University West
Not a member yet
5762 research outputs found
Sort by
Characteristics of high-temperature heat-affected zones in duplex stainless steels
The level of ferritization in the high temperature heat-affected zone (HT-HAZ) affects the weldability of duplex stainless steels. The modern grades show different sensitivity and especially the nitrogen content has been proposed to control the grain growth and austenite formation. In this work, 3-, 4- and 5-mm thick UNS S32101, UNS S32304, UNS S32205 and UNS S32750 with a nitrogen range of 0.09–0.28 wt.-% were considered. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) was conducted bead-on-plate with pure argon (Ar) and Ar + 2% N2 as shielding gas. Measurements of the HT-HAZ width and ferrite content were compared with values reported for welds and thermo-mechanical Gleeble® simulations in existing literature. The HT-HAZ width decreased with the material thickness and the nitrogen content in the base metal, while only the nitrogen alloying had a clear effect on the phase balance. Nitrogen additions to the shielding gas efficiently counteracted weld metal nitrogen loss and improved the austenite formation as compared to 100% Ar but had no clear effect on the HT-HAZ width nor ferrite content. A positive influence of the base material nitrogen content on the phase balance could be validated with thermodynamic simulations using Thermo-Calc and DICTRA, but the negative effect of high cooling rates was underestimated. CC-BY 4.0</p
Beyond Digital Technology : Synthesizing Micro-Foundations for Manufacturing Organizations’ Transforming Capability
This single case explores micro-foundations of traditional manufacturing organizations’ transforming capability to expand the understanding of organizing and continuously supporting an organization in adopting digital technologies. Data collection consisted of five focus groups and nine interviews. In total, 30 unique informants participated. Findings show how informants experience the organization to hem potential conversations due to the organizational structure and the need to communicate between functions. Hence, the potential positive effects of introducing digital technologies might be lost due to not recognizing the need for nonlinear clusters of individuals, groups, and in the end - the organization. By illuminating microfoundations in the transforming capability, this study shows the need to recognize structural and social aspects in the strategic work of implementing digital technologies. © 2024 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.CC BY-NC-ND 4.0</p
System för öppning och tömning av påsar
Björkåfrihet är ett ideellt företag som arbetar med insamling och försäljning av begagnade kläder. I detta examensarbete undersöks den del av processen där insamlade klädpåsar anländer till företagets sorteringsanläggning. Fokus ligger specifikt på att konstruera och utvärdera ett automatiserat system för öppning och tömning av påsar utan att tillföra betydande skada på innehållet. Denna process utförs för närvarande manuellt, vilket medför både kostnader för personal och ineffektiv återvinningsprocess. Detta projekt är också en effekt av det ökade inflödet av begagnade kläder som skänks till verksamheten. För att utveckla detta automatiserade system börjar projektet med att undersöka de metoder som ska tillämpas och vilka som är mest effektiva för att uppnå projektets mål. I metodavsnittet samlas även data in genom mailintervjuer, litteraturstudier samt en analys av de metoder som används i konceptutvecklingsprocessen. En idégenereringsprocess inleds där projektets problemställning bryts ner för att identifiera potentiellt lämpliga tekniska egenskaper. De egenskaper som bedöms ha störst potential till att möta projektets mål går därefter vidare till nästa steg. Dessa egenskaper integreras i olika koncept som sedan utvärderas, vilket möjliggör en analys av hur de olika egenskaperna samverkar. Genom utveckling, testning och utvärdering av dessa koncept resulterar processen i framställning och utvärdering av tre slutgiltiga prototyper. Risker relaterade till olika egenskaper, koncept och prototyper identifieras och diskuteras. En grundlig riskanalys ger inte bara en tydlig bild av uppenbara risker kopplade till testningen,utan ger även en möjlighet till att reflektera över vilka risker som potentiellt kan tänkas framträda vid en mer storskalig återvinningsprocess. Eftersom detta projekt endast utgör en del av den fullständiga automationslösningen, är det av vikt att identifiera potentiella områden för framtida arbete. Dessa framtida med syftet att bidra till kunskapsbyggande för andra aktörer inom området.Björkåfrihet is a non-profit organization engaged in the collection and sale of second-hand clothing. This thesis examines the part of the process where collected clothing bags arrive at the company's sorting facility. The focus is specifically on designing and evaluating an automated system for opening and