Nonconforming Type Research Articles

All You Nonconformists Are (Not) All Alike: Dissociable Social Stereotypes of Mavericks and Contrarians.

While some people easily align themselves with others, others find themselves less aligned with sociocultural norms (e.g., nonconformists). Though people outside the mainstream tend to capture societies' attention, very little known is regarding how nonconformists are construed. In these studies, we investigated how different types of nonconformists are stereotyped. We sought to elucidate common and dissociable social stereotypes of two types of nonconformity; mavericks and contrarians, driven toward independence versus being different, respectively. We found that mavericks are construed as highly competent and conscientious, well suited for leadership roles, and more likely to be male, older, and satisfied with their life. Contrarians are construed as highly social, low in warmth and agreeableness, highly neurotic, well suited for roles involving creativity and self-expression, and more likely to be female, younger, and less satisfied with their lives. We situate these findings within models linking cultural context with conformity.

Multivariate Nonconformity Analysis for Paving Stone Manufacturing Process Improvement

Abstract 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.

Intercalary membrane break and detachment causes intrachoroidal cavitation in macular coloboma.

To describe the clinical and imaging features in a series of patients diagnosed with macular coloboma (MC) and intrachoroidal cavitation (ICC). Patients diagnosed with MC based on clinical examination between June 2017 and July 2021 were retrieved from the electronic medical record system and were included in the study. Colour fundus photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Multicolour® imaging scans of these patients were analysed. We identified 16 eyes of 11 patients with MC on fundus examination. Based on OCT imaging features, conforming variant of MC was seen in 9 (56%) eyes and non-conforming variant in 7 (44%) eyes. No eyes with MC in the study showed features of both conforming and non-conforming varieties simultaneously. In the non-conforming variety of MC with presence of intercalary membrane break, ICC was identified in 5 (71%) of these eyes. ICC in MC appeared as flat, dark greenish areas with or without an orange-coloured boundary abutting the margin of the coloboma on Multicolour® imaging. In 31% eyes, ICC was seen in non-conforming type of MC and was well-identified on Multicolour® imaging. It appears that presence of intercalary membrane break and detachment are prerequisites for developing ICC.

Treatment for gap and step nonconformity of slat on tail-hang civil aircraft

Slat aerodynamic contour nonconformity often occurs during the manufacture of civil aircraft, which can cause appearance influence, drag increase and even manoeuvrability & stability problem. This article introduces 4 types of gaps and 3 types of step nonconformity and reason for them. Then the article studies treatment principle for wing slat contour nonconformity. In the end, the article figures out acceptable criteria and 5 types of standard repair methods for slat gap and step nonconformity.

Preventive maintenance features specific to offset printing machines

In the printing industry, where production never stops, it is very important to continuously maintain machine performance. If a machine breaks down, the production will stop and it will disturb the production process. Therefore, the maintenance system must be managed efficiently to solve those problems. The paper presents the study results on continuous quality improvement of offset printing using preventive maintenance features. Offset printing is a process that involves a multitude of variables, independent and interdependent factors. The offset printing process was analyzed and the factors that have a significant influence on the quality of the process and the products made were identified. The defects that may occur during the printing process and the causes thereof have also been identified and the types of non-conformities of the end products were estabilished. The experimental method was used. The case study was conducted on Manroland 508. For the planning of preventive maintenance activities, the duration of the maintenance works necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the offset printing machines was established. Finally, maintenance activities that would guarantee and continuously improve the quality of the printing processes and the printed products were issued.

Improving the quality level in the automotive industry

Abstract Currently, effective quality management of manufactured products is a factor determining the development of manufacturing companies. However, the identification of the source of non-compliance and the analysis of its causes are sometimes underestimated and are not followed by appropriate methodologies. The study aimed to streamline and improve the production process of aluminium pistons for passenger cars by solving the problem related to a significant number of non-compliant products. The analysis of types of nonconformities identified through penetration testing was performed. The use of histogram, brainstorming session and Pareto-Lorenz diagram was proposed, which allowed identifying the causes of the problem. The presented solution shows the practical effectiveness of a sequence of selected instruments to solve production problems. The proposed sequence of methods can be implied in other qualitative analyses in different companies.

