Individual latent error detection: is there a time and a place for the recall of past errors?

A task carried out in error creates a latent condition that can result in a future undesirable outcome if the error is not detected later. The paper presents a study of the relatively under-researched phenomenon of post-task latent error detection. Focusing on UK naval aircraft maintenance, it was hypothesised that time, location and systems cues influence individual latent error detection amongst naval air engineers who experience the phenomenon. The systems view of human error is combined with a multi-process approach to post-task latent error research, for which findings suggest that distributed cognition across the entire socio-technical system may be influential in post-task latent error detection. Directions for future research will be of benefit to those interested in furthering safety resilience using a systems approach to minimise the consequences arising from latent error.

Relevance to human factors/ergonomics theoryThe nature and extent of post-task latent error detection is explored using a systems approach, for which distributed cognition across the entire socio-technical system appears influential. The aim of current research is to develop interventions to further mitigate for latent errors and thus advance the systems application of ergonomics theory.     

Extending RDD-100 to Produce Military Standard Specifications

ABSTRACT

RDD-100 is a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) automation tool used for systems engineering applications. It is based on a rigorous approach using an element, relationship, attribute (ERA) data base, graphical input and output formats, and built-in engineering data consistency checks. It also includes the capability to expand the definition (schema) of the ERA data base and to create reports to manipulate, format, and print the data base contents. The following describes the process that establishes a new ERA schema and the data extraction reports that are used with the inherent capabilities of RDD-100 to produce deliverable, military-compliant specifications from a systems engineering data base.     

Fast-Cycle Product Development

ABSTRACT

In today's highly competitive industrial environment, those who are slow in bringing new products to market often lose out to those with a more agile development process. Developing products quickly while maintaining cost and quality demands a distinctive management approach that integrates marketing, engineering, manufacturing, and other activities. This article discusses the importance of development speed relative to the product's cost, performance, and development expense, and it suggests ways in which a company can cut development time. Topics covered include top management involvement; product objectives and complexity, team composition and leadership; communication vehicles, including the product specification; prototyping and testing; and control systems, such as design reviews.     

Notes for Contributors /

Abstract

The aim of this study was to depict a framework for development of integrated intelligent human engineering environment in complex critical systems. Conventional health, safety and environment (HSE) are a widely used approach to enhance reliability and safety of complex systems. The integrated health, safety, environment and ergonomics management system (HSEE‐MS) is defined however as integration of conventional HSE with ergonomics.

To show the need for and superiority of HSEE over conventional HSE, a gas treatment company in Iran was studied. Evaluation of ergonomics was carried out by 195 male employees responding to questionnaires.

The integrated HSEE system introduces a unique, effective and systemic mechanism, which integrates the structure of the human and organizational systems with a conventional HSE system. It is utilized to enhance reliability, availability, maintainability and safety through the proposed integrated framework of this study.     

Sine Relation for Optical Linear Systems: Matrix Formulation

Abstract

The sine relation connects the object, the image, and the entrance and exit-pupil coordinates for centred optical systems. For non-symmetrical systems the object and the image coordinates are related by a matrix. From this we determine another matrix which relates the entrance and exit pupil coordinates. A new expression for the sine relation is given and is valid for all optical linear systems. Finally, the results are applied to a plane grating and the coordinates on the exit pupil are obtained.     

面向协同虚拟制造的分布式支撑环境研究

提出了协同虚拟制造(collaborative virtual manufacturing, CVM)的概念及其主要内涵,比较了CVM与VM之间的联系与区别。作为VM的拓展和延伸,CVM可以被定义为基于网络技术、数据库技术和分布式计算技术,由制造商、供应商、合作伙伴和客户协同参与的支持供应链管理和个性化服务的虚拟制造。基于分层次、高度集成与松耦合的辩证统一和可扩展性的原则,给出了CVM体系结构,该体系结构同时考虑了供应链上企业之间的横向一体化和基于多层分布式对象技术的纵向一体化。分析了CVM与现有的分布式对象结构的主要矛盾,针对这一矛盾,提出了面向CVM的分布式支撑环境的主要技术内涵。给出了一个面向CVM分布式支撑环境的典型框架结构,该架构通过Web Service服务层整合异构分布式对象,并用传统的Socket通信方式以解决实时通信的问题。     

