Volume 30 (2022): Issue 4 (December 2022)

In this study, Knowledge-Based View (KBV) and Theory of Technology in a Generic Customer Knowledge Management (CKM) Framework were assimilated to demonstrate the Organizational, Human and Technological antecedent factors that enable CKM processes to improve software product quality. A Theoretical CKM Framework was developed by extracting Human, Organizational and Technological factors from the literature, then, the “Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution” (TOPSIS) Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method was applied to find the importance level of factors to CKM development in software companies. The weight and priority of factors were determined by 31 experts in enterprise software development companies. The results show that, from an expert viewpoint, CKM antecedent factors are categorized into high priority and low priority groups. Organizational factors such as “Customer Involvement”, “Customer-Centric Culture” and “CKM Strategy Development” are high priority.

In world practice, traditional blades used in high-speed wind turbines, both horizontal-axial and vertical-axial, have a wing-shaped profile. However, for horizontal-axial wind turbines, blades with such a profile have a fairly narrow range of operating values of the angle of attack of the incoming air flow and a low value of the moment of pulling from place. As for vertical-axial wind turbines, the self-starting of the rotor with wing blades is completely absent and additional devices are needed to start the rotor into operation. In order to ensure the self-starting of the rotor and the operation of the wind turbine at high and low wind speeds, a new shape of the blade profile was developed, called non-closed wing profile. The concept of the development is that the blade should have a configuration in which the pulling force is involved at the beginning of the movement, and then, with the establishing of the movement, a lifting force would arise, which acquires a prevailing character in the operating mode. The article presents the results of experimental studies of the aerodynamic characteristics of the developed non-closed wing blades. One of the results obtained is to determine the effect of the thickness of the blade profile on the range of values of subcritical angles of attack of the incoming air flow and the differences between the nature and range of changes in the coefficients of lifting force and pulling force in a traditional wing blade and a blade with a non-closed wing profile. Studies of the rotor model of a vertical-axial wind turbine with non-closed wing blades have confirmed the presence of its self-starting and operability even at low wind speeds.

The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is one of the multi-criteria methods with tools that are effective for decision-making in complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). This approach, in combination with other available methods, such as the Utrecht Method, allows medical professionals and patients themselves to take a balanced choice of special treatment and health control. This is particularly important for pregnant women who suffer from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). The mechanisms of toxicosis occur, and the way of treatment have certain uncertainties. The decision-making process for therapeutic care must consider several factors, the determination of which is the result of collaboration between the patient and the healthcare provider. This paper presents the results of a decision-making study regarding the use of the ginger medicinal plant in helping a woman with NVP symptoms. The research was conducted using the original questionnaire according to the methodology proposed by the developers of the Utrecht Method. The chosen respondents were healthcare professionals with experience in treating NVP and pregnant women. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) capabilities in decision-making were shown in an example of analyzing the benefits, risks, and side effects of using ginger during pregnancy. The combination of two methodological approaches allowed to successfully connect the proven facts of using CAM therapy with the subjective assessment of all stakeholders. The study demonstrates that this approach successfully uses decision-making by structuring hierarchical decision elements and weighing the criteria involved in the decision-making issue. The article examines the practicality and effectiveness of using AHP when making decisions regarding the treatment and improvement of the condition of pregnant women with NVP, and summarizes the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the effectiveness of this method. The presented combination of two methodological approaches in decision-making allows for choosing an optimized medical strategy for supporting pregnant women through CAM therapy.

E-commerce is becoming more and more popular. The COVID-19 pandemic made its development even faster. Currently, an enterprise that does not provide its services via the Internet is suffering heavy losses. Online shopping is largely different from traditional purchases, so their assessment should be made on the basis of different criteria. The aim of the paper was to assess the quality of services provided by the selected e-shop, in terms of its commercial services. The first stage of the research was the analysis of the literature in terms of hierarchical models of e-service quality, which in their structure indicate the areas of assessment. This allowed for the construction of the author’s hierarchical model of e-services and for making a list of attributes that were used in further research. On the example of the clothing e-shop, an analysis of the provided services was made, taking into account the opinions of its customers. The Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) was selected as the basis for conducting the survey research and analyzing its results, which facilitates the commenting of the obtained results. The research allowed to indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the examined e-shop, but also to identify areas requiring improvement in order to increase the quality of the offered services, as well as the customers satisfaction.