Non-Conformity Reduction in Painting Sector in Plastic Parts in a Company of the Industrial Pole of Manaus - IPM

Among the focuses of industries is the reduction of waste costs, this makes the product competitive, reduces the number of failures and, consequently, the price to the end consumer. Industrial Pole of Manaus (I.P.M.) promotes the economic development of the region and brings together large and medium-sized companies that use plastic painting as one of the stages of their production process and care about quality and invest in management methodologies, resources and technologies to optimize your processes. With this in mind, improvements were proposed in a company to reduce defects in paint in plastic parts in the motorcycle sector, and the use of appropriate quality tools and management techniques, which enabled a more assertive decision-making, measured its effects and solved the causes of the problem. The type of non-conformity of the highest level of occurrence was approached, which are defects classified as impurities, from it were identified root causes found, all variations in processes that benefit the emergence of this defect and opportunities for improvements in the process. This it can be done only with behavioral changes and with minimal economic investment.

Radiology workflow for RECIST assessment in clinical trials: Can we reconcile time-efficiency and quality?

PurposeIn oncology clinical trials, nonconformity issues are frequently reported. Radiological workload is increasing, thus reducing radiologists’ availability and affecting diagnostic quality. We compared performances of a standard radiological workflow (SW) and a novel “hybrid workflow” (HW). MethodWe prospectively studied imaging data of 40 patients included in RECIST 1.1 clinical trials. Ninety-six time-points were reviewed by 7 radiologists and one trained technologist. Nonconformities using the SW were retrieved from hospital archives. For the HW, radiologists performed all baseline evaluations; the technologist made subsequent measurements. Finally, the radiologists checked the technologist’s findings before confirming the evaluations. The HW enabled implementation of an electronic reporting system. An independent body compared SW and HW reading times and nonconformity occurrences. ResultsUsing SW, 19 types of nonconformity were found: blank report (13%); unsigned report (11%); undocumented change of tumor burden (10%); undocumented new lesions (9%); missing/wrong patients’ appointment dates (7%); undocumented tumor location (5%); error in tumor burden change (5%). SW and HW nonconformities affected 55% (179/323) and 5% (2/40) of reports, respectively (p < 0.001). HW nonconformities were: one inaccurate login name was used on the platform, and one erroneous time-point number. On average, SW required 11′30″ [10′06″; 13′20″] per time-point. HW required 1′35″ [40″; 5′08″] for radiologists, and 12′18″ [11′12″; 14′18″] for the technologist. ConclusionsHW significantly reduced the number of trial nonconformities and saved 87% of radiologists’ time while enabling them to apply their expertise to final decisions. HW could offer an effective opportunity for cost reduction associated with improved imaging trial quality.

Emocjonalne predyktory nonkonformizmu

&lt;p&gt;W artykule analizie poddano zagadnienie nonkonformizmu w kontekście postawy twórczej i ujęć typologicznych. Głównym celem badawczym było sprawdzenie, czy istnieją emocjonalne predyktory nonkonformizmu konstruktywnego i pozornego. Biorąc pod uwagę możliwe emocjonalne predyktory nonkonformizmu, sprawdzono, czy inteligencja emocjonalna, style radzenia sobie ze stresem i neurotyczność prognozują typy nonkonformizmu. Przeanalizowano wyniki 440 osób badanych. Porównanie skupień pod względem właściwości emocjonalnych pozwala na sformułowanie wniosku, że „nonkonformiści pozorni” nie różnią się statystycznie istotnie od „nonkonformistów konstruktywnych”, ale „nonkonformiści pozorni” mają istotnie wyższe wyniki od osób z grup „konformiści” oraz „przeciętni” w zakresie inteligencji emocjonalnej i radzenia sobie ze stresem – styl skoncentrowany na zadaniu. Predyktorem emocjonalnym nonkonformizmu pozornego okazała się cecha osobowości – niska neurotyczność.&lt;/p&gt;

