semantic structure of DITA XML be utilized in delivering technical information to users based on their skill levels? 2. How would a layered system of information support the principles of minimalism? Methodology: We created material and tested the concept in user studies with maintenance personnel in three countries. We collected feedback through participant observation, interviews, and questionnaires. Results and discussion: The minimalist approach of delivering information to maintenance technicians was well received and supported users with varying skill levels. Conclusion: The context-sensitive level of expertise concept empowers users to decide on the depth of technical information that they require to complete the task at hand. The semantic structure of DITA XML works well in the delivery of technical information to the users based on their skill levels. Many of the key principles of minimalism are applicable to hardware maintenance instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the new economy, with shrinking organizational supports and increased precarity for professional workers, networking has intensified as an entrepreneurial career management strategy. Networking is embedded in the logic of new work organizations, but less attention has been paid to its impact on gender inequality. Through fifty interviews with workers from one tech company and nine months of observations, I ask: (1) In the new economy, with intense networking demands, how does gender structure the networking strategies of workers? And (2) How does the organization of networking contribute to gender inequality? I find that individuals draw on masculinity and femininity as they network in ways that reproduce gender status hierarchies. The structure and culture of networking disproportionately limit the careers of women compared to men by shaping their (1) networking approaches; (2) attitudes about networking; and (3) resources gained from networking. Men network by strategically socializing, confidently building informal relationships with other men through masculine activities and leveraging these relationships for key resources. Women cannot similarly access informal relationships, and so they engage in strategic networking, attending formal networking events that are less effective in providing career resources. Women embodying an elite, white femininity locate personal support in the company-sponsored women's network. However, this group reinforces organizational boundaries by gender and race. This article advances sociological literature on inequality in the new economy, drawing on gender theory to demonstrate how in elite, male-dominated industries like technology, networking contributes to the maintenance of gender inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to reinstate the significance of microcomputer cloning in the history of computing, seeing it as a vernacular technical practice that is outside of the institutional domain yet entangled with it. While exploring the practices of Apple II cloning at the Cheonggyecheon electronics market, and its contribution to promoting the computer industry in South Korea during the early 1980s, the study examines how the vernacular technical practices of cloning moved beyond the imitative/innovative boundary. It has two parts. First, the cloning of Apple II computers is traced with a focus on cottage industry technicians at the electronics market and their East Asian translocal connections. Second, the entanglements of the vernacular with the institutional are analyzed in relation to how clones were sometimes superior to the original while retaining compatibility with it, which in turn made large firms rely on such vernacular practices. Arguing that the boundaries of copy/original, imitative/innovative, or vernacular/institutional were permeable, this study concludes that vernacular technical practices of cloning, although outside formal institutions and official histories, constitute a critical part of the computer industry and the history of computing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biography of Professor Jean-François Sacadura, a dedicated figure in thermal science and engineering for sixty years, is presented. He was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1941 and pursued his Mechanical Engineering degree at the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA) Lyon, subsequently embarking on a prolific academic career. His contributions to radiative transfer, pioneering research in thermal properties, and influential books on heat transfer and thermophysics are discussed.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a widely adopted technique for characterizing the chemical composition in many physical and chemical analyses. However, FTIR spectra are subject to multiple sources of uncertainty, and thus the analysis of them relies on domain experts and can only lead to qualitative conclusions. This study aims to analyze the effect of a certain treatment on FTIR spectra subject to two commonly observed uncertainties, the offset shift and the multiplicative error. Due to these uncertainties, the pre-exposure FTIR spectra are modeled according to the physical understanding of the uncertainty—observed spectra can be viewed as translating and stretchering an underlying template signal, and the post-exposure FTIR spectra are modeled as the translated and stretchered template signal plus an extra functional treatment effect. To provide engineering interpretation, the treatment effect is modeled as the product of the pattern of modification and its corresponding magnitude. A two-step parameter estimation algorithm is developed to estimate the underlying template signal, the pattern of modification, and the magnitude of modification at various treatment strengths. