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This study demonstrates how becoming a high-reliability institution in health care is a priority, given the high-risk environment in which an error can result in harm. Literature conceptually supports the need for highly reliable health care facilities but does not show a comprehensive approach to operationalizing the concept into the daily workforce to support patients. The Veterans Health Administration closes the gap by documenting a case study that not only demonstrates specific actions and functions that create a high-reliability organization (HRO) for safety and improvement but also created a learning organization by spreading the knowledge to other facilities.

The authors instituted a methodology consisting of assessments, training and educational simulations to measure, establish and operationalize activities that identified and prevented harmful events. Visual communication boards were created to facilitate team huddles and discuss improvement ideas. Improvements were then measured and analyzed for purposeful outcomes and return on investment (ROI).

HRO can be operationalized successfully in health care systems. Measurable outcomes verified that psychological safety was achieved through the identification and participation of 3,184 process improvement projects over a five-year period, which yielded a US$2.8m ROI. Documented processes and activities were used for educational teachings, which were disseminated to other Veteran Affairs Medical Center’s through the Truman HRO Academy.

This case study is limited to one hospital in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) network. As the VHA continues to deploy the methods outlined to other hospitals, the authors will perform incremental data collection and ongoing analysis for further validation of the HRO methods and operations. Hospitalists can adapt the methods in the case study for practical application in a health care setting outside of VHA. Although the model is rooted in health care, the methods may be adapted for use in other industries.

This case study overcomes the limitations within literature regarding operationalizing HRO by providing actual activities and demonstrations that can be implemented by other health care facilities.

Thanks to the advancement of digital image technology, digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) have replaced film single-lens reflex cameras. This advancement is reflected in some core technologies of DSLRs such as digital image sensors and electronic shutter mechanisms, which have allowed taking photographs even under tough conditions. In a similar vein, mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILCs) are now threatening to disrupt the DSLR market. Disruptive technologies represent a major challenge in forecasting. This paper uses specifications of over a 100 DSLRs and MILCs from the six leading dominant brands: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Panasonic, and Olympus, for the analysis.

This chapter illustrates the Technology Forecasting using Data Envelopment Analysis (TFDEA) process on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) performance characteristics from 1997 to 2012. The objective of this study is to forecast future state-of-the-arts (SOAs) specifications as well as to diagnose past technological advancement of the LCD industry. Appropriate characteristics were determined from a group of LCD technologists. Data was gathered from public databases and outlying data points were cross-referenced as a validity check. The TFDEA process is defined and its application to the dataset is described in detail. The results not only provide information on how LCD industry has evolved but also provide an insight on future NPD targets.

Airplane technology is undergoing several exciting developments, particularly in avionics, material composites, and design tool capabilities, and, though there are many studies conducted on subsets of airplane technology, market, and economic parameters, few exist in forecasting new commercial aircraft model introduction. In fact, existing research indicates the difficulty in quantitatively forecasting commercial airplanes due in part to the complexity and quantity of exogenous factors which feed into commercial airplane introduction decisions. This paper seeks to address this gap.

The analysis is based on a literature review, supplemented by a collection of secondary data. The study then focuses on applying three technology forecasting techniques: multiple regression; linear regression; and the Pearl growth curve.

The results provide a valid model for multiple regression and linear regression on range and composite material percentage for use in commercial airplane forecasting. However, growth curve analysis, comparatively, appears to provide the most intriguing and flexible forecast outlook in alignment with industry dynamics.

Research implications include a caution for forecasters in support of the difficulty of commercial aircraft forecasting due in part to the quantity of exogenous factors, particularly compared with a related industry, military aircraft. Future work could include: utilizing other forecasting techniques that allow for greater numbers of forecast factors, additional future models, additional range aircraft and/or analyzing the impact that competing transportation modes in mid‐range aircraft could have on long‐range aircraft introduction.

The study provides value in extending a previous descriptive paper on airplane parameters. Additionally, it appears to be one of the first quantitative examples supporting previous research indicating the complexity of forecasting airplane new product introduction, but it overcomes some of this complexity by providing a valid model for forecasting with range and composite material percentage as inputs.

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

This paper identified that organizations within the health care industry can apply the principles behind being a high reliability organization effectively and improve outcomes.

The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Fused deposition modeling enables multiscale structure control. However, most of this structural space is unexplored. Specifically, the impact of biomimetic porous structures on the mechanical behavior and reliability of common thermoplastics are unclear. In this work, porous structures inspired by the multifunctional crab exoskeleton were 3D-printed with different raster orientations, including fully rotating rasters similar to Bouligand structures found in biological materials. Tensile tests and simulations were performed to observe the stochastic behavior of fracture properties and to reveal the underlying origins of mechanical reliability in biomimetic porous systems.

Tensile tests were performed on 3D-printed porous structures with four different rasters. These rasters were biomimetic Bouligand, semi-Bouligand, 00 raster and 45°/−45° raster. In addition, two different sets were manufactured to observe the impact of contours on the mechanical behavior. A total of 137 tensile tests were performed. A total of 88 finite element simulations were executed using Abaqus built-in Hashin damage initiation criterion and energy-based damage evolution law. Weibull analyses were performed to quantify the stochastic properties.

Biomimetic Bouligand structure is effective in increasing fracture strength. Average fracture strength of the Bouligand structure was 33% higher compared to the default 45°/−45° and 10% higher compared to 00 rasters. Variations in strength were lower in Bouligand structure compared to the default 45°/−45° raster. However, 00 raster had the highest Weibull modulus m = 54 compared to Bouligand m = 25 and 45°/−45° m = 17. Simulations showed that Bouligand structure is effective in increasing the mechanical reliability through local damage accumulation around the holes. The simulated Weibull modulus of the Bouligand structure was 40 compared to the moduli of other rasters that ranged from 18 to 25.

The mechanical reliability of porous Bouligand structures is higher compared to other rasters, which makes the biomimetic structure a better choice for industrial applications. Contours decrease the strength and strain at failure for 3D-printed porous structures. Bouligand structures with rotating raster orientations increased strength and strain at failure when contours are present in the porous structure.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study showing the effects of biomimetic raster orientations on the mechanical behavior and the effects of contours on the tensile fracture properties of 3D-printed porous acrylonitrile butadiene styrene using tensile tests and fracture simulations. This is the first study applying composite fracture model to anisotropic porous 3D-printed polymers.