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Now showing 1 - 5 of 12

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Education and the Fourth Industrial Revolution: eight years later
(Research India Publications, 2024-10-31) Kehdinga, George Fomunyam
This paper delves into the transformative impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on various sectors, with a particular focus on education. Divided into three comprehensive sections, the first part explores the dynamics of 4IR, detailing the technological advancements and innovations that characterise this era, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics. The second section examines the application of these 4IR technologies in the educational landscape, highlighting how they are reshaping teaching methodologies, learning environments, and administrative processes. This includes an analysis of smart classrooms, personalised learning experiences, and the integration of digital tools in curriculum delivery. The third section envisions future possibilities, considering the potential long-term impacts of 4IR technologies on education and society at large. It discusses emerging trends, potential challenges, and opportunities for further innovation. The paper also addresses some arguments against the existence of an Industrial Revolution, questioning whether the changes we are witnessing constitute a true revolution or merely an evolution of existing technologies. The conclusion summaries the key discussions, emphasising the need for adaptive strategies to harness the full potential of 4IR in education while critically evaluating the concept of an industrial revolution itself. Through this exploration, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how 4IR is revolutionising education and what the future may hold.
Unraveling the root causes of low overall equipment effectiveness in the kit packing department: a Define–Measure–Analyze–Improve–Control approach
(MDPI AG) Mncwango, Bongumenzi; Mdunge, Zithobe Lisanda
Low Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) remains a critical challenge in manufacturing, affecting productivity and operational efficiency. This study investigates the persistent issue of low OEE in the kit packing department of a South African Original Equipment Manufacturer, where frequent downtime (DT) has resulted in OEE that is consistently below 60%. Using the Define–Measure–Analyze–Improve–Control (DMAIC) methodology, this research identifies the root causes of inefficiencies before implementing corrective actions. Data analysis revealed that material-related issues (84%) and manpower issues (15%) were the primary contributors to downtime. These inefficiencies led to equipment underutilization and financial losses due to production delays and overproduction of unnecessary kits. This study significantly enhances manufacturing efficiency by addressing these root causes, leading to reduced downtime and optimized machine usage. The financial benefits include substantial cost savings and improved resource utilization. The methodology and findings are applicable across various industries, contributing to the broader field of industrial engineering. The research highlights how misalignment between production planning and execution exacerbates inefficiencies. While this paper presents findings from the Define, Measure, and Analyze phases, the Improve and Control phases will follow in future work. The results provide a foundation for developing targeted interventions to enhance OEE and manufacturing performance.
Barriers and facilitators of implementing a healthy lifestyle intervention at workplaces in South Africa
(MDPI AG, 2024-3) Singh, Shivneta; Naicker, Ashika; Grobbelaar, Heleen; Singh, Evonne Shanita; Spiegelman, Donna; Shrestha, Archana
Current evidence indicates that workplace health and wellness programmes provide numerous benefits concerning altering cardiovascular risk factor profiles. Implementing health programmes at workplaces provide an opportunity to engage adults towards positive and sustainable lifestyle choices. The first step in designing lifestyle interventions for the workplace is understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing interventions in these settings. The barriers and facilitators to implementing lifestyle interventions in the workplace environment was qualitatively explored at two multinational consumer goods companies among seven workplaces in South Africa. Semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with ten workplace managers. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among workplace employees. The IDI findings revealed that the main facilitators for participation in a lifestyle intervention programme were incentives and rewards, educational tools, workplace support, and engaging lessons. In contrast, the main facilitator of the FGDs was health and longevity. The main barriers from the IDIs included scheduling time for lifestyle interventions within production schedules at manufacturing sites, whereas time limitations, a lack of willpower and self-discipline were the main barriers identified from the FGDs. The findings of this study add to literature on the barriers and facilitators of implementing healthy lifestyle interventions at workplaces and suggest that there is a potential for successfully implementing intervention programmes to improve health outcomes, provided that such efforts are informed and guided through the engagement of workplace stakeholders, an assessment of the physical and food environment, and the availability of workplace resources.
A new Fermatean fuzzy Spearman-like correlation coefficient and its application in evaluating insecurity problem via multi-criteria decision-making approach
(Elsevier BV, 2024-11) Ejegwa, Paul Augustine; Kausar, Nasreen; Aydin, Nezir; Feng, Yuming; Olanrewaju, Oludolapo Akanni
The problem of insecurity is a global crisis with adverse effects on lives and properties. Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient is a dependable method for handling imprecision, which is the main bottleneck of insecurity assessment. A number of Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient methods have been developed. Based on Spearman's correlation coefficient, an innovative Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method is built to enhance trustworthy insecurity assessment. The existing Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient methods are evaluated, and their shortcomings are identified in order to validate the construction of a new Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method. The drawbacks of the existing methods lead us into building a new Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method by using the Spearman's correlation coefficient approach, which has the potential of overcoming the drawbacks of the existing Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient methods. In addition, some theoretical findings are provided to support the strength of the novel Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method and it is shown that the new method satisfies the Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient requirements. Furthermore, the novel Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method is applied to assess the insecurity situation in the North-Central Region of Nigeria to furnish intended tourists with relevant travel advice. To demonstrate the inherent significance of the novel Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method, we compare its effectiveness to that of the extant Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient methods. The results of the comparison show the superiority of the novel Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient method over the existing ones in terms of reliability, consistency, precision and compliance with the Fermatean fuzzy correlation coefficient axioms. Ultimately, it is discovered that the new method can effectively address hesitations related to insecurity assessment.
Physicochemical and mineralogical characterization datasets from oil drill cuttings in comparison with other cement types for cement partial-replacement in concrete
(Elsevier BV, 2019-2) Ikotun, Jacob Olumuyiwa; Okeniyi, Joshua Olusegun; Akinlabi, Esther Titilayo; Akinlabi, Stephen Akinwale; Okeniyi, Elizabeth Toyin; Olanrewaju, Deborah Olukemi
This article presents data on the physical/chemical and mineralogical characterizations of treated oil drill cuttings (ODC) in comparisons with other cement types, for suitability insight for partial-replacement of cement in concrete. The physical properties were compared for cement/cement fillers including Portland Cement (PC), Pulverized Fuel Ash (PFA), and Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS). The particle size distribution of the ODC and the other cement/cementitious materials were also rendered to the extreme-value probability density models, with the Normal distribution employed as a reference, while the goodness-of-fit data-distribution compatibility was ascertained using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test-statistics. Characterized properties indicated treated ODC physicochemical and mineralogical properties compared well to the ranges exhibited by the other cement types, and requisite standards. The presented comparative results from the measured/analyzed physicochemical and mineralogical data are useful information for furthering research on the suitability of ODC, wastes from oil and gas explorations, as partial-replacement of cement in concrete.