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated in a simulation study. Furtherly, in a real case study, the proposed method is used to investigate the effect of plasma exposure on the FTIR spectra. As a result, the proposed method effectively identifies the pattern of modification under uncertainties in the manufacturing environment, which matches the knowledge of the affected chemical components by the plasma treatment. And the recovered magnitude of modification provides guidance in selecting the control parameter of the plasma treatment. Note to Practitioners—FTIR spectrometer is often used to characterize the surface chemical composition of a material. Due to the large uncertainties associated with the nature of spectrometer and the measurement environment, the FTIR signals are usually examined visually by experienced engineers and technicians in industrial applications, which can be both time-consuming and inaccurate. To understand the effect of plasma exposure on the surface property of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material, the elimination of uncertainties associated with FTIR signals is investigated, and a systematic method is proposed to quantify the effect of surface treatments on FTIR signals. A two-step analytic procedure is proposed, which provides information on how the plasma exposure distorts the FTIR signals, and how the plasma distance relates to the magnitude of the distortion. The methodology in this article can be used to analyze the treatment effect on a variety of spectroscopic measurements that are subject to uncertainties such as offset and scaling errors, which expands the applications of in situ handheld spectrometer metrology in manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional certification is required for aircraft maintenance technicians in order to undertake sophisticated maintenance tasks that need a wide set of skills and competencies. Due to the increasing demand for workforce preparedness for Industrial Revolution 4.0, numerous publications stress only a subset of aircraft maintenance skills criteria in their skills assessment curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to review previous research publications on skill and competency evaluation in the aircraft maintenance industry in order to develop a comprehensive set of skill and competency assessment criteria through a systematic review of the literature. It applies the PRISMA approach in selecting and evaluating the included articles. The papers were retrieved from five journal databases using a set of Boolean search terms related. The filtered fifteen articles are systematically reviewed for talent evaluation criteria applicable to the aircraft maintenance work scope in order to deal with the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). Certain articles concentrate on a subset of assessment criteria for enhancing and tracking critical skills assessment criteria for the aircraft maintenance workforce, rather than on IR4.0 skill standards specifically. This paper summarizes seven skill criteria gathered in order to develop a comprehensive skill assessment framework for aircraft maintenance workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planning ideas and practices were established and spread quickly in different situations in post-war Europe. No matter the definition of this obscure and manifold concept, the utopia of rationality inherent in the planning was founded on the conviction that the economy could be anticipated and guided according to collective interest and economic development. The cold war, therefore, was a time of a broad affirmation of planning which, disseminated internationally by a class of experts and technicians, was the key instrument agreed on, both scientifically and politically, to promote growth in backward areas and underdeveloped countries. The Italian case, having been thoroughly studied and discussed at a domestic level but not always sufficiently appraised in international studies, may be able to contribute a useful element to the overall picture, precisely due to the key role played by this country, and southern Europe, in the Atlantic and Mediterranean balances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Which blind spots shape scholarship in International Political Economy (IPE)? That question animates the contributions to a double special issue—one in the Review of International Political Economy, and a companion one in New Political Economy. The global financial crisis had seemed to vindicate broad-ranging IPE perspectives at the expense of narrow economics theories. Yet the tumultuous decade since then has confronted IPE scholars with rapidly-shifting global dynamics, many of which had remained underappreciated. We use the Blind Spots moniker in an attempt to push the topics covered here higher up the scholarly agenda—issues that range from institutionalized racism and misogyny to the rise of big tech, intensifying corporate power, expertise-dynamics in global governance, assetization, and climate change. Gendered and racial inequalities as blind spots have a particular charge. There has been a self-reinforcing correspondence between topics that have counted as important, people to whom they matter personally, and the latter's ability to build careers on them. In that sense, our mission is not only to highlight collective blind spots that may dull IPE's capacity to theorize the current moment. It is also a normative one—a form of disciplinary housekeeping to help correct both intellectual and professional entrenched biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurotechnology is set to expand rapidly in the coming years as technological innovations in hardware and software are translated to the clinical setting. Given our unique access to patients with neurologic disorders, expertise with which to guide appropriate treatments, and technical skills to implant brain–machine interfaces (BMIs), neurosurgeons have a key role to play in the progress of this field. We outline the current state and key challenges in this rapidly advancing field, including implant technology, implant recipients, implantation methodology, implant function, and ethical, regulatory, and economic considerations. Our key message is to encourage the neurosurgical community to