Abstract The idea that technology is only a value-neutral instrument that can be used for good and bad purposes is not tenable anymore. Technology shapes our human life in all its dimensions and determines the direction of social changes. In the paper, I first show a few arguments in favor of the value-ladenness of technology and then approaches developed in response to that fact. I will argue that none of those responses is satisfactory, for they lack a formative value framework that would serve for decisions and their justification in the realm of technology development. Building such a framework requires a transdisciplinary and cooperative effort.
Abstract The mining production process is of particular importance for the area of Upper Silesia, as well as a very significant impact on the economy of the entire country. One of the most common and most dangerous threats to this process is the methane hazard. It is related to the presence of methane in coal seams, which under appropriate conditions is a flammable and explosive gas. Events related to the methane hazard constitute a huge threat to the life and health of the crew as well as the infrastructure and equipment of excavations. Therefore, they have a huge impact on the efficiency of the entire mining production process. In order to ensure the safety and continuity of the production process, it is necessary to prevent the formation of dangerous methane concentrations in the area covered by the operation. One of the tools that can be used to assess the state of methane hazard are model studies supported by numerical simulation. Based on these studies, the article analyzes the distribution of methane concentration in the mining area. This area included an actual mining excavation in one of the hard coal mines. The model tests were carried out with the use of the finite volume method in the ANSYS Fluent software. The obtained results can be used for preventive measures and constitute an important source of information for the assessment of the methane hazard state.
Abstract Cementing of casing string is a final operation before the next stage of well construction; it provides maximum operational life of the well. Cementing of casing string is carried out with the use of technology, based on squeezing of the whole volume of drilling mud by special grouting composition. The main purposes of cementing include isolation of water-bearing horizon, strengthening of borehole walls in unconsolidated and unstable rocks. Well cementing process is divided into five subsequent operations. Firstly, grouting mixture is prepared in concrete mixers (cementing units) with necessary water-to-cement ratio and additives. Secondly, prepared grouting solution is injected in a well. Thirdly, the solution is squeezed into the space between the casing pipes and wellbore walls. Then it is necessary to wait until the cement sheath is hardened. And at last, quality control is carried out. For convenient transportation, the equipment for well cementing is installed on the truck chassis (KAMAZ, URAL and etc.). All components are poured in concrete mixer, then the water is added and everything is being mixed until formation of uniform mass, which is later pumped in a well. Oil and Gas Industry Safety Regulations say that «calculated endurance of casing string cementing should not exceed 75% of time of cement thickening, established by laboratory tests». Therefore, it is necessary to carry out all operations of injection of fluids into the well as soon as possible without any incompliances of the cementing technology. With cementing material used and its water-to-cement ratio of 0.5, the average time of cement thickening is 120 minutes, according to laboratory tests. Therefore, a set of operations of injection of fluids should not exceed 90 minutes.
Abstract The mining production process includes a number of sub-processes, the most important of which is mining the rock mass. In this process, increasingly modern mining machines are being used to replace human labor and to achieve high productivity. Full utilization of the potential of these machines is of great importance for the efficiency of individual stages and the whole process of mining production. In the process of mining the rock mass, the use of machinery of a mechanized longwall system is of fundamental significance. Their availability, efficiency and reliability significantly affect the efficiency of the whole mining production process. The paper refers to the availability of a longwall shearer as the basic machine of a mechanized mining system. Based on the analysis of diagnostic signals, recorded by the industrial automation system, the availability of the longwall shearer was determined for 10 selected cycles of its operation. The analysis also included the phases of these cycles, treated as separate periods of the shearer’s work. This division is a consequence of a great difference in the character of the shearer’s work in particular phases of the operating cycle. The analysis covered the phases of cutting, mining and shunting. The determined temporal waveforms and the shearer’s availability in these phases show their great diversity. Therefore, the results indicated the necessity to analyze the operation of mining machines in their characteristic periods, which can be the basis for minimizing unplanned interruptions in their operation and improving the efficiency of their use.
Abstract Throughout history, human beings have been affected by the ongoing events in their environment. While some of the events take place in the sphere they live on, some of them are in the way that events outside the earth affect the world. Necessary measures should be taken on time and in place so that people are not adversely affected or at least minimally affected by the aforementioned events. Geological hazards are the most important risks that occur in the environment of human beings and have a high probability of damaging people’s life and property. In terms of risk management of geological hazards, which are divided into four main groups as seismic, hydro-meteorological, terrain instability and volcanic hazard and have their own characteristics, the efforts to prevent and reduce losses for each of them also differ within themselves. In this review article, geological hazards were introduced in general by giving various examples from the world, the effects of geological disasters on the economy and production were discussed, and the points to be considered for each risk were tried to be emphasized.
