Ageing workforce management in manufacturing systems: state of the art and future research agenda

The workforce ageing phenomenon is recently affecting most of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, due to a general ageing of their populations and a higher average retirement age of the workforce. In this paper, the topic of ageing workforce management is addressed from a production research standpoint, with the aim of understanding how older workers can be supported and involved in a manufacturing system. First, the current state of the art related to the ageing workforce in production systems is presented. This is structured according to four main topics: (1) analysis and evaluation of ageing workers’ functional capacities, (2) consideration of ageing workers’ capacities in industrial system modelling and management, (3) analysis and exploitation of ageing workers’ expertise, (4) acknowledgement, analysis, design and integration of supporting technologies. Next, the discussion on the impact of the ageing workforce on manufacturing systems’ performances leads to the comparison of some technological advances that are related to the Industry 4.0 paradigms. Finally, a future research agenda on this topic is proposed, based on the same topics classification proposed for the literature analysis. Five different research areas are derived, suggesting future directions for appropriate research concerning the employ of older workers in production environments.     

Data sharing mechanism of various mineral resources based on blockchain

Basins with various mineral resources coexisting and enriching often occupy an important strategic position. The exploration of various mineral resources is repetitive at present due to unshared data and imperfect management mechanism. This situation greatly increases the cost of energy exploitation in the country. Traditional data-sharing mode has several disadvantages, such as high cost, difficulty in confirming the right of data, and lack of incentive mechanism, which make achieving real data sharing difficult. In this paper, we propose a data-sharing mechanism based on blockchain and provide implementation suggestions and technical key points. Compared with traditional data-sharing methods, the proposed data-sharing mechanism can realize data sharing, ensure data quality, and protect intellectual property. Moreover, key points in the construction are stated in the case study section to verify the feasibility of the data-sharing system based on blockchain proposed in this paper.     

一种军棋机器博弈的多棋子协同博弈方法

针对在军棋博弈不完全信息对弈中，面对棋子不同价值、不同位置、不同搭配所产生的不同棋力，传统的单子意图搜索算法，不能满足棋子之间的协同性与沟通性，同时也缺乏对敌方的引诱与欺骗等高级对抗能力。本文提出一种结合UCT搜索策略的高价值棋子博弈方法，实现高价值棋子协同博弈的策略。实战经验表明:高价值多棋子军棋协同博弈策略优于单棋子军棋博弈策略。     

大坝安全监控专家系统中的知识处理

在介绍产生式规则及其数学模型的基础上，论述了用成熟的关系数据库 技术来表示和存储产生式规则表示的专家知识的方法，较好地解决了知识的存储和管理问题 。同时，利用关系数据库中实体间的关系，很容易将分散存储的规则元素组合成规则供推理 时使用。在分析了大坝安全监控专家系统知识特点的基础上举例说明了用关系数据库表 示产生式规则的具体方法。     

位山引黄灌区泥沙淤积原因及处理对策

位山灌区是黄河下游大型引黄灌区 ,渠系泥沙淤积严重 ,泥沙处理困难。通过采用远距离输沙、集中处理沉沙区泥沙、分散沉沙和节水减淤等技术措施 ,减少了渠系的泥沙淤积。对清淤产生的泥沙 ,采取综合开发利用的技术和管理措施 ,取得了比较可靠的效果。     

钻井污水处理技术研究进展

通过分析钻井污水的来源及钻井污水共同的特点。阐述了国内外钻井污水处理的方法，即电絮凝浮选法、混凝－气浮－过滤法、机械过滤法和过滤－吸附－反渗透法和化学混凝－强化固液分离法以及絮凝剂作用机理，即压缩双电层机理、吸附电中和作用、吸附架桥作用和沉淀物网捕作用。提出要进一步开展絮凝机理研究，为今后研制性能更好的钻井污水处理剂新型产品提供理论和实验依据；絮凝剂要在防腐、杀菌等方面起一定作用，使絮凝剂产品多样化和多功能化，以提高絮凝效果；在优选絮凝剂产品的基础上，加强对絮凝处理工艺的研究，规范各种处理措施，将会对提高处理效果起到十分重要的作用。     

Organic matter and nitrogen removal by an on site sewage treatment and disposal system

The performance of an on site sewage treatment and disposal system consisting of a septic tank, a gravel filter, a sand filter and soil absorption trenches operated alternatively, was studied in relation to organic matter and nitrogen removal efficiency. The system was simulated with the aid of a laboratory scale model. BOD₅ and SS removal efficiencies averaged 92.9 and 93.4% respectively. Substantial removal of nitrogen (up to 70%) was achieved due to nitrification followed by denitrification. Removal efficiencies were found to depend on the compaction characteristics of the filter media and the soil, the hydraulic loading applied and the flow conditions (saturated/unsaturated). The results indicate that the system under consideration is a feasible alternative for on site treatment and disposal of domestic sewage.     

Changing our view on design evaluation meetings methodology: a study of software technical review meetings

By contrast to design meetings, design evaluation meetings (DEMs) have generally been considered as situations in which, according to DEM methodologies, design activities are quite marginal. In a study of DEMs in software development, i.e. in technical review meetings following a particular review methodology, we showed: (i) the occurrence of design activities as part of an argumentation process; (ii) the relative importance of cognitive synchronisation as a prerequisite for evaluation; (iii) the important role played in evaluation by argumentation that makes explicit the underlying design rationale (DR). On the basis of our results, we discuss the potential for using DR methodologies in this kind of meetings.     

Beyond Boundary Objects: Collaborative Reuse in Aircraft Technical Support

Boundary objects are a critical, but understudied, theoretical construct in CSCW. Through a field study of aircraft technical support, we examined the role of boundary objects in the practical achievement of safety by service engineers. Their resolution of repair requests was preserved in the organization’s memory via three compound boundary objects. These crystallizations did not manifest a static interpretation, but instead were continually reinterpreted in light of meta-negotiations. This suggests design implications for organizational memory systems which can more fluidly represent the meta-negotiations surrounding boundary objects.     

Virtual teamwork in very large undergraduate classes

Collaborative work is an important part of tertiary education but it is very difficult to arrange and supervise for extremely large classes of students in their first year. The possibility that computer-mediated communication can be used to facilitate this type of learning is appealing from a pragmatic organisational point of view. This paper explains in detail what a ‘virtual team’ is in the educational context. It reports on an interpretive field study where students taking an introductory course were allowed to choose where and when they did the required collaborative work. The paper discusses the factors that should be taken into account when offering students the option of working as a virtual team. These include factors that influence the students’ choice. The project cannot be considered to have been successful but indicates reasons for the lack of success and suggests contexts in which it would be valuable to repeat the project. The importance of extensive preparation in terms of teaching the students necessary social and technological skills cannot be over emphasised.