proactively engage in collaborating with other health care professionals, engineers, scientists, ethicists, and regulators in tackling these issues. By doing so, we will equip ourselves with the skills and expertise to drive the field forward and avoid being mere technicians in an industry driven by those around us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dye pollutants from textile industries are a major wastewater problem because they have complex chemical structures. Photocatalysis is a promising wastewater treatment method, which is used to remove dyes under light irradiation in the presence of a photocatalyst. In this article, titanium dioxide (TiO 2) photocatalyst was synthesized through sol-gel technique and coated on different substrates (i.e. transparent glass, glazed ceramic tile, and stainless steel) by doctor blade technique. The coated substrates were used in an innovative reactor to remove colors in dye wastewater. The photocatalytic activities of the designed reactor were determined using a synthetic dye wastewater (methylene blue) under UV irradiations (36W-UVA or 30W-UVC lamps). The results showed that the optimum substrate yielded the highest color removal efficiency (93.03 ± 0.66%) was TiO 2 -coated glass under UVC irradiation. The recycling ability of TiO 2 -coated glass sheet was also evaluated. It was found that TiO 2 -coated glass sheet provided the same efficiencies for 20 cycles. In addition, the actual wastewater from textile industry was tested in this study with different pH values (i.e. pH = 3–11). The maximum color removal obtained was 87.86 ± 0.23% at pH value 11 on TiO 2 -coated glass under UVC irradiation. The color removal was found to decrease with decreasing pH. Highlights • A clean process to treat dye wastewater is introduced and demonstrated. • Photocatalytic reactors made of TiO 2 coated substrates are developed. • TiO 2 particles with new morphology (squeezed spheres) are synthesized and coated. • The highest color removal efficiency of 93% was achieved in 1 h. • Catalysts can be recycled for twenty cycles with high color removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Multistep methodological selection of emerging CO 2 utilization products. • The potential and performances of selected CO 2 -based products through Engineering-Economic-Environmental analysis. • Ranking of the selected CO 2 -based compounds for short- to mid-term deployment. Abstract In order to reduce CO 2 emissions, the main driver of global warming, Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture Utilization (CCU) have become subject to much study. CCU covers a large number of processes and chemical reactions that use CO 2 as an alternative carbon feedstock. CO 2 can arise from a wide range of sources, including industrial ones, such as power, cement, steel and chemicals industries. The diversity of CO 2 conversion routes is usually classified under three main categories: chemical CO 2 conversion, mineralization, and biological processes, following routes such as thermochemical, electrochemical and photocatalytic conversion. As a multitude of pathways exist, both in terms of the chemical reactions involved and the processes used, and these pathways have different levels of maturity and performance, a key challenge is to identify those that are the most advanced, mainly in terms of technology availability for the short- to mid-term deployment in industries. An original multistep method is proposed to first reduce the panel of CO 2 conversion alternatives, and then to select the best emerging options to be implemented short- to mid-term via a multi-criteria assessment, which includes technical, economic, energetic, environmental and market considerations. An original double-weighted matrix is developed, comprising nine indicators grouped into the 3E performance criteria (Engineering-Economic-Environmental). The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is used to determine two sets of weights by using pairwise comparison judgments. Finally, both qualitative uncertainty assessment and sensitivity analysis are performed to enhance the robustness of the results and limit the interpretation of biases. A ranking of the emerging CO 2 utilization products for short- to mid-term deployment is then discussed. The routes that appear to be viable, with a high level of maturity, and suitable for near-term implementation, involve the production of compounds that have a low unit price, but significant market volume, including methanol, methane, calcium carbonates, microalgae, sodium carbonates, urea, syngas and ethanol, and compounds that have a high unit price but low market volume, such as dimethyl carbonates, polycarbonates, formic acid and salicylic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Contemporary management and strategy mean optimization of ingredient factors such as human factors, systems, operations and equipment. With system approach in management and strategy, human risk factor as input has considerable potential to change results as airworthiness in aviation management. The managers of aviation business also optimize their functions to act safe while making contribution to development in triple of sustainability as economic development and its sustainability; social development and its sustainability; and environmental development and its sustainability. Corporate sustainability can be accomplished via supporting workforce which is the human risk factor. To support (empowerment) workforce, researchers should identify human risk or error factors which are important to this research. The purpose of this study is to suggest holistic framework for working environment system of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) within two respects such as human performance (ergonomics) and corporate performance (sustainability). The secondary purpose of this system is to develop human risk taxonomy by determining the factors affecting both human and work by taking ergonomic aspects in aviation.Design/methodology/approach In this study, a taxonomy