Abstract In general, the production processes are more and more complex. This is the result of more and more sophisticated materials used, the pressure to save them as well as other production resources (ecological perspective), also the tendency to buy mobile products lighter and less power consuming than before. In previous years using highly specialized technology was very costly for the company. Nowadays, this situation is possible to be changed because of emerging types of modern micro-controllers and variety of compatible sensors. Some of those micro-controllers are more power saving, some are more powerful in terms of computing power. The common denominator is that both purchasing them as well as programming is possible for ordinary person, a hobbyist building DIY projects. This sheds new light to the professional usage of modern micro-controllers-based solutions that can become possible to offer comparable level of precision at the fraction of cost. The authors recognized the strong potential in modern micro-controllers and made the research among professionals in the area of production companies. The outcome of research showed that the professionals share the opinion of the authors. Therefore, the outbreak of usage of such inexpensive solutions in professional applications is expected. However, the research showed, that there is possible to find single situations, where usage of modern micro-controllers may be limited, for example in the company targeted to produce hand-made products or handicraft (manufacture).
Abstract The article is one of a series of articles (Molenda, 2020) in which the results of studies on the assessment of the quality policy in industrial enterprises operating in Poland have been described. When carrying out the surveys in the years 2015-2019, in addition to the quality policy, the type of organizational culture of enterprises was identified, among other things. This allowed to divide enterprises into 4 groups, depending on the dominant type of organizational culture identified according to the Cameron-Quinn methodology (Cameron K., Quinn R. 2003). This study compares the quality policies of these enterprises in terms of their orientation towards improvement characteristic of the TQM philosophy. The first part of the article describes the issue of the quality policy in the context of organizational culture. The body of the article contains the results of studies conducted among 166 enterprises. A preliminary statistical analysis of the results allowed to answer the question of what is the level of orientation of the implemented quality policy towards improvement and whether this level varies depending on the organizational culture.
Abstract It is commonly believed that the current economic state of many countries is at the stage of the fourth industrial revolution. The changes resulting from this revolution are affecting all sectors of the economy, including the printing sector. The aim of this article is to analyse the state of the art technology in sheetfed printing and then to identify the challenges for further changes in the technology of this type of printing as well as technological and organisational changes in the processes of preparation and realisation of printing products. The article uses case studies of selected technologies offered by key technology suppliers in this area and case studies of selected business entities – manufacturers of printing products. The research approach adopted in this article also takes conceptual work into account. It was found that the observed changes in the printing industry are consistent with the assumptions of the Industry 4.0 concept in the aspect of the digitisation and mass personalisation of products, which leads to the thesis that in the future personalised digital printing ordered through self-service will play a dominant role.
Abstract We make purchases almost every day. We buy some products very often (e.g. food), others less often (e.g. furniture, car). Shops, selling products to customers, are not their producers, but rather provide them with services (commercial service). It is important that the customer, after making the purchase, is satisfied not only with the product, but also with the purchasing process itself. In order to determine what are the reasons for customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction, it is necessary to assess the quality of services, i.e. the process of making purchases by customers. In the available literature, there are many methods that are used to assess the service quality. However, their use is associated with the need to identify attributes that could well describe the service provision process, but also be a source of knowledge about customer satisfaction. The Retail Service Quality Scale (RSQS) developed by Dabholkar and his colleagues is applicable to assess the quality of services provided by shops, so it can be a ready-made tool that does not require the researchers to define attributes, as would be the case when using traditional methods. The aim of the paper was to assess the quality of operation of a traditional shop using the RSQS methodology. This study was carried out using a paper questionnaire that contained the attributes proposed in the RSQS. The survey was conducted among customers of a selected shop. The analyzed results made it possible to determine the quality level of commercial services provided by the research shop and to indicate its strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, the possibility of using the ready-made RSQS scale to assess the quality of commercial services provided in Polish economic realities was confirmed.
Abstract In hard coal mines with methane, there is often a need to apply demethylation in order to keep the methane concentration not exceeding 2% in the ventilation air. The basic demethylation method in longwall areas is through drainage boreholes made in the roof rocks of the coal bed, from top gate, in front of the longwall. The drainage boreholes are usually made in bundles, in a fan-shaped arrangement, with several boreholes in each bundle. The paper presents the results of measurements and tests of the efficiency of a bundle of four drainage boreholes drilled approximately 100 m in front of the longwall face. The efficiency of individual boreholes was analyzed in time and depending on the distance of borehole outlets from the longwall face. It was found that there is a large variation in the extraction of air-methane mixture by individual drainage boreholes, as well as large differences in the efficiency of individual drainage boreholes during the longwall extraction process.