548P - Can we improve cost effectiveness of oncology clinical trials workflow? A prospective RECIST 1.1 study

Background: Oncology clinical trials require reliable imaging data management, however recurring nonconformity issues are commonly reported. Radiological workload is increasing, which reduces radiologist’s availability and potentially affects diagnostics quality. In this study, we compared performances of an institutional standard radiological workflow (SW) and a novel “hybrid workflow” (HW). Methods: We prospectively studied imaging data of 40 patients included in a RECIST 1.1 clinical trial (Apr-Dec, 2017) at Centre Antoine Lacassagne (CAL), Nice, France. 97 time-points were reviewed by 7 radiologists and one trained technologist. Nonconformities using the SW were retrieved from CALs’ 2015 archives. SW involved radiologists who used the Advantage Workstation platform without electronic reporting system (General Electric, USA). For the HW, radiologists performed all baseline evaluations and the technologist did the subsequent generic measures on follow ups. Radiologists then checked the technologist’s findings, before confirming the evaluations. The HW used LMS (Median Technologies, France) featuring an electronic reporting system. An independent body compared SW and HW reading time and nonconformity occurrences. Results: Using SW, 19 types of nonconformities were found: blank report (13%); unsigned report (11%); undocumented change of tumor burden (10%); undocumented new lesions (9%); missing/wrong patients’ visit date (7%); undocumented tumors location (5%); error in tumor burden change (5%). SW and HW nonconformities affected 55% (179/323) and 5% (2/40) of reports respectively (p < 0.001). HW nonconformities were: one wrong login name entered in the LMS platform and one erroneous time point numbering. SW required, on average, 11’30” [10’06”; 13’20”] to perform the radiological analysis per timepoint. HW required 1’35” [40”; 5’08”] for radiologists, and 12’18” [11’12”; 14’18”] for the technologist. Conclusions: HW significantly reduced the number of trial nonconformities and saved 87% of radiologists’ time while keeping their expertise in the final decisions. HW could represent an efficient cost reduction opportunity associated with imaging trial quality improvements. Legal entity responsible for the study: Antoine Lacassagne Anticancer Center. Funding: Has not received any funding. Disclosure: H. Beaumont, C. Klifa: Employee: Median Technologies. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Hygienic design of a unit for supercritical fluid drying – case study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the hygienic design of a scalable unit for supercritical carbon dioxide drying of food. Design/methodology/approach For the purpose of this study, a checklist has been developed, covering requirements from sanitary standards and industry-tailored guidelines. Beyond hygienic design, failure mode and effects analysis of the results were performed to assess the potential food safety risks that may arise from failures to hygienic design requirements. Findings The overall score of the hygienic design was 46 percent. This kind of evaluation revealed two types of nonconformities. The first type was related to inadequate sanitary procedures. The second type was associated to design failures. Research limitations/implications The highest risk was designated to problems related to cleaning and sanitation followed by risks associated with the formation of dead zones and biofilms. Practical implications This study provides valuable insight to engineers and food technologists on hygienic design issues. Originality/value Application of a similar methodology was used for evaluating hygienic design of other non-thermal food technologies.

Water Quality in Micro-watersheds Under Different Land Uses in the Municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to evaluate water quality attributes in micro-watersheds under different soil uses. Therefore, four micro-watersheds under the following vegetation cover were selected: pasture, primary forest reforestation, forest, and coffee plantation. Surface and underground water sampling was performed bimonthly between February and December 2014, where thermotolerant coliforms, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, phosphorus, turbidity, temperature, pH, biochemical demand for oxygen and total solids were analyzed. Descriptive analyses of each variable were performed during dry and rainy periods, and the values were compared with the normative standards established by Brazilian legislation. Water Quality Indices (WQIs) were also calculated for each collection site. All sites presented some type of nonconformity with human consumption standards. The highest WQI values were found in the forest area micro-basin, followed by the coffee plantation and pasture area micro-basins, highlighting the importance of forested areas for water quality.