Companies are increasingly aware that employees are an important factor in success, so they pay more and more attention to them. Because of that, organizational culture and normative commitment are also included as extremely important factors. The research includes a systematic and comprehensive review of the literature and at the same time obtaining and analysing data from practice through a survey. The research focuses on employees from the logistics departments in the supply chain of electronic component production and supply. Group of companies across Europe were included in the survey (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine). The research demonstrates the realization that the types of classification of organizational culture have different effects on direct and indirect normative commitment. Gender differences were also found. The research-based on the calculated average mean values shows the classifications of organizational culture and normative commitment. The latter follows the organizational culture with minor deviations. The order of classification of organizational culture follows the current economic situation, where according to the studied criteria, the first is a culture of the market. The research shows that men’s rate of normative commitment is better than women’s, while in organizational culture the situation is exactly the opposite. One of the most significant findings is based on the Pearson correlation coefficient with the SPSS program was found that, according to the classification, Hierarchy culture has a positive effect on indirect normative commitment.

The article presents the result of multidimensional analysis of ‘Behaton’ type paving stones’ nonconformities for improving the production process by improving the quality of the final product. Statistical tools, including SPC tools and quality tools, both basic and new, were used to analyse nonconformities in the spatial-temporal system, i.e. according to the type of nonconformity and according to the examined months. The purpose of using the data analysis tools was to thoroughly analyse the cases of nonconformities of the tested product, obtain information on the structure of these nonconformities in the various terms, and information on the stability and predictability of the numerical structure of nonconformity over time. Potential causes influencing a large percentage of paving stone defects were identified, factors and variables influencing the most frequently occurring nonconformities were determined, and improvement actions were proposed. As a result of the multidimensional and multifaceted analyses of paving stone nonconformities, it was shown that in the structure of nonconformity there were cases that were unusual in terms of the number of occurrences, and the lack of stability in the number of nonconformities in terms of the examined months was proven. Three critical nonconformities of the tested product were identified: side surface defects, vertical edge defects, and scratches and cracks. It was determined that the most important factor causing a large percentage of nonconformity was the time of shaking and vibrating the concrete, which was significantly related to the technical condition of the machines, and the most important reason for a large percentage of paving stone nonconformity was the lack of efficient maintenance. Machine, method, and man turned out to be the most important categories of problem factors and specific remedial actions were proposed. A multidimensional look at the structure of paving stone nonconformity as well as the factor and causes causing them has brought a lot of valuable information for the management staff of the analysed company, thanks to which it is possible to improve the production process and improve the quality of the final product.

The release of methane into the mine atmosphere poses a threat to the miners. Methane is an explosive gas at concentrations of 5-15% in air by volume and throughout the history of coal mining has been the cause of devastating explosions in mines around the world. For these reasons, in methane coal mines, the concentration of methane emitted from the coal face and the entire mine is controlled by means of a well-designed ventilation system, a system controlling the concentration of methane in the mine atmosphere and a system for methane drainage of the rock mass and goafs. The presented article concerns the forecast of the average concentration of methane on a given day, in the places of sensors located in the longwall roadways of discharge air exhausted from the longwall: up to 10 m in front of the wall and at the outlet of the roadway. Both forecasts were made using the prognostic equations on the basis of measurement data concerning the ventilation roadways of one of the longwalls at JSW SA.

The article presents the problems of determining the mass efficiency of a rotary feeder depending on the selection of design parameters of the device, such as outer diameter, number of blades and rotational speed of the rotor. The hitherto theoretical methods of calculating the feeder efficiency were presented, as well as a new method of determining the device operation parameters was proposed. For this purpose, the numerical Discrete Element Method was used, which allowed simulating the transport of limestone powder in a cell feeder with various design variants. The results of the tests showed that the above design parameters affect the instantaneous efficiency of the feeder and thus impact the distribution of the dosed material during the operation of the device. Depending on the design solution, the simulation results gave information on the fill factor of the feeders. The study showed a significant potential of DEM simulation in the design of circular feeders intended for dosing bulk materials.