emptying the bags without causing significant damage to the contents. This process is currently performed manually, which incurs both labor costs and inefficiencies in the recycling process. The project is also a response to the increased influx of donated second-hand clothing to the organization.To develop this automated system, the project begins by investigating the methods to be applied and determining which are most effective in achieving the project's objectives. The methodology section includes data collection through email interviews, literature reviews, and an analysis of methods used in the concept development process.An ideation process is initiated where the project’s problem statement is broken down to identify potentially suitable technical features. The features deemed most promising in meeting the project's goals proceed to the next stage. These features are integrated into various concepts that are then evaluated, enabling an analysis of how the different features interact. Through the development, testing, and evaluation of these concepts, the process results in the creation and assessment of three final prototypes.Risks related to different features, concepts, and prototypes are identified and discussed. A thorough risk analysis not only provides a clear understanding of the evident risks associated with testing but also offers an opportunity to reflect on potential risks that might arise in a more large-scale recycling process.Since this project constitutes only a part of the complete automation solution, it is essentialto identify potential areas for future work. These future efforts are presented with the aim of contributing to knowledge development for other stakeholders in the field
AI Implementation and Capability Development in Manufacturing : An Action Research Case
This action research article presents a case study of a global manufacturing company deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to develop capabilities and enhance decision-making. This study explores considerations and trade-offs involved in introducing AI into daily operations, leading up to the decision to develop AI capabilities in-house or outsource them. The case study offers in-depth technical descriptions of model selection, dataset creation, model adoption, model training and evaluation while addressing organizational obstacles and decision-making processes. The study’s findings highlight the importance of collaboration between technical experts, business leaders, and end-users, as well as the interaction and collaboration between AI systems and human employees in the workplace. The article contributes a practical perspective on AI implementation in manufacturing, emphasizing the need to balance in-house capability development with external acquisition. Although the case study company managed to create an in-house model, factors such as implementation, debugging, data requirements, training time, and performance led to outsourcing the capabilities. However, making this informed decision required capabilities and insights that were acquired through practical work. Consequently, although in-house development can be challenging, it can also enhance organizational capabilities and provide the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions about future development or outsourcing. © 2024 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0</p
En fallstudie av en handledningspraktik i kombinationsutbildning
I en alltmer global värld flyttar människor och behöver söka försörjning men också lära sig nya språk. För att möta detta behov anordnas i Sverige kombinationsutbildningar, där svenska läses i kombination med en yrkesutbildning, där även praktik ingår. Den här studien fokuserar på hur en handledare på praktikplats kan underlätta elevens språk och yrkesrelaterade inlärning genom att skapa en gränsöverskridande handledningspraktik. Syftet med studien är att undersöka handledningspraktiken i kombinationsutbildningar. Forskningsfrågorna är: Vilka gränsöverskridande insatser görs för att underlätta för eleven att lära sig språk och yrke samtidigt? Hur kan handledare skapa en gränsöverskridande praktik som innehåller affordances för lärande? I denna etnografiska studie undersöks en kombinationsutbildning med inriktning lokalvård. Dataproduktionen består av 241 timmars observationer av svensklektioner, yrkeslektioner och arbete på praktikplats. Materialet har analyserats utifrån teorier om gränsöverskridanden (Akkerman & Bakker, 2011) och affordances (van Lier, 2000). Förväntade resultat visar att handledaren på praktikplatsen skapar en gränsöverskridande praktik som består av ungefär två timmars teoretiska studier varje dag eleven tillbringar på praktiken. Gränspraktiken ger eleven flera möjligheter att använda målspråket både muntligt och skriftligt. Studien har relevans för Nordand 16 genom att den belyser hur en handledningspraktik kan stötta elevers inlärning av såväl andraspråket som yrkeskunskaper.