Cultural Shifts in Russia Since 2010: Messianic Cynicism and Paradigms of Artistic Resistance

The two most important processes influencing new cultural trends in today’s Russia are the state’s annexation of transgression and the transformation of social norms. In Russia’s public space, speakers representing different official or semi-official institutions make aggressive statements and defy accepted norms of public communication. They behave as if they perform the roles of “official holy fools”. Thus, the state “annexes” the right of mediatized public transgression characteristic of contemporary art. State actors are described in the article as “active conformists” embodying the expectations and desires of TV-watching “passive conformists”. Accordingly, strategies of heroic resistance in art and literature cease to be relevant for shaping the new wave of Russia’s aesthetic nonconformism. The article discusses alternative scenarios and discourses emerging in contemporary art and literature as formative for the new type of nonconformity.

Person-Situation Debate Revisited: Phase Transitions with Quenched and Annealed Disorders

We study the q-voter model driven by stochastic noise arising from one out of two types of nonconformity: anticonformity or independence. We compare two approaches that were inspired by the famous psychological controversy known as the person–situation debate. We relate the person approach with the quenched disorder and the situation approach with the annealed disorder, and investigate how these two approaches influence order–disorder phase transitions observed in the q-voter model with noise. We show that under a quenched disorder, differences between models with independence and anticonformity are weaker and only quantitative. In contrast, annealing has a much more profound impact on the system and leads to qualitative differences between models on a macroscopic level. Furthermore, only under an annealed disorder may the discontinuous phase transitions appear. It seems that freezing the agents’ behavior at the beginning of simulation—introducing quenched disorder—supports second-order phase transitions, whereas allowing agents to reverse their attitude in time—incorporating annealed disorder—supports discontinuous ones. We show that anticonformity is insensitive to the type of disorder, and in all cases it gives the same result. We precede our study with a short insight from statistical physics into annealed vs. quenched disorder and a brief review of these two approaches in models of opinion dynamics.

Q-voter model with nonconformity in freely forming groups: Does the size distribution matter?

We study a q-voter model with stochastic driving on a complete graph with q being a random variable described by probability density function P(q), instead of a constant value. We investigate two types of P(q): (1) artificial with the fixed expected value 〈q〉, but a changing variance and (2) empirical of freely forming groups in informal places. We investigate also two types of stochasticity that can be interpreted as different kinds of nonconformity (anticonformity or independence) to answer the question about differences observed at the macroscopic level between these two types of nonconformity in real social systems. Moreover, we ask the question if the behavior of a system depends on the average value of the group size q or rather on probability distribution function P(q).

Integration of value stream map and strategic layout planning into DMAIC approach to improve carpeting process

Purpose: This paper presents an implementation of the Six Sigma DMAIC approach implementing lean tools and facilities layout techniques to reduce the occurrence of different types of nonconformities in the carpeting process. Such carpeting process can be found in several industries such as construction, aviation, and automotive.Design/methodology/approach: The improvement process was built through a sequential implementation of appropriate interconnected tools at each phase of the DMAIC approach. Utilized tools included: Pareto analysis, control charts, Ishikawa chart, 5-whys, failure mode and effect analysis, process capability ratio, value stream mapping, and strategic layout planning.Findings: The carpeting process capability, quality of the product, customer satisfaction, and cost of poor quality were significantly improved. Explicitly, the sigma level was improved from 2.297 to 2.886 and the defects per million opportunities (DPMO) was reduced from 21615 to 3905.Originality/value: This paper has approved the capability of the Six Sigma DMAIC approach to analyze, investigate, and remove the root causes of the carpeting (preparation-installation) process nonconformities .