of human risk factors for AMTs is developed. These human factors divided into groups and subfactors are obtained from an extensive literature review and experts’ opinions in the field of human performance in aviation. Taxonomy developed will be useful to both sharing and using corporate sources in sustainable way.Findings Human risk factors can be considered or accepted as factors that cause human error. This may result in the optimum way to managing human risk factor via minimizing human-based error. Personality, hazardous attitudes, individual characteristics, physical/psychological condition of AMTs and corporate social responsibility factors are human-related risk variables in this study. The risks and error can be reduced by recognizing these factors and revealing their relation to ergonomic design.Originality/value The results of this study are intended to constitute a guide for managers to manage risk factors and to take corrective and preventive actions for their maintenance operations. It is believed that this study is highly important for the aviation sector in terms of raising awareness or providing awareness for similar practices. As taxonomy of the risk factors contributes to the managing human error, corrective actions related to these factors must be taken by managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When changes are performed on an automated production system (aPS), new faults can be accidentally introduced into the system, which are called regressions. A common method for finding these faults is regression testing. In most cases, this regression testing process is performed under high time pressure and onsite in a very uncomfortable environment. Until now, there has been no automated support for finding and prioritizing system test cases regarding the fully integrated aPS that are suitable for finding regressions. Thus, the testing technician has to rely on personal intuition and experience, possibly choosing an inappropriate order of test cases, finding regressions at a very late stage of the test run. Using a suitable prioritization, this iterative process of finding and fixing regressions can be streamlined and a lot of time can be saved by executing test cases likely to identify new regressions earlier. Thus, an approach is presented in this paper that uses previously acquired runtime data from past test executions and performs a change identification and impact analysis to prioritize test cases that have a high probability to unveil regressions caused by side effects of a system change. The approach was developed in cooperation with reputable industrial partners active in the field of aPS engineering, ensuring a development in line with industrial requirements. An industrial case study and an expert evaluation were performed, showing promising results. Note to Practitioners—Currently, prioritizing relevant system tests to be executed in case of changes to an automated production system (aPS) is very challenging and depends largely on the intuition and experience of the testing technician. As system tests involve manual operations, testing requires substantial effort. In addition, testing is mostly performed under severe time pressure and in an uncomfortable environment such as onsite at the customer’s premises. In this paper, an approach is presented that supports the testing technician in finding and prioritizing available test cases based on previous test executions and change analysis. For practitioners, this approach could streamline regression testing and increase the code quality of aPSs significantly, in particular, for fully integrated aPSs, which have not been the focus of other research so far. As the approach was developed in line with industrial requirements, relevance, and adaptability for industrial use are ensured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aircraft maintenance is one of the primary causes or contributing factors in aircraft accidents. It is clear that proper training of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) will avoid failures, reduce maintenance related accidents, improve safety and reliability in aviation and provide recovery of the increasing demand to qualified AMTs for sustainability of the market growth. In this study, European Safety Agency (EASA) based AMT licencing system in EU states (and non-EU states implementing EASA rules) has been analysed and a training model developed in accordance with EASA Part-66 requirements and delivered by e-learning methods has been introduced. The analysis of the licensing process based on EASA regulations showed that this process was based on the candidate's demonstration of knowledge and acquisition of experience. The required experience depends on the training background of the candidate. Field exercise showed that developed e-learning training model, which overcomes the disadvantages of traditional face to face training models, succeeded to improve the attendees' theoretical knowledge level and when combined with the practical trainings given to AMT candidates in maintenance organisations during their experience periods, will be very successful in improving safety and reliability in aviation maintenance operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the archaeological transitions among microblade industries in Hokkaido and to propose some possible relations between human activities and natural environment. Hokkaido is situated in the north of the Japanese archipelago, and the microblade industries in this region lasted approximately from 24,000 to 13,000 cal BP, corresponding to the climatic changes of the MIS2 Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) Cold2 and MIS2 Late Glacial Warm (LG Warm). The primary purpose of this paper is to describe the whole picture of transitions observed in microblade industries through a series of examinations on the size of microblades, maintenance of burins, and the stone tool classes. Results suggest that the following changes in hunting-related stone tools were occurred during the LG Warm: 1) miniaturization