Modern manufacturing has to deal with global competition, in which customers have high purchasing power. Production efficiency and rapid response to customer demand are dominant conditions for enterprises to stay successful. Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs) are designed to have a modular architecture in both mechanical design and control system. The architecture enables change of the machine structure quickly, by adding and removing parts of the system, and by changing the corresponding software programming. It can handle short times to market. This paper presents an ‘Index-Method’ to monitor the reconfiguration of RMS. The method is able to categorise the reconfiguration and related development in seven stages. It focusses specifically on the Independence Axiom. The main goal is to find all relevant parameters to cause interactions, and to decouple them. The solution, aiming to be scientifically vigorous and practically applicable, was applied to a true case; the development of a manufacturing system for an inkjet print head for industrial applications. The realisation of the system required the development of new process technology. The index-method may be considered successful. It has the ability to structure the configuration process of RMSs. The method harmonises well with the industry known V-model.
Maintaining independence is the most important goal of the majority of older people. The onset of disability in activities of daily living is one of the greatest threats to the ability of older people to live independently. Older people with a low socioeconomic status (SES) are at high risk of functional decline. It is unclear what predicts functional decline in older people with a low SES. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of 12-month functional decline in community-living older people with low SES in the Netherlands. Functional decline was defined as the inability to perform (instrumental) activities of daily living. A prognostic multicentre study was conducted, using data from The Dutch Older Persons and Informal Caregivers Survey Minimum DataSet. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted, using a stepwise backward selection process. Performance of the model was expressed by discrimination, calibration and accuracy. A total of 4.370 participants were included. The mean age of the participants was 80 years and 58.9% were female. Functional decline was present in 1486 participants (34.0%). Ten predictors were independently associated with the outcome. Dementia was the strongest predictor (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.04–3.23). Other predictors were age, education, poor health, quality of life rate, arthrosis/arthritis, hearing problems, anxiety/panic disorder, pain and less social activities. The final model showed an acceptable discrimination (C-statistic 0.69, 95% CI 0.67–0.70), calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow p-value 0.33) and accuracy (Brier score 0.20). Further research is needed to examine how functional decline can be ameliorated in this population.
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Objective: To obtain insight into (a) the prevalence of nursing staff–experienced barriers regarding the promotion of functional activity among nursing home residents, and (b) the association between these barriers and nursing staff–perceived promotion of functional activity. Method: Barriers experienced by 368 nurses from 41 nursing homes in the Netherlands were measured with the MAastrIcht Nurses Activity INventory (MAINtAIN)-barriers; perceived promotion of functional activities was measured with the MAINtAIN-behaviors. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Most often experienced barriers were staffing levels, capabilities of residents, and availability of resources. Barriers that were most strongly associated with the promotion of functional activity were communication within the team, (a lack of) referral to responsibilities, and care routines. Discussion: Barriers that are most often experienced among nursing staff are not necessarily the barriers that are most strongly associated with nursing staff–perceived promotion of functional activity.