Abstract A research was conducted among the employees referred to work in the home office in connection with the announced state of the epidemic in Poland. The research was conducted using a questionnaire method, the study was attended by 199 respondents. The research is burdened with an error in the selection of statistical sample units, which resulted from the respondents’ involvement and their truthfulness. The aim of the article is to assess the activities of employers from the private and state sectors in Poland, related to the delegation of employees to work in the home office, and to analyze the skills and possibilities of self-organization of work by employees. An important result of the survey was to demonstrate the differences in the behavior of public and private sector employers. The study shows that the private sector has adapted better to sudden changes than the state sector.
Abstract The paper describes a solution of reverse engineering tasks using the equipment of the laboratory of the Technical University in Zvolen. The first task was linked to evaluation of a wear rate of the tool used to for mulching and elimination of unwanted wood or weed vegetation. The obtained data will be used as a base line for determination of the time interval for the tool replacement. We developed a prototype of components and their drawing documentation for a single-purpose machine for cutting barley. We created the 3D model using the method of photogrammetry. The finished drawing documentation and prototypes were handed over to the company KRUP. Finally, we identified the most suitable procedures for creating a model of a part with a complex shape. We tested the techniques of editing the point cloud processing, as well as of smoothing the surfaces and automating the creation of partial geometric elements of the model. Based on the properties of the component, which is the starting point of the entire reverse engineering process and from the achieved results, we set recommendations for the selection of appropriate procedures.
Abstract In the article, the authors describe, using the example of a selected class of technical means, their concept of replacing the “classical” linear management (exploitation) model with a circular economy (CE) model. An example of an object for which the authors plan to test the feasibility of the concept presented above is a household washing machine driven by a DC motor. The description of this object included in the article considers its complexity and multiplicity of assemblies, sub-assemblies, and elements. The DC electric motor driving the washing machine was considered the most important from the point of view of the created model, especially in terms of the possibility of maintenance and repair. For such an engine, the article presents the maintenance and disposal model as elements of the concept of building a ‘circular’ business model. The authors assumed that the formal basis for such a model would be the so-called circular model. The methodology and plan of the research carried out at Super Asia washing machine company in Pakistan were introduced, and the research results were shown. With the use of these results, an attempt was made to assess the requirements that the application of the CE business model places on manufacturers of a selected class of devices, both in their manufacture, repair, sharing and dematerialization. The concept of further research is described at the end of the article.
Abstract In the era of digitization and general access to Internet resources, it seems natural to expect fast, direct, and tailored access to the knowledge of interest. The research shows that the use of modern technologies is not reserved only for industrial solutions, but can be applied in common use. Solutions based on artificial intelligence can provide solutions to many problems of the modern world. This is particularly visible in the era of challenges related to ecology (e.g. minimization of paper consumption) and expectations of fast access to information regardless of place and time. Treating chatbots as a tool supporting the customer in current activities, quick problem-solving shows the potential and care for the image of the producers. Developing the functionality of virtual assistants used for marketing activities with the functionality of technical support can bring tangible benefits both in the economic and social spheres. It should be noted that electronic versions of documents, knowledge transferred in an interactive form can be easily updated and presented in different forms. This increases the attractiveness of transmitted knowledge, users can choose the appropriate form, and access to these resources becomes easier. Artificial intelligence-based tools in the form of chatbots (also called virtual assistants) seem to be a solution worthy of interest. This paper presents the process of developing a virtual assistant to support the maintenance and repair activities of small household appliances. A chatbot aims at gathering in one place and then providing dedicated knowledge resources to an individual user on a just-in-time basis.
Abstract In the article the way of improvement quality of life as users and maintainers of technical means is presented. It is assumed that it is necessary to keep the fundamental of sustainable development. Therefore the application of the scheme of the process of satisfying needs is shown. It helps establish the activities necessary to achieve this goal and enables to plan required information resources. In the range of exploitation and design tasks the application of original strategy of exploitation by older persons was proposed. This strategy uses 6R method which in the future will be supplemented on elements commonly executed strategies and policies of exploitation. Decision making in accordance with proposed strategy will be possible by performing calculations and simulation with the use of multidisciplinary model, whose conception was indicated in the article and which uses matrix of assessment of the quality of life.
