Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) or clubfoot is a complex deformity of the foot that is characterised by four main deformities; forefoot cavus and adductus, hindfoot varus and ankle equinus. Currently, the Ponseti method is the most... more
Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) or clubfoot is a complex deformity of the foot that is characterised by four main deformities; forefoot cavus and adductus, hindfoot varus and ankle equinus. Currently, the Ponseti method is the most general and recognized treatment with a high success rate of over 90%. The treatment involves gentle manipulation and serial casting. However, the casting method could create complications for the patients such as soft-tissue damage and inconvenience in following the treatment schedule especially for those living far away from hospital. The aim of this research is to develop an adjustable corrective device for clubfoot treatment based on the techniques in the Ponseti method and at the same time attempt to eliminate the side-effects. The prototype consists of six adjustable movements from six different mechanisms to correct the four deformities. The prototype was developed using 3D printing method and the main material used is polylactic acid (PLA), ...
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With the increasing importance of computer-based communication technologies, communication networks are becoming crucial in supply chain management. Given the objectives of the supply chain: to have the right products in the right... more
With the increasing importance of computer-based communication technologies, communication networks are becoming crucial in supply chain management. Given the objectives of the supply chain: to have the right products in the right quantities, at the right place, at the right moment and at minimal cost, supply chain management is situated at the intersection of different professional sectors. This is particularly the case in construction, since building needs for its fabrication the incorporation of a number of industrial products. This paper provides a review of the main approaches to supply chain communications as used mainly in manufacturing industries. The paper analyses the extent to which these have been applied to construction. It also reviews the on-going developments and research activities in this domain.
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© School of Engineering, Taylor’s University. A product’s lifecycle performance (e.g. assembly, outsourcing, maintenance and recycling) can often be improved through modularity. However, modularisation under different and often... more
© School of Engineering, Taylor’s University. A product’s lifecycle performance (e.g. assembly, outsourcing, maintenance and recycling) can often be improved through modularity. However, modularisation under different and often conflicting lifecycle objectives is a complex problem that will ultimately require trade-offs. This paper presents a novel multi-objective modularity optimisation framework; the application of which is illustrated through the modularisation of a car climate control system. Central to the framework is a specially designed multi-objective grouping genetic algorithm (MOGGA) that is able to generate a whole range of alternative product modularisations. Scenario analysis, using the principles of the analytical hierarchical process (AHP), is then carried out to explore the solution set and choose a suitable modular architecture that optimises the product lifecycle according to the company’s strategic vision.
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Over the years, CNC machining has been widely used in producing metal parts with high accuracy and reliable quality. A distinct process planning approach that utilizes an indexing device to hold the workpiece has extended CNC applications... more
Over the years, CNC machining has been widely used in producing metal parts with high accuracy and reliable quality. A distinct process planning approach that utilizes an indexing device to hold the workpiece has extended CNC applications into the realm of rapid manufacturing (CNC-RM) processes. This study improves the implementation of this technology by providing a methodology for integrating the tools into finishing processes. It aims to enhance the process efficiency by minimizing the stair-casing effect of layer removal and so improve the quality of machined parts. In order to achieve this, finishing operations are executed using different types of end mill tools to cater for specific surfaces on parts. Several simulations are carried out to verify the method and implications. The present findings indicate the advantages of the developed approach in terms of cutting time and the minimisation of excess volumes left on parts. It is shown that using different cutters for finish cu...
The Great War shell scandal of 1915 was as much to do with a lack of skilled workers as it was to do with the early inability of the Munitions Industry to manufacture the war materials required by the war. The number of skilled workers... more
The Great War shell scandal of 1915 was as much to do with a lack of skilled workers as it was to do with the early inability of the Munitions Industry to manufacture the war materials required by the war. The number of skilled workers had never been large and volunteering for the Army on a large scale had drastically reduced that pool. Attempts to avoid ‘dilution’, or the use of un-skilled and semi-skilled workers, particularly women, in the munitions industry in the early months of the Great War failed. The Volunteer Scheme was an initial disaster for the newly created Ministry of Munitions. Recalling skilled men from the Army failed in equal measure. The only way for the Ministry to plug the skills gap, was to bring in semi and un-skilled workers. In 1916/17 Technical Institutes like Loughborough and Aston began to run short training courses for workers.