in the part of spears (microblades), 2) high frequency in burin maintenance, and 3) appearance of the new hunting weapon (i.e., projectile points), and axes. Then, a preliminary discussion on the possible relations between human activities and the natural environment including some significant climate changes is made referring to the recent studies on the analyses of charred deposits on pottery from the Taisho 3 site which belongs to LG Warm. Given the fact that the alterations in the environment and human activities were coincident, I propose the hypothesis that the transitions in microblade industries in Hokkaido was an outcome of human adaptation to the fluctuation in accessible natural resources caused by the globally occurred warming trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some theoretical and methodological considerations that support a model of institutional educational management for the training of technicians and technologists in the Bolivarian technological Institute of technology (ITB), in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. It is considered that different versions of the educational project that have preceded the new proposal, lack of continuity and definition concrete categories that comprise it and the basic elements for practical operation during the management process. Of equal mode, not have favoured the concretion of a plan of development integral that exceed and transfer them borders of the positions academic individual of them managers institutional. The new model is comprised of different components in an organic integration and its application in practice takes place through an institutional educational project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spain is the first fish and seafood canning producer country in the European Union. Within Spain, the Galician (North-western Spain) canning enterprises dominate the market, being tuna the main species processed in the Spanish fish and seafood canning industries. In this context, this paper analyzes a Galician fish and seafood canning enterprise from the point of view of sustainability. To this end, an existing methodology combining Material and Energy Flow Analysis and Best Available Techniques analysis was enhanced, including for the first time the Exergy Analysis to detect the Improvable Flows of the process and to propose techniques that can minimize the environmental effects of these flows. The final methodology has been applied to a tuna canning process, resulting in the identification of 16 improvable flows, and the selection through best available techniques analysis of 14 alternatives to enhance the process. The application of the methodology developed in this work to an industrial system provides a way to detect material, energy or exergy improvable flows in a process, allowing industrial technicians into selecting the more suitable modifications to implement in their processes, in order to get its optimal alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of fire safety in buildings is conducted in accordance with the type of use-risk category (Building occupancy code). For Building type XI "libraries and archives" and XII "industrial, workshops and warehouses", the determination of the risk category involves the calculation of the modified fire load density, which can be done by two methods used interchangeably by the technician: deterministic and probabilistic. This study aims to investigate variation results obtained with the calculation of the modified fire load density using two methods and the classification of the Building occupancy code. The performed calculations referred to real buildings of type XII, with defined and distinct materials and activities. The different results determine a variation in the risk category, which consequently, will define the technical criteria to be applied to the Building occupancy code in the implementation for Building Fire Safety measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose ? The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate three techniques to extract human factor information from specific railway maintenance tasks. It describes the techniques and shows how these tools can be applied to identify improvements in maintenance practices and workflow. Design/methodology/approach ? Three case studies were conducted on single group of technicians (n?19) at a railway maintenance workshop in Lule?, Sweden. Case study I examined the posture of the technicians while they were changing the brake shoes of freight wagons; the study employed the Standard Nordic Questionnaire and a videotape using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). Case study II looked at maintenance repair times required to change the wheel axle on freight wagons at the workshop. A video filming method suggested by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work was used to measure actual maintenance time. Finally, case study III considered the technicians? (n?19) perception of work demands, their control over the work and their social support while performing maintenance tasks (brake shoe and wheel axle maintenance); to this end, the case study used a demand control support questionnaire. Findings ? In the first case study, the Standard Nordic Questionnaire confirmed that technicians at this particular railway vehicle maintenance workshop suffer from back and shoulder pain. The Ovako Working Posture Analysis showed that 21 percent of the working time required to fit the brake wedge and cotter pin fits into two OWAS categories: category 3, where ?change is required as soon as possible,? and category 4, where ?change is required immediately?. Problems stem from poor workplace layout, incorrect posture and inaccessibility of tools and components. In the second study, the video analysis indicated that the working time to change the wheel axle of a freight wagon is greatly affected by poor workplace layout. The third case study showed that the technicians have lower ?psychological demands? (mean?13), ?higher control over