Coloured Petri net‐based modeling for distributed relational database queries

Abstract

In this paper, a new application of colour timed Petri net (CTPN) based methodology for distributed relational database queries modeling and corresponding simulation is addressed. This work, first based on parsed query definitions, converts logical query plans into designed CTPN models. Later, the improved cost‐based functions are then established and appended to CTPN with a general purpose CPN simulator‐Design/CPN to observe the thresholds of query operations. The propose CTPN can be used in the design phase as an experimental prototype to automatically simulate distributed database query processing which, in turn, may considerably reduce the load of developing the actual query processing software in the logical design phase of a distributed database system. Also, since all the essential details of query processing in CTPN have been simulated, the results of this study can be closely related to real world applications.     

AN OBJECT-ORIENTED FRAMEWORK FOR INTERACTIVE NUMERICAL ANALYSIS IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE ENVIRONMENT

A simple object-oriented framework is presented for computer programs which require interactive numerical analysis in a Graphical User Interface environment. The work attempts to bridge the current gap between purely analytical programs and interactive programs developed solely for graphics. Our proposed scheme is based on user interaction through a three-dimensional view, a menu system, a control bar, a tool box and a status bar. Displayed objects are derived from a common parent object class Element, while objects encapsulating user interactions are derived from a common parent class Tool. A class Framework holds Element and Tool objects, as well as a view object, a control bar object, a tool box object and a status bar object. Examples involving interactive finite element beam analysis and interactive finite difference bearing pressure analysis are given. The paper argues that programming interactive analyses need not be difficult if an object-oriented approach is adopted.     

A Strategy Approach for Quality Management in a Global Environment: The Systems Approach to Project Quality

ABSTRACT

For quality management to successfully lead a company in the global environment, a comprehensive approach to product quality is required. The systems approach to product quality provides a philosophy and an action plan that can bring a company to a world-class level and sustain it there. The basis of this article is normative, but observations from the field of quality management support the conclusions. The systems approach incorporates the strategic advantages of many of the more recent quality management techniques and also introduces compatibility and availability as important dimensions of product quality. Compatibility is a dimension of product quality that pertains primarily to dynamic systems and is particularly significant with today's rapidly changing state of the art. Availability is also positively associated with optimal quality in the systems sense. Both dimensions are examined in terms of the strategic advantages they contribute to products designed for the global marketplace, and their potential effects on market gains and cost savings are explored.     

支持协同产品开发的产品数据管理模型研究

针对目前产品数据管理系统中的不足，依据产品开发内在规律，运用面向对象方法提出了支持协同产品开发的产品数据管理模型，文中引入了实体类，关系类和约束类来表达产品数据管理模型，为开发能够更有效地支持协同产品开发的产品数据管理系统提供了基础。     

Video object inpainting: a scale-robust method

Abstract

Video inpainting is the process of reconstructing damaged regions of corrupted frames. In this research, we raise a few issues in existing video inpainting systems. They are usually not robust to the change in the object scale and cannot handle large missing regions behind the moving object. In this attempt, we will address the above issues as following: first, we extract moving objects from the background and construct two mosaic images for each object, a small mosaic and a large mosaic image. The small mosaic is used to detect the amount of scale changes in the moving objects and the large one is used to inpaint partially or completely corrupted objects. We next place the inpainted moving foreground in its location and rescale the objects to their original scale. Finally, we combine the inpainted moving foreground and the background to obtain the corrected video. To speed up the process, we have utilised a multi-resolution approach so that the patch are initially matched in a coarse resolution and later are refined in a fine resolution. The results confirm the robustness of our method in handling the scale change of moving objects and large missing regions.     