This paper discusses the development of human movement and behaviour simulation in crowded spaces as part of the AUNT-SUE (Accessibility and User Needs in Transport for Sustainable Urban Environments) research project. The research starts... more
This paper discusses the development of human movement and behaviour simulation in crowded spaces as part of the AUNT-SUE (Accessibility and User Needs in Transport for Sustainable Urban Environments) research project. The research starts with applying a video observational method to understand human movement and behaviour in crowded spaces in the real world. Six hours of video were recorded at a multi-mode transportation system and almost 19,000 individual human movements and behaviours were analyzed. Six types of behaviour were derived from the three major movements of free, opposite and same direction. Six factors affecting human movement and behaviour were recognized from the video analysis. The DarkBASIC Professional gaming software was used to simulate the human movement and behaviour in the virtual world. The six factors affecting human movement and behaviour were considered as the parameters for the virtual humans. Case studies considering multi-mode transportation systems, ...
This paper is a preliminary study of the human contribution to variability in manufacturing industry and how motivation and learning play a key role in this contribution. The longer term aim is to incorporate this understanding in a... more
This paper is a preliminary study of the human contribution to variability in manufacturing industry and how motivation and learning play a key role in this contribution. The longer term aim is to incorporate this understanding in a methodology, using principles and guidelines, that aims to help in the design of intelligent automation that reduces product variability. This paper reports on the early stages that are concerned with understanding relationships between human-induced product variability, task complexity and human characteristics and capabilities. Two areas have been selected for initial study in manufacturing industry: (a) the relationship between manual task complexity and product variability and (b) the relationship between employee motivational factors and learning behaviours. The paper discusses the progress to date in conducting initial empirical studies and surveys in industry and draws tentative conclusions of the value of this knowledge to the overall objective o...
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This paper presents research into the area of public transport and accessibility, addressing the support of practitioners in achieving socially inclusive solutions to the mobility issues of diverse populations. For decades, social policy... more
This paper presents research into the area of public transport and accessibility, addressing the support of practitioners in achieving socially inclusive solutions to the mobility issues of diverse populations. For decades, social policy has been underpinned by a stereotyping of populations into simplified sub groups: old, young, disabled, etc. and thus solutions often fail to properly address the richness of human variability. These shortcomings are often ‘managed’ through the ability for people to adapt, however, this is not a sustainable way in which to build a socially inclusive transport infrastructure. A software design tool called HADRIAN is presented. This tool provides a means to evaluate designs for their physical inclusiveness through the use of a virtual user group. This virtual user group is the embodiment of over 100 people that can be used to assess an existing or proposed design and to gain an understanding of what may be done to improve its accommodation. A case stu...
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OBJECT-ORIENTED FEATURE-BASED DESIGN Wan Abdul Rahman Wan Harun and Dr Keith Case Loughborough University of Technology, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 3TU The feature-based design system described in this paper is an enhancement of an earlier... more
OBJECT-ORIENTED FEATURE-BASED DESIGN Wan Abdul Rahman Wan Harun and Dr Keith Case Loughborough University of Technology, Loughborough, Leics, LE11 3TU The feature-based design system described in this paper is an enhancement of an earlier ...
Traditional manufacturing work practices do not consider human variability issues during the design process. However, most manual assembly activities demand high levels of repetition and speed without compromising product quality and work... more
Traditional manufacturing work practices do not consider human variability issues during the design process. However, most manual assembly activities demand high levels of repetition and speed without compromising product quality and work productivity. Individual factors including age, gender, skill, experience and anthropometry cause variations in task strategies that lead to variations in individual and organizational work performance. The ergonomics-based risk assessment methods OWAS, REBA and RULA have been used to evaluate risk levels associated with working methods. This paper discusses the need for these methods to understand and highlight the key issues generated by these variations with the objective of minimizing these variations. Methods that can be used to promote working strategies that minimize the level of risk are described. The proposed research method potentially reduces work-related musculoskeletal disorders, injuries, pain, and promotes safe, healthy, productive ...
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Computer aided visualization and simulation enables early assessment of important design parameters of future products and production systems. Typically, humans affect the system performance, and in order to achieve the expected system... more
Computer aided visualization and simulation enables early assessment of important design parameters of future products and production systems. Typically, humans affect the system performance, and in order to achieve the expected system efficiency ergonomics needs to be ...
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14.4 SAMMIE: A Computer-Aided Ergonomics Design Tool /. Mark Porter, Russell Marshall, Martin Freer, and Keith Case Introduction SAMMIE (System for Aiding Man Machine Interaction Evaluation) is a com-puter-aided human modeling, ergonomics... more
14.4 SAMMIE: A Computer-Aided Ergonomics Design Tool /. Mark Porter, Russell Marshall, Martin Freer, and Keith Case Introduction SAMMIE (System for Aiding Man Machine Interaction Evaluation) is a com-puter-aided human modeling, ergonomics design, and evaluation ...
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Page 1. THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION PRESENTATION ON WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCT QUALITY: A CASE STUDY Gunnar Bäckstrand 1,2,3 * , Peter Thorvald 1,2 , Leo J De Vin 1 , Dan Högberg 1 , Keith Case 1,2 ...