Information channel diagrams: an approach for modelling information flows

In this article, the ‘information channel diagram’ (ICD) approach is introduced as a diagrammatical tool for modelling information flow during the delivery phase of organisations in which goods are deployed or delivered to customers. An initial review and evaluation of current tools for modelling information flow will be conducted based on the characteristics of information flow during the delivery phases in organisations. Diagrammatic primitives and a prescribed modelling methodology for developing an ICD will be presented, and a case scenario of the delivery phase of an organisation within the health care sector will be applied to demonstrate the use of the ICD. The article concludes by discussing some applications, generalisation potential and limitations of the ICD approach.     

Modelling collaboration using complex networks

Collaboration means working together to achieve a common goal or to solve a problem, and in modern businesses, it is an important factor for information sharing and quality. This is due to the ability of collaborations to shape the structure and behaviour of organisations through the pooling of expertise and standardising of work patterns.Grounded on complex network theory and collaborative design research, a mathematical model of information flow for analysing collaboration in organisations is proposed in this article. The model defines concepts for characterising organisational structures for collaboration and proposes indicators for assessing organisational behaviour in terms of collaboration within organisations. The article concludes by discussing the applications and limitations of the proposed model.     

A review on assembly sequence planning and assembly line balancing optimisation using soft computing approaches

Assembly optimisation activities occur across development and production stages of manufacturing goods. Assembly Sequence Planning (ASP) and Assembly Line Balancing (ALB) problems are among the assembly optimisation. Both of these activities are classified as NP-hard. Several soft computing approaches using different techniques have been developed to solve ASP and ALB. Although these approaches do not guarantee the optimum solution, they have been successfully applied in many ASP and ALB optimisation works. This paper reported the survey on research in ASP and ALB that use soft computing approaches for the past 10 years. To be more specific, only Simple Assembly Line Balancing Problem (SALBP) is considered for ALB. The survey shows that three soft computing algorithms that frequently used to solve ASP and ALB are Genetic Algorithm, Ant Colony Optimisation and Particle Swarm Optimisation. Meanwhile, the research in ASP and ALB is also progressing to the next level by integration of assembly optimisation activities across product development stages.     

Design and implementation of ergonomic risk assessment feedback system for improved work posture assessment

Ergonomic risk factors which include force, repetition and awkward postures, can result in Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) among workers. Hence, systems that provide real-time feedback to the worker concerning his current ergonomic behaviours are desirable. This paper presents the design and implementation of a human-machine interface posture assessment feedback system whose conceptual model is developed through a model-driven development perspective using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and interface flow diagrams. The resulting system provides a shop floor with a simple, cost-effective and automatic tool for real-time display of worker's postures. Testing the system on volunteer participants reveals that it is easy to use, achieves real-time posture assessment and provides easy-to-understand feedback to workers. This system may be useful for reducing the rate of occurrence of awkward postures, one of the contributing factors to risk of WMSDs among workers.     

Biomechanical performance of Bankart repairs in a human cadaveric shoulder model

The objective of this study was to develop a method to evaluate the biomechanical performance of Bankart repairs in a human cadaveric shoulder in a clinically relevant orientation. Twenty fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulder girdles were used to compare the biomechanical performance of intact anteroinferior capsulolabral complexes with the biomechanical performance of three Bankart lesion reconstruction techniques. Repairs were performed on surgically created Bankart lesions. Evaluations were performed with the shoulders in glenohumeral abduction and external rotation. The repair techniques employed interosseous sutures, Mitek GII suture anchors, or Acufex T-Fix devices. The suture material used in all repairs was No. 2 Ti-Cron. The biomechanical performance of the three reconstruction techniques did not differ, but each was significantly inferior compared with that of the intact shoulder samples. The interosseous repairs failed by suture pullout through soft tissue. Repairs in the Mitek GII group failed by pullout of the suture anchors, suture breakage, or pullout of the suture through soft tissue. Repairs in the T-Fix group failed by pullout of the suture through soft tissue or failure of the polymer portion of the T-Fix suture.