CIMS数据库环境中的信息管理研究

信息集成管理是ＣＩＭＳ应用的关键技术，本文阐述了ＣＩＭＳ中共程数据基于模式、多处理综合集成管理的管理策略和方法，制定出规范化模型和系统体系，并以此为指导，开发出工程信息的一个集成管理应用系统。     

Specification of a Systems Engineering Framework for a Seamless Systems Engineering Process

ABSTRACT

While putting a systems engineering methodology and associated processes in place, it was determined that computer automation was essential; manual techniques were complicated, time consuming, and generally not feasible. A project has been established to define, prototype, and demonstrate a viable concept to specify a systems engineering environment. A core capability, the requirements management process, was selected as the starting point, with provisions for integrating the other systems engineering elements. An evolutionary development approach is planned based on a successful proof-of-concept prototype demonstration. Special attention will be given to the integration of software management within a systems engineering structure.     

2007 Index of EMJ Articles

Abstract:

Enterprise risk management (ERM) has emerged as the new paradigm in risk management with the goal of holistically managing all risks facing an enterprise. Yet organizations still manage risks in a piece-meal fashion and struggle to effectively implement ERM and manage complex strategic risks. This article proposes a solution to this problem: ERM implementation using a system dynamics approach, which enables integrating risks in a causal modeling environment that includes feedback and delays. The methodology is then described using the ISO 31000 Risk Management Standard and illustrated using an example.     

Task assignment in loosely‐coupled multiprocessor systems

Abstract

In loosely‐coupled multiprocessor systems, a parallel program has its modules distributedly assigned among the processors. The assignment policy is to minimize interprocessor communication cost and to balance the workload of processors. However, there exists conflict between these two criteria and a compromise must be made to obtain an optimal solution. In this paper, we propose a new task assignment model for distributed computing systems, and for solving the assignment problem based on partitioning graphs. The problem of finding an optimal solution had been shown to be in the class of NP‐complete. For the sake of computation efficiency, we propose some heuristics for obtaining suboptimal solutions.     

Measurement of the Intensity of the Defocused Image of an Incoherently Illuminated Disc

Abstract

In this paper, a new formula is obtained for the image of an incoherently illuminated disc object (disc spread function, DSF) by using an optical system with a circular aperture. Numerical calculations are presented using the Gauss quadrature method, and curves are shown for systems having an optimally balanced fifth-order spherical aberration as well as for aberration-free system having defocusing.     

An environment for measuring and improving the quality of object‐oriented software

It is widely accepted that more widespread use of object‐oriented techniques can only come about when there are techniques and tool systems that provide design support beyond visualizing code. Distinct software metrics are considered as being able to support the design by indicating critical components with respect to various quality factors such as maintainability and reliability. Unfortunately, many object‐oriented metrics were defined and applied to classroom projects, but no evidence was given that the metrics are useful and applicable—both from an experience viewpoint and from a tools viewpoint—for industrial object‐oriented development. Distinct complexity metrics have been developed and integrated in a Smalltalk development support system called SmallMetric. Thus we achieved a basis for software analysis (metrics) and development support (critique) of Smalltalk systems. The main concepts of the environment including the underlying metrics are explained, its use and operation are discussed and some results of the implementation and its application to several industrial projects are given with examples. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于意象图式编码的交互隐喻设计方法研究

目的意象图式是关于人类共有的涉身经验的哲学假设,多被用于揭示隐藏在语言中的认知现象,旨在描述一种用意象图式去隐喻化地释读用户的需求或行动,再将其表现为界面与交互的设计方法。方法阐述了意象图式介入情境化设计所需的编码策略以及设计流程的框架,以对应的案例支持该方法所涉及的步骤与措施。结论通过陈述相关的设计应用,检验了该方法的实践可行性。     

A blind proposed 3D mesh watermarking technique for copyright protection

ABSTRACT

Watermarking provides an efficient mechanism for copyright protection of digital media by embedding information in the object to identify the owner. This paper proposed a watermarking technique that can successfully embed a grey-scale image in a 3D mesh object. In our proposed technique, each three vertices of the 3D object can hide one pixel from the secret image. The experimental results showed that the proposed technique has better visual quality on both the watermarked object and the extracted secret image.