The article deals with the issue of supporting the technological modernization of agriculture by investing in infrastructure surrounding the farms with the use of a financial instrument in the form of the Rural Development Program (RDP) based on the Lubuskie Voivodeship. The article describes, among other things, the importance of infrastructure and support for its development in rural areas in the process of functioning and modernization of the agricultural sector. For the purposes of the article, the data obtained from the Department of Rural Development Programs of the Lubuskie Marshal’s Office on expenditure and effects of RDP use in 2007-2020, in infrastructure investments in rural areas of the Lubuskie Voivodeship was analysed. In the article, the authors attempted to present the instrument in the form of the Rural Development Program as a tool for indirect impact on the process of modernization and transformation of agriculture in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, primarily by changing the infrastructural conditions for the functioning and development of agricultural production in rural areas.

The article presents the results of laboratory combustion tests of the microbriquette obtained from useless coal (grain class of < 5 mm) generated in the production of “eco-pea” (eko-groszek) coal. The briquettes of 1.5 and 2.5 cm3 were made in a roller press of crushed coal granulation down to 2 mm, mixed with a binder and/or catalytic additives and sorbents, then dried to final moisture of about 7%. The tests were carried out on a specially designed stand enabling to determine the differential curve of the weight loss of samples heated to the ignition temperature and then burnt with laminar airflow by natural chimney draft. Comparative tests were carried out with ecopea coal from the “ZG Sobieski” mine. The results indicate that composite fuels, in the form of microbriquette, ignite faster, burn at a higher temperature and leave less ash when burned than lump coal. The greater reactivity of the briquette concerning the lump coal allows for minimizing the air rate by about 10%, which also reduces the exhaust gas volume by the same amount and the stack losses. It reduces the velocity of dust lifting, which leads to the reduction of their emission.

In this paper, the authors focused on the analysis and evaluation of factors affecting the level of occupational risk in “small” enterprises, with a particular emphasis on psychophysical factors in the manufacturing sector. The study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. The results were verified using the strucla interview method with elements of observation. The purpose of the paper was to draw attention to – often overlooked in the assessment of occupational risks by employers – psychophysical hazards with particular emphasis on psychosocial hazards. Respondents – employees of enterprises with a particular focus on the manufacturing sector – point to psycho-physical hazards as those that, right after hazardous (accident) hazards, significantly affect the level of occupational risk. However, the assessment of factors determining the level of occupational risk changes with the age of respondents. Older workers, more often than younger ones, perceive the factors that affect the level of occupational risk. Their experience and ability to reliably identify risks can be very useful in creating awareness of safe behavior among the youngest workers, who are most vulnerable to occupational accidents. The article also presents analyses and assessments of the symptoms of occupational stress, which is one of the factors shaping psycho-physical risk that is so often underestimated by many workers and employers.

The article concerns the computational model for analysing the stability of the BEV LHD loader. Works were carried out to develop an innovative, light battery-powered loader, which was the subject of an R&D project implemented in cooperation with Bumech S. A. Compared to the existing solutions of loaders with similar load capacity, this one is distinguished by the use of an individual electric drive in each wheel and a replaceable battery. A physical and mathematical model was developed taking into account the specificity of the BEV LHD loader. In the model, the masses of the battery, individual drives, the platform and excavated material are taken into account separately. The developed model allows determining the loader wheel pressure on the floor, depending on the location of its components’ centres of gravity, the turning angle of the machine, the amount of excavated material in the bucket and the position of the bucket. The input parameters also include the longitudinal and transverse excavation slope angles. In addition, the model enables determining the inner and outer turning radius of the loader. To verify the theoretical model, dynamic simulation tests were carried out. The results of simulation analyses confirmed the correctness of the developed theoretical model. The model was used to prepare a calculation sheet for analysing the stability on the basis of the adopted parameters. In the article, selected results of the conducted stability analyses have been presented, along with the proposed parameters ensuring the loader’s stability. The developed theoretical model enables a quick assessment of the loader’s stability, which, due to a number of innovative solutions, differs from existing designs. The structure of the loader at the design stage is subject to numerous modifications, which affect the distribution of the centres of gravity of individual components. The developed model of the loader is a useful, parameterized tool that allows assessing the stability and the values of the turning radii of the machine.