The association between pain and psychiatric conditions in adolescents : The impact of gender and ADHD diagnosis
Background and objectives: The relationship between pain and psychiatric conditions in children and adolescents has been understudied. This study aimed to investigate the influence of gender on the association between pain and psychiatric diagnoses, as well as the specific relationship between pain and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in a sample of adolescents from the general population. Additionally, the study explored whether pain frequency or intensity in individuals with ADHD was influenced by coexisting psychiatric disorders and ADHD medications. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1608 conveniently sampled Swedish upper secondary school students aged 15–19 years. Data were collected at the end of 2020 using the electronic "Mental and Somatic Health without borders" survey. Results: A significant positive association (p < 0.001) was observed between pain frequency, intensity, and the presence of any psychiatric diagnosis. Female adolescents reported more frequent and intensive pain in the groups with or without any psychiatric diagnosis and in those with ADHD, however the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis had a comparatively lesser impact on pain frequency in females when compared to males. In adolescents with ADHD, pain frequency, but not intensity, showed a significant further increase. Moreover, the presence of coexisting depression and/or anxiety further heightened the association between pain frequency and ADHD. Notably, common ADHD medications did not have a significant impact on pain experiences. Headache emerged as the most prevalent type of pain across all groups of adolescents. Back pain specifically appeared as the next most common type of pain among adolescents with ADHD. Conclusion: The findings suggest a positive association between pain and the presence of psychiatric diagnoses, including ADHD, in adolescents. Gender modified this association. Back pain arised specifically coupled to ADHD. Common ADHD medications did not show a significant impact on pain experiences in this study. These results highlight the importance of a holistic approach to child and adolescent care. © 2023 The Author(s)CC BY</p
Women’s experiences during menopause and their contact with health care staff
Bakgrund: Klimakteriet är ett tillstånd som alla kvinnor genomgår. Besvärande symtom var vanligt förekommande och för en del kvinnor kunde dessa symtom medföra långsiktiga besvär som hade en negativ påverkan på deras liv. Upplevelsen av klimakteriet varierade mellan individer och det saknades ofta kunskap om tillståndet och hur det behandlades, både inom vården och i samhället. Personcentrerad vård kunde vara relevant för att möta kvinnornas individuella upplevelser. Syfte: Att beskriva kvinnors erfarenheter under klimakteriet och deras upplevelser i mötet med vårdpersonal. Metod: Systematisk litteraturöversikt, med sökningar gjorda i etablerade databaser. Analysen gjordes i tre steg, enligt mallen som framtogs av Popenoe m.fl (2021). Resultat: Beskrevs i tre huvudkategorier: Att vara oförberedd, Att möta hinder och möjligheter och Normer som styr. Det framkom att kvinnor saknade information och kunskap om sitt tillstånd och vilka behandlingar som erbjuds. Det var svårt att söka information och kvinnorna mötte svårigheter när de försökte leta sig fram i vårdkedjan. Vidare så framkom bristande kunskaper hos vårdpersonal, vilket försvårade behandlingarna av kvinnornas besvärande symtom, och bemötandet från vårdgivarna varierade mycket. Positiva kontakter med vårdgivare ökade empowerment hos kvinnorna och möjliggjorde egenvårdsinsatser i större utsträckning. Slutligen tydliggjordes problematiken kring de normer och fördomar som är kopplade till klimakteriet som tillstånd. Slutsats: Bristande kunskaper och normativa attityder kunde försvåra möjligheterna för kvinnor att få den individbaserade vård vid klimakterierelaterade symtom som de behövde. Tydliga informationsvägar och bra bemötande kunde stärka kvinnors självkänsla och hjälpa dem att hantera sina symtom.Nyckelord: Klimakteriet, Upplevelse,Background: Menopause is a condition that every woman encounters in their life. Troublesome symptoms can be frequent and can, for some women, cause difficulties in their daily lives that might persist for a long time. The menopause experience is different for every woman and the knowledge about the condition and the management of symptoms is lacking, both within the healthcare organization and in society in general. Personcentred care is a relevant concept to be able to provide individualized care and advice to women. Aim: To describe women’s experiences of menopause and their contact with health care staff. Method: A systematic literature review, with searches done through established databases. The analysis was made in three steps, in accordance with the framework established by Popenoe et al (2021). Results: Are described in three main categories: To be unprepared, To encounter obstructions and opportunities and Conformed by social norms. Women appeared to lack information and knowledge about menopause and symptom management. They encountered difficulties when searching for information and in navigating the healthcare system. Healthcaregivers lacked knowledge, which complicated and delayed adequate treatments, and their attitudes towards the women varied. A positive contact with the healthcaregivers appeared to increase empowerment in women and made it easier for them to cope and manage their symptoms on their own. Finally, the issue with social norms and preconceptions regarding menopause was described, and how it could affect both the attitudes in healthcare as well as the attitude from society. Conclusion: A lack of knowledge and an abundance of social norms complicates the contact with healthcare that women require in order to get access to the symptom management they need. Easily accessible information and supportive attitudes can increase empowerment and the women’s own ability to manage their symptoms
Improvement of automated transportation and curing of painted wheelsets
This thesis presents the work and results of the work from January 15th, 2024 to May19th, 2024. As trains are almost constantly on the rails, it is really important to maintain the train cars to prevent any accident from happening. As there are a lot of train cars type, all the companies that deal with these maintenance have to be quite versatile regarding their process. This is exactly the issue that meets the company SweMaintAB, the company targeted by this thesis. Until now, this company could handle allthe European wheelsets, but as more and more of them are using brake discs on the axle instead of breaking by friction with the wheels, the process have to be changed so new axles with brake discs can fit in the different stations of the process. The most critical part of the process, and the one that this thesis will focus on is the transportation between the painting station where the wheel sets are painted witha special paint, and the oven which cures the paint so it is fixed on the wheelsets.This report presents the research work done about this subject