Removal of the nonconformities in the drug boxes packaging industry

The paper presents the specific quality aspects of cardboard drug boxes (folding boxes) used as packaging in pharmaceutical industry. The types of defects and nonconformities that occur during offset printing and finishing of the packaging products are being identified and analyzed, such as: differences in color printing, scratches on the printed sheets, cracks during creasing, unparalleled gluing in respect to the closing flaps, ungluing, successive drug boxes stick to each other. The paper also focuses on aspects regarding the nonconformities removal of the drug boxes by establishing a control plan and preventive and corrective methods applicable in different technological stages of the production flow. Monitoring and analyzing activities for quality improvement of the drug boxes, in accordance with the quality specifications required by customers were performed for 20 months on a production line with Heidelberg machines. Nonconformities considered in this paper are also encountered in advertising printing.

Demerit-Fuzzy Rating Mechanism and Monitoring Chart

The relative magnitude of weights for defects has a substantial impact on the performance of attribute control charts. Apparently, the current demerit-chart approach is superior than the c-chart scheme, because it imposes different precise-weights on distinct types of nonconformities, enabling more severe defects to disclose the problems existing in the manufacturing or service processes. However, this crisp-weighting defect assignment, assuming defects are of equal degree of severity when classified into the same defect class, may be so subjective that it leads to the chart somewhat restricted in widespread applications. Since in many cases the severity of each defect is evaluated from practitioners' visual inspection on the key quality characteristics of products or services, when each defect is classified into one of several mutually-exclusive linguistic classes, a fuzzy-weighting defect assignment that represents a degree of seriousness of defects should be allotted in accordance. Therefore, in this paper a demerit-fuzzy rating mechanism and monitoring chart is proposed. We first incorporate a fuzzy-linguistic weight in response to the severe degree of defects. Then, we apply the resolution identity property in construction of fuzzy control limits, and further develop a new fuzzy ranking method in differentiation of the underlying process condition. Finally, the proposed fuzzy-demerit chart is elucidated by an application of TFT-LCD manufacturing processes for monitoring their LCD Mura-nonconformities conditions.

Focal Choroidal Excavation in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy: Case Report

Focal choroidal excavation (FCE) was first reported as a choroidal posteriorly excavated zone without any scleral change. Choroidal excavation also divided into conforming and nonconforming type. Numerous reports demonstrated association between FCE and other disease such as choroidal neovascularization and central serous choroidoretinopathy. Here, we report a rare case of FCE in a patient with Best disease. The patient was diagnosed by spectoral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). To the best of our knowledge, our patient is the second report of choroidal excavation in Best vitelliform macular dystrophy.

Clinical and Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Patients with Focal Choroidal Excavation

To describe the clinical and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in patients with focal choroidal excavation (FCE). Retrospective case series. Forty-one eyes of 38 patients with FCE identified in 2 tertiary medical centers in Korea. Clinical features, SD-OCT findings, and associated macular disorders of FCE were analyzed and detailed. Statistical associations among clinical features, including lesion type, size, and choroidal thickness, and frequency of association with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Mean patient age was 50.1 years (range, 25-76 years). The mean spherical equivalent of refractive error was -3.7 diopters (range, -10.0 to +1.5 diopters). Three patients (8%) had bilateral lesions, and 1 patient (3%) had 2 distinct lesions in the same eye. The mean FCE width and depth were 757 μm and 107 μm, respectively, with a positive correlation between width and depth (P = 0.003). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness of FCE eyes was 284 μm, which was not statistically different from that of age-, sex-, and refractive error-matched normal subjects. Choroidal thickness in FCE was less in eyes with hyperreflective choroidal tissue under the excavation that was present in 22 eyes (54%) versus eyes without excavation (128 vs. 190 μm, respectively; P = 0.009). Twelve FCEs (29%) were the nonconforming type, revealing separation between the photoreceptor tips and the retinal pigment epithelium on SD-OCT. Nonconforming FCE was associated with visual symptoms (P < 0.001) and the presence of concurrent CSC (P = 0.001). Ten eyes (24%) were associated with CSC, and 9 eyes (22%) were associated with CNV, including 1 eye with PCV features. One eye with FCE and type 1 CNV developed a new excavation, and the excavated area in 1 eye with PCV enlarged slightly during follow-up. Focal choroidal excavation is a relatively common entