Comparative study of the Causal Matrix and Causal Determinant

B a c k g r o u n d . Nowadays, Ukraine's defense and security sector is undergoing fundamental reforms in the procurement of defense products, particularly in the field of quality assurance of such products through the assessment of quality management systems within the framework of Governmental Quality Assurance (GQA) actions. These reforms require both theoretical and methodological justification regarding the directions of such changes and the mechanisms for their implementation. An important issue is the establishment of unified terminology in the field of quality management and management in general, harmonized with the corresponding terminology of EU and NATO member states. The full-scale invasion of russia into Ukraine has brought to the forefront issues related to the implementation of a governmental quality assurance system. The goal of the study is to analyze the Soviet quality control system and compare it with the state quality assurance system, as well as to justify the establishment of modern management systems in Ukraine. M e t h o d s . The study employed methods such as analysis, synthesis, and generalization, through which proposals for establishing a new system for ensuring the quality of defense-related products were developed and substantiated. R e s u l t s . In the course of the research, the state of the quality control system for defense products was analyzed, specifically its organizational structure, regulatory framework, and capacity to ensure product quality under modern conditions. The study also examined the state quality assurance system according to the following components: structure, scope of work, documentation, and training of specialists. Possible mechanisms of interaction between these systems were explored at the level of individual elements. A significant part of the research addressed issues of terminological inconsistency and conceptual frameworks in the field of management and quality management, taking into account the specific characteristics of the defense sector. C o n c l u s i o n s . An institutional approach was applied to analyze the existing quality control system and the state quality assurance system. The main directions for implementing a modern quality assurance system in the defense sector were identified. This system should be based on a risk-oriented approach and the evaluation of quality management processes within enterprises supplying defense-related products.

Problem solving plays a major role in quality engineering and it is popularly adopted by manufacturing industry. This study is aimed to determine root cause for rejection of cylinder head due to rough conical grinding problem by Shainin method. This has two major parts, first is diagnostic part which involves finding out the root cause and second is a remedial action part which consist of actual application of findings to rule out the problem. Wear in tool holder assembly is identified as root cause for rough grinding problem. Converging to root cause and validating the same achieved by successful implementation of Shainin tools.

Using Root Cause Analysis and Form Redesign to Reduce Incorrect Ordering of HIV Tests

Introduction. N-nitrosamine compounds are potent genotoxic agents in animal species and some are classified as probable human carcinogens. This group of genotoxic impurities was found in drugs such as angiotensin II receptor blockers, histamine H1 receptor antagonists, and synthetic antidiabetic drugs. This discovery caused a flurry of alarm in the global pharmaceutical industry and resulted in a series of international investigations trying to determine root causes of nitrosamine formation in medicinal products and to find ways to minimize risks associated with nitrosamine contamination.Text. This paper provides an overview of the current state of the problem. It summarises the main pathways of N-nitrosamine formation in medicinal products at the stages from synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients to storage of finished pharmaceutical products. The paper describes the main mechanism responsible for the toxic effect of this group of impurities in human body. It also describes methods of extraction and analysis of N-nitrosamines found in medicinal products. It was demonstrated that high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry are a golden standard for the detection of these contaminants. The paper also touches upon the main principles of setting limits for nitrosamine impurities in medicinal products.Conclusion. The data presented give a picture of the root causes of N-nitrosamine formation in medicinal products, as well as current detection and control methods used worldwide. Meanwhile, the paper raises a key issue about the need to develop Russian standards that would control the purity of medicinal products in terms of N-nitrosamine impurities. For that end, it will be necessary to draw on the experience of the leading USA and EU regulatory authorities.

The article deals with specific features of quality management at Russian enterprises in conditions of intensive import-substitution connected with introduction of economic sanctions against our country. The article briefly studies preconditions of imposing economic sanctions, analyzes specificity of conducting import-substitution in the Russian Federation in recent years, identifies key problems in the field of quality management in respect of importsubstituted products and provides recommendations aimed at raising the efficiency of quality management at Russian enterprises in the current situation. In the field of import-substitution we can observe certain positive trends however we face a lot of problems due to withdrawal from Russia and refusal to cooperate on the part of Western companies, which caused the necessity to re-adjust production processes, to alter supply chains and to build renovated systems of product quality management. Provision of high quality of products is one of the most important objectives in new circumstances, but for this end we shall search for new suppliers of high-quality raw materials and components and we need serious changes in business-processes. Current problems in this field include perception of quality management only from instrumental point of view, insufficient attention to customer needs, the absence of clear-cut understanding of benefits provided by executives’ adherence to philosophy of total quality management, difficulties with introduction of process approach to quality management, the absence at the enterprise of orientation to continuous improvement of quality indicators and so on. When these problems are resolved, we can reach success in the field of quality management.