Abstract This article is focused on enhancement of HW/SW device by cooperation with a smartphone interface. The device was a programmable Lego Mindstorms Education EV3 set in the form of a robot designed to solve the Rubik’s Cube. The aim of the research was to replace the built-in color sensor with a camera that would allow the cube scanning process to be accelerated. Two approaches were chosen to meet the goal: the NXTcam camera, accessible as an accessory to expand the set, and the camera built into the smartphone. The use of NXTcam led to better scan time, but this result was prone to external influences. The camera on the smartphone sped up the scanning process to 57% of the original time. The impact of external factors on the outcome was significantly lower, compared to NXTcam. In the experiment, the cube solving process was observed in natural light, with addition distractive light source and in artificial light.
Abstract In the era of global market and internationalization of enterprises, an extremely important element influencing the competitiveness of companies is ensuring high quality of manufactured products, taking into account the requirements and expectations of buyers. At the moment when defects appear in the manufactured product, the production plant ceases to meet the expectations of customers. Not only is this related to the costs of production or complaints, but above all to the loss of credibility and good customer opinion. It is extremely important to identify and analyze the causes of this phenomenon as soon as possible, without allowing it to repeat itself. The problem of manufacturing defects becomes even more important when it poses a threat to the health or life of the customer. This also applies to products manufactured for the purposes of food protection. This article presents the results of the research that enabled the development of a method to reduce the production defects of a selected product in a glass factory. In order to achieve the goal, an analysis of the production process of the selected glass packaging was carried out, which allowed to identify defects and determine the causes and effects of their formation. Based on the presented research results, improvement measures have been proposed, consisting in developing a new organization of work in the area of quality control.
Abstract At present, there are a large number of manufacturers operating on the market, which are engaged in the production and distribution of mechatronic and robotic toys. These toys range from the cheapest and simplest to sophisticated costly models for play education. Looking at the market offer, it can be stated that mechatronic toys are being produced, which are intended for children of several months. When developing children’s and educational robotics, it is, therefore, necessary to take into account the psychomotor development of the child. Respecting or not respecting it has a major impact on the success of the toy for the consumer and the fulfillment of the educational goal for which it is intended. Last but not least, in connection with the child’s development, the question arises as to what ergonomic principles, when designing toys intended for children depending on age, need to be respected and implemented into solutions to eliminate problems related to the development of children’s and educational robotics. The subject of interest in the article is the age groups of children from birth to preschool age. The aim of the article is to identify which factors in the construction of children’s robotic toys for the youngest children up to the period of preschool age are key from the point of view of ergonomics.
Abstract Energy and climate issues are an essential part of the sustainable development process of the EU countries. They are also one of the primary objectives of international policy, as evidenced by their inclusion in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN in 2015 among the Sustainable Development Goals. The implementation of these goals is also taking place in the EU countries. Although climate protection and energy transition activities have been undertaken in the EU for years, individual countries significantly vary in this regard. The aim of the research, the results of which are presented in this paper, was to analyze similarities between the EU countries in terms of sustainable energy and climate development. The analysis was conducted for all EU countries, based on 14 indicators characterizing energy and climate sustainability, in energy, climate, social and economic dimensions. Kohonen’s artificial neural networks were used for analysis. The research was conducted for data from the period between 2009-2018. The results showed that in the studied period (10 years), significant differences were found between the EU countries. A high level of energy and climate development was reported for Sweden, Denmark, Austria and France, among other states, and a low level for e.g., the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria.
Abstract The supervision of OHS conditions (working conditions and the realization of work tasks) is one of the basic obligations of the employer. The number and variety of describing elements (and thus being subject to assessment) means that synthetic measures (measures that are one-dimensional images of complex phenomena) are more and more frequently applied to solve problems of that type. Although the methods of multivariate statistics used for this purpose differ in the way they treat assessment criteria (defining mutual dependency thresholds, unifying the field of compared criteria), the final effect of their application always offers the option to replace the entire set of features describing a given object with one variable (aggregate). The article presents a potential applicability of one of the so-called discrete multi-criteria decision-making methods (Simple Additive Weighting), which allows to determine a linear combination of normalized elements of the decision matrix and the elements of weight vector. As part of the article, the working conditions at 5 workstations were assessed (a miner’s workstation in 5 underground mine workings being excavated), taking into account 8 assessment criteria (6 were cost criteria and 2 – criteria of qualitative character). In effect of the application of the Simple Additive Weighting method, we could determine the ranking vector R, which allowed to order the examined objects and to carry out a comprehensive assessment of OSH conditions occurring in them.
