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Abstract This paper presents a quality visualization model as a method for user-oriented quality visualization. Existing models show the lack of sufficient visualization, monitoring and evaluation of the quality situation regarding different requirements of manufacturers for quality control. In this model, the quality of an object is represented through a layer via the object-specific quality characteristics. Enriched through tolerance limits, this method leads to a simple visualization of quality as well as enables cluster analysis and benchmark analysis. Moreover, the application opportunities in vehicle assembly are shown. The main benefit of this method is to increase the level of production efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an information technology model for the transparent feedback of quality-related information on the vehicle assembly production process in real time. This system integrates huge amounts of heterogeneous data sets, gathered through quality gates in the assembly line, to provide new user-focused information for controlling production quality. All information is prepared to cater to the specific needs of three different types of users and then reported back via four levels of quality feedback to the recipients as a defect occurrence in quality. This ensures that quality-related process information is provided immediately as essential to make progress towards achieving first-time quality and improving production quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lay Abstract: Health-related quality of life reflects a person's perspective on their well-being in physical, mental, social, work-related, and other aspects of health or life. Autistic adults typically report difficulties in many or all of these domains and, thus, often experience their health-related quality of life being reduced. Nonetheless, they do not obtain the professional support they need and report barriers to accessing or receiving appropriate healthcare. We know little about the impact of barriers to healthcare on health-related quality of life in autistic adults. In the present study, 311 autistic adults without intellectual disability in Germany completed an online survey on their current health-related quality of life and the number of barriers to healthcare they experience. In addition, they were asked about their personal and clinical background as well as about the amount of healthcare and support they recently received. We investigated how this information and, particularly, barriers to healthcare explained variations in individual levels of health-related quality of life. We found that barriers to healthcare, compared to most other variables, were a strong predictor of health-related quality of life: The more barriers autistic adults reported, the lower their experienced psychological and physical well-being. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to examine the relationship between barriers to healthcare and health-related quality of life in autism. Our results suggest that healthcare providers need to become aware of the barriers individuals with autism have in seeking and getting healthcare. Improved access to services might contribute to better health-related quality of life in autistic adults., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Family members of autistic individuals often provide support for their autistic relative throughout the lifespan which can lead to massive burden themselves. Reduced health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in family caregivers is assumed; however, only a handful studies on the HRQoL of family caregivers providing care to adult relatives exist as opposed to autistic children. Thus, the current study aimed to (i) investigate the current state of physical and mental HRQoL of family caregivers of autistic adults compared to the general population, and (ii) examine caregiver-related (e.g., age, subjective caregiver burden) and care recipient-related variables (e.g., symptom severity, utilization of formal services) explaining variance in the caregivers' HRQoL., Methods: N = 149 family caregivers completed a nationwide online survey, including the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8) in order to assess the HRQoL. T-tests were used to compare the HRQoL of family caregivers with the general population. Bivariate correlational and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in order to identify predictors explaining variance in family caregivers' HRQoL., Results: Family caregivers of autistic adults reported significantly lower physical ( M = 46.71, SD = 8.72, Cohen's d = 0.42) and mental HRQoL ( M = 40.15, SD = 11.28, Cohen's d = 1.35) compared to the general population. Multiple linear regression with the mental HRQoL as the outcome showed a significant model ( F (11, 95) = 5.53, p < .001, adj. R 2 = .32) with increased subjective burden explaining most of the variance in mental HRQoL ( ß = .32, GDW = .141, p < .001). Multiple linear regression analysis with the outcome physical HRQoL did not reveal a statistically significant model ( F (11,95) = 1.09, p = .38). However, bivariate analyses also showed a positive correlation with the subjective caregiver burden ( r = .20, p < .05)., Discussion: Findings highlight the need to consider HRQoL (and caregiver burden) of family caregivers of autistic adults in several healthcare settings to monitor a potential comprised health status in early stages, with the long-term goal to improve family caregivers' HRQoL., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Dückert, Bart, Gewohn, König, Schöttle, Konnopka, Rahlff, Erik, Vogeley, Schulz, David and Peth.)

Introduction: Autism refers to an early-onset neurodevelopmental condition with characteristic impairments and difficulties in practical living skills, which persist across the lifespan such that adults with autism often require substantial support and comprehensive care. Yet, mental health and other services are frequently unavailable for adults with autism despite considerable need for mental healthcare and individual, familial and socioeconomic burdens. This study will (1) examine current needs, barriers and burdens related to ineffective healthcare of adults with autism in Germany, (2) develop specific recommendations for a need-oriented mental healthcare model and (3) evaluate its future implementation., Methods and Analysis: A mixed-methods design with three phases will be conducted. In phase 1, current mental healthcare for adults with autism will be assessed at three levels (individual, structural and professional) and from three perspectives (adults with autism, relatives and healthcare providers) using (1) focus groups/interviews (qualitative data) and (2) large-scale online surveys (quantitative data). Furthermore, service utilisation and related costs will be estimated. In phase 2, recommendations for a future healthcare model will be derived based on phase 1, considering the heterogeneous and complex needs within the autism spectrum and specifying indications for recommended services. In phase 3, these will again be evaluated by the three stakeholder groups using mixed-methods and analysed regarding feasibility of implementation and cost-effectiveness. Our study will, thus, contribute to a better translation of recommendations into practice to reduce disability, burden and costs related to ineffective healthcare and improve mental health outcomes for adults with autism and those who support them., Ethics and Dissemination: This study was approved by the Local Psychological Ethics Commission of the Center for Psychosocial Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (LPEK-0227). Findings will be disseminated via scientific meetings and peer-reviewed journals. Cooperating partners and associations will be informed about the study's course and findings by regular newsletters and meetings., Trial Registration Number: This study protocol was preregistered at the Open Science Framework (osf.io/5x8pg)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: DS received honoraria for lectures from or has been an advisor to Janssen, ROVI, Lundbeck, Otsuka Pharma and Takeda. The remaining authors do not declare other competing interests., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)