Noise levels in hospitals are problematic. Today, patient opinions on noise, because of HCAHPS, determine hospital reimbursement. It's critical for hospitals to reduce noise levels in their facilities or face reductions in reimbursement. Patient perceptions of noise in hospitals is difficult to accurately measure and determine root cause. Many hospitals are implementing programs to address noise, but very few are making these decisions based on systematic sound monitoring data within their facility. Sound monitoring equipment installed in hospitals can accurately measure and identify both sources and patterns of noise in hospital. Real-time and historical sound data can help inform changes needed. We compare historic sound data from our experience monitoring sound levels in NICU’s and compare findings to improving sound levels throughout hospital. We discuss how visual alarming alone is insufficient to maintain long term improvements. We also discuss the use of measuring “sound events” to idenitfy ture source of noise disturbances. We argue that hospitals that measure “sound events” can systematically improve their HCAHPS scores. In conclusion, sound recording equipment within hospitals will provide actionable data. This data can be used to implement structural and procedural improvements allowing hospitals to maximize reimbursement and improve outcomes.

The detonation of explosives in the wellbore produces hazardous gas; however, these gases are not typically observed in high concentrations at the surface. Recently, during plug and abandonment (P&A) operations, carbon monoxide (CO) from perforation activities was observed in high concentrations. This paper examines these types of operations to determine root causes and mitigation methods. The anticipated amount of CO produced by detonation is calculated by both the empirical equation and reaction-equilibrium simulation methods for cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), as well as by the simulation method for cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX), hexanitrostilbene (HNS), and 2,6-bis,bis-(pikrylamino)-3,5-dinitropyridine (PYX). The life cycle of this gas from the time of generation through its potential release to the surface is discussed with the intent to reduce its quantity or concentration throughout. Mitigation methods include the incorporation of an oxidizer in the explosive reaction, chemical scavenging in the wellbore, and controlled venting or catalytic conversion at the surface. Significant quantities of CO are produced by perforating guns, with the proportion increasing for explosives of greater thermal stability until it is the single largest reaction product. During perforation, these gases are usually controlled by gas-handling equipment on the platform; however, the reduced availability of this equipment on the platform at the time of P&A operations is thought to be a contributing factor to the hazard. Another significant factor could be the use of a high circulation rate, which has the effect of increasing the concentration of the gas on the surface. Controlled venting, flaring, and catalytic conversion to carbon dioxide are feasible methods to help mitigate this hazard if conducted in accordance with regulations. This paper details the life cycle of CO gas generated from perforating activities and discusses how it can be hazardous during P&A operations. In addition, several methods are discussed that can help mitigate this hazard.

Understanding systematic trends in degradation of Li-ion batteries through a broad range of operating conditions is critical to improving their performance. Over the course of the last few years, researchers at Sandia National Labs have been conducting a systematic study of battery cycling behavior. In this study, dozens of commercial NCA (LiNixCoyAl1-x-yO2) and NMC (LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2) cells were cycled to 80% capacity across a range of temperatures, discharge rates, and depth of discharge windows. Analysis of both in situ electrochemical data and postmortem materials degradation was done and correlated to determine root causes of rapid capacity fade.During cycling, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and Incremental Capacity Analysis (ICA) experiments were conducted periodically. The data from these experiments were used to understand the state of health (SoH) of cycling cells, including SEI formation and Li plating, as well as general mass transport and kinetic properties.X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) scans completed before cell disassembly showed large scale deformation in the cells’ jelly rolls. For the postmortem analysis, cells in pristine condition and 80% capacity were disassembled, and their electrodes were analyzed with X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). These techniques analyzed different aspects of the electrodes’ physical and chemical properties, including Li plating, micro-cracking, SEI layer formation, and phase changes in cathode materials. DSC measurements also provided insight into changes in the degree to which aged electrodes undergo thermal runaway events.Correlation of the postmortem materials analysis with the in situ electrochemical analysis showed that cells with the most rapid rate of capacity fade had multiple degradation mechanisms active during cycling. The scale of this electrochemical and materials evaluation fills in gaps in the literature about commercial Li-ion battery performance.Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-mission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Compared to other health care professions such as medicine, nursing and pharmacy, few studies have been conducted to examine the nature of practice errors in occupational and physical therapy. In an ongoing study to determine root causes, typographies and impact of occupational and physical therapy error on patients, focus group interviews have been conducted across the United States. A substantial number of harmful practice errors and/or other patient safety events (deviations or accidents) have been identified. Often these events have had moral dimensions that troubled the therapist involved. In this article, six of these transcribed cases are analyzed, using predominant bioethical theories, ethical principles and professional codes of ethics. The cases and their analyses are intended to be exemplary, improving the readers' ability to discern and critically address similar such events. Several patient safety strategies are suggested that might have prevented the events described in these cases.

The aim of the paper is to improve the quality management system, in the field of the family business succession process management, with the application of TRIZ contradiction modelling. In this work, the authors focus on cognitive activity in contradictions modelling, which is the basis for the first two stages of ARIZ85C, i.e., analysing the problem and analysing the problem model. The application of TRIZ contradiction modelling in the field of quality management is discussed. The selected methods of the acquisition of contradictions are analysed. To identify the contradictions in management systems the method which facilitate the implication of quantitative approach using Grey Incidence Analysis is developed. As a result, the information about the system components and their interactions, functions, contradictions and about the degree of grey incidence between the system components and the system as a whole is obtained. The proposed concept of contradiction modelling is applied and tested in selected family enterprise.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how in many industries manufacturing complexity and unpredictability have increased in recent years because of increasing product variety and shortening product life cycles. Simultaneously, manufacturers in these industries appear to have more problems with maintaining high quality levels.Design/methodology/approachThe research studies the effects of increasing product variety and shortening product life cycles on one control system: quality management.FindingsIn situations of shortening product life cycles, the empirical data support the increased use of interactive quality control systems, as predicted by the model. However, in situations of increasing product variety the expected increase in interactive control systems has not been found. Application of a control model in the field of quality management is found to be useful in explaining how contextual factors influence the management of quality.Originality/valueThis research takes a novel approach by applying a model from the field of management control to case studies at three European automotive manufacturers.

In primary and urgent care, headache and facial pain are common and challenging to diagnose and manage, especially with using opioids appropriately. We therefore developed the Decision Support Tool for Responsible Pain Management (DS-RPM) to assist healthcare providers in diagnosis (including multiple simultaneous diagnoses), workup (including triage), and opioid-risk-informed treatment. A primary goal was to supply sufficient explanations of DS-RPM’s functions allowing critique. We describe the process of iteratively designing DS-RPM adding clinical content and testing/defect discovery. We tested DS-RPM remotely with 21 clinician-participants using three vignettes—cluster headache, migraine, and temporal arteritis—after first training to use DS-RPM with a trigeminal-neuralgia vignette. Their evaluation was both quantitative (usability/acceptability) and qualitative using semi-structured interviews. The quantitative evaluation used 12 Likert-type questions on a 1–5 scale, where 5 represented the highest rating. The mean ratings ranged from 4.48 to 4.95 (SDs ranging 0.22–1.03). Participants initially found structured data entry intimidating but adapted and appreciated its comprehensiveness and speed of data capture. They perceived DS-RPM as useful for teaching and clinical practice, making several enhancement suggestions. The DS-RPM was designed, created, and tested to facilitate best practice in management of patients with headaches and facial pain. Testing the DS-RPM with vignettes showed strong functionality and high usability/acceptability ratings from healthcare providers. Risk stratifying for opioid use disorder to develop a treatment plan for headache and facial pain is possible using vignettes. During testing, we considered the need to adapt usability/acceptability evaluation tools for clinical decision support, and future directions.

Discrete Choice Models and Applications in Operations Management

Linear Programming Based Near-Optimal Pricing for Laminar Bayesian Online Selection

This paper discusses the development of strategic information systems (SIS) and examines the impact of SIS applications in operations management on sustaining organisational competitiveness. It reviews the methodology, the process and the critical parameters and factors of SIS development. A management model for SIS development that integrates various perspectives of competitive advantage, business strategy, information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) is proposed. The purposes of this paper are to review the state of published SIS research, and develop a management model that identifies a five-stage SIS development process. In synthesising SIS planning methodologies advocated in literature, the paper also elaborates an implementation guideline accompanying the proposed model.