work? (mean?16) and ?high social support? (mean?22). Practical implications ? The objective of this study was to apply knowledge about human factors to the functional relationships between maintenance personnel, tasks and the working environment to improve safety. If the workplace layout, working posture, maintenance manuals and accessibility of tools are poorly planned, maintenance performance can be adversely affected. The results of this study should assist maintenance management to design new policies and guidelines for improving the work environment. Originality/value ? Three case studies were conducted at a railway maintenance workshop in Lule?, Sweden, to collect data on how human factors affect various railway maintenance tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze twelve cases of deviations from prescribed procedures during scheduled/unscheduled maintenance checks, carried out by an aircraft maintenance organization in Greece. The detailed analysis of these cases let us identify specific factors that guided maintenance technicians towards alternative courses of action. Our focus is not on the material etiology of deviations but on the underlying factors that determined the actual decision action path by the air maintenance technicians. A generalization of factors is then being made, out of the specific factors identified for each case. The factors identified ranged from the most normative (e.g. manuals) to the most contextual ones (e.g. personal comfort, schedule pressures). We suggest that by making generalizations of specific factors identified from a pool of specific cases, we gain intimate knowledge on the cognitive and organizational basis of deviations. The intimate knowledge of the etiology of deviations may help us advance towards a resilient safety management in aircraft maintenance; one that goes beyond the striving for compliance, a safety management that (i) acknowledges people on the shop floor inevitably make choices and (ii) supports them in taking more "informed" and accountable decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs on Kennesaw State University (KSU). It states that Erwyniques Leszczynski and Joselyn Rivera are appointed as the library technical professionals. It mentions that KSU Library System Annual Authors’ Reception was held on March 9, 2017. It mentions that Rotary Club of North Cobb completed the 2016 Annual Community Grant project using funds from the Rotary Foundation.

Purpose – High-maintenance cost is the common issue in building industry due to low service quality of maintenance management in Malaysia. Lack of preventive measure is the problem that implicates poor maintenance performance. Scheduled maintenance is suggested to improve the maintenance performance. However, the effectiveness of scheduled maintenance can be greatly influenced by the availability of skilled technicians. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to identify the aspects of skilled technician to be concerned in maintenance management, as well as to establish the relationship between the aspects and maintenance cost performance. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative approach is adopted and carried out through questionnaire survey. Furthermore, descriptive analysis and correlation analysis are used to analyse the research data. Findings – The literature review identifies three aspects of skilled technician to be concerned in maintenance management. Then, research result demonstrates that the skill and knowledge of technician is significantly correlated to the maintenance cost variance. The skill and knowledge of technician must be considered in maintenance planning and execution. Originality/value – The research recommends the maintenance management to employ skilled technician through thorough hiring process and to encourage the existing maintenance staff for participating the relevant training, workshop, or seminar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the time-wise effect of specific resistance training on neck pain among industrial technicians with frequent neck pain symptoms. Methods: Secondary analysis of a parallel-group cluster randomized controlled trial of 20 weeks performed at two large industrial production units in Copenhagen, Denmark. Women with neck pain >30 mm VAS (N = 131) were included in the present analysis. The training group (N = 77) performed specific resistance training for the neck/shoulder muscles three times a week, and the control group (N = 54) received advice to stay active. Participants of both groups registered neck pain intensity (0–100 mm VAS) once a week. Results: Neck pain intensity was 55 mm (SD 23) at baseline. There was a significant group by time interaction for neck pain (F-value 2.61, P<0.001, DF = 19). Between-group differences in neck pain reached significance after 4 weeks (11 mm, 95% CI 2 to 20). The time-wise change in pain showed three phases; a rapid decrease in the training group compared with the control group during the initial 7 weeks, a slower decrease in pain during the following weeks (week 8–15), and a plateau during the last weeks (week 16–20). Adherence to training followed a two-phase pattern, i.e. weekly participation rate was between 70–86% during the initial 7 weeks, dropping towards 55–63% during the latter half of the training period. Conclusion: Four weeks of specific resistance training reduced neck pain significantly, but 15 weeks is required to achieve maximal pain reduction. The time-wise change in pain followed a three-phase pattern with a rapid effect during the initial 7 weeks followed by a slower but still positive effect, and finally a plateau from week 15 and onwards. Decreased participation rate may explain the decreased efficacy during the latter phase of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entry into service of an increasing number of composites-intensive aircraft is creating demand for technicians skilled in repairing these materials. Freelance journalist George Marsh reports. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]