Alberto Martinetti, Preshant Awadhpersad, Sarbjeet Singh and Leo A.M. van Dongen
The paper aims to convert into useable guidelines, the knowledge related to human factors and tasks' organisation, which are embedded in one of the most exciting maintenance…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to convert into useable guidelines, the knowledge related to human factors and tasks' organisation, which are embedded in one of the most exciting maintenance actions that are carried out, the pitstop in Formula 1 races.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper opted for a fault tree analysis (FTA) to de-construct all the sub-tasks and their possible deviations from desirable situations and to evaluate the most relevant information needed for carrying out the pitstop operation. Besides, the SHELL model was applied in a second stage to evaluate the interaction between human being and human interfaces with other components of the system. Once this set of information was crystallised, the research translated it into useable guidelines for organising industrial maintenance actions using the same approach and possible reaching the same results.
Findings
The results of this study is a structured set of guidelines that encompasses the most paramount aspects that should be considered for setting correct maintenance actions. They represent a “guide” for including the different angles that are included during these operations.
Research limitations/implications
The guidelines are potentially applicable to every maintenance operation. The guidelines should be tested on different working domains to check their applicability besides the racing world.
Practical implications
This study is a reverse engineering work for creating a scheme to include into maintenance operations aspects such as crew athlete-like fitness, training, technology, organisational issues, safety, ergonomics and psychology.
Originality/value
The value of the paper is deconstructing the results of one of the most successful and prepared maintenance action. The paper takes a different approach in proposing how to structure and create maintenance solutions. The difference in approaches between the maintenance during the pitstop of Formula 1 car and industrial applications enhances the gap that needs still to be filled for further improving maintenance actions out of the racing world.
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Sarbjeet Singh, Rupesh Kumar and Uday Kumar
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate three techniques to extract human factor information from specific railway maintenance tasks. It describes the techniques and shows how…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate three techniques to extract human factor information from specific railway maintenance tasks. It describes the techniques and shows how these tools can be applied to identify improvements in maintenance practices and workflow.
Design/methodology/approach
Three case studies were conducted on single group of technicians (n=19) at a railway maintenance workshop in Luleå, Sweden. Case study I examined the posture of the technicians while they were changing the brake shoes of freight wagons; the study employed the Standard Nordic Questionnaire and a videotape using the Ovako Working Posture Analysis System (OWAS). Case study II looked at maintenance repair times required to change the wheel axle on freight wagons at the workshop. A video filming method suggested by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work was used to measure actual maintenance time. Finally, case study III considered the technicians’ (n=19) perception of work demands, their control over the work and their social support while performing maintenance tasks (brake shoe and wheel axle maintenance); to this end, the case study used a demand control support questionnaire.
Findings
In the first case study, the Standard Nordic Questionnaire confirmed that technicians at this particular railway vehicle maintenance workshop suffer from back and shoulder pain. The Ovako Working Posture Analysis showed that 21 percent of the working time required to fit the brake wedge and cotter pin fits into two OWAS categories: category 3, where “change is required as soon as possible,” and category 4, where “change is required immediately”. Problems stem from poor workplace layout, incorrect posture and inaccessibility of tools and components. In the second study, the video analysis indicated that the working time to change the wheel axle of a freight wagon is greatly affected by poor workplace layout. The third case study showed that the technicians have lower “psychological demands” (mean=13), “higher control over work” (mean=16) and “high social support” (mean=22).
Practical implications
The objective of this study was to apply knowledge about human factors to the functional relationships between maintenance personnel, tasks and the working environment to improve safety. If the workplace layout, working posture, maintenance manuals and accessibility of tools are poorly planned, maintenance performance can be adversely affected. The results of this study should assist maintenance management to design new policies and guidelines for improving the work environment.
Originality/value
Three case studies were conducted at a railway maintenance workshop in Luleå, Sweden, to collect data on how human factors affect various railway maintenance tasks.
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Sarbjeet Singh and Sunand Kumar
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of main parameters and their interactions on the workers' Lifting Index in a steel rolling mill.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of main parameters and their interactions on the workers' Lifting Index in a steel rolling mill.
Design/methodology/approach
NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting equation has been used to evaluate the risk of lifting tasks with respect to low back injury under varying load (10, 15, 20 kg), frequency (2, 3, 4 lifts/min), and twisting angle (0, 30, 45 degree).
Findings
The level of importance of the parameters on lifting index at origin and destination has been determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA).The analysis draws on lifting parameters and uses both main effects and interactions to describe the variation in Lifting Index and to identify the social influence associated with back injury. The interactions between object weight and twisting angle and object weight and lifting frequency turn out to be significant (p<0.05), whereas the interaction between twisting angle and lifting frequency is less significant (p=0.061).
Research limitations/implications
The study includes a specific location (steel rolling mills located in Jammu region of India) only.
Practical implications
The findings suggest that focus should be made on all lifting parameters, rather than sole emphasis on the load to be lifted.
Originality/value
The paper supports the view that load, twisting angle and lifting frequency greatly influence the physical stressfulness of the task. It is suggested that the workplace should be designed for negligible twisting and moderate lifting frequency, so as to have minimum Lifting Index.
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Sarbjeet Kaushal and Satnam Singh
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of slurry erosion at different parameters on plasma sprayed Cr3C2 coated 13Cr4Ni turbine steel and compare the results of coated…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of slurry erosion at different parameters on plasma sprayed Cr3C2 coated 13Cr4Ni turbine steel and compare the results of coated steel with bare steel.
Design/methodology/approach
Cr3C2 + 25NiCr coating was successfully developed on 13Cr4Ni turbine steel using plasma spraying method. The slurry erosion test was performed using a simulated erosion testing rig. The commercially available silica sand was used as abrasive media and the effect of concentration (ppm), average particle sizes and rotational speed on the slurry erosion behavior were studied at 300 and 900 impact angles. Developed coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscope, XRD, EDS and micro hardness tests and study of erosion wear.
Findings
Results revealed that three times higher hardness of coatings was obtained because of the hard phases of chromium carbide and nickel carbide, which restricted the abrasive wear in comparison to uncoated steel. Lower abrasive wear was observed at 900 impact angle coupled with lower levels of slurry concentration and rotational speed. Further, it was observed that initially cumulative mass loss rate was high which gets stabilized after the surface become smooth and on exposing for higher periods. Overall results indicated that erosive wear was reduced significantly by the application of developed coating.
Originality/value
The developed plasma sprayed coating is very useful to enhance the service life of turbine steel by lowering the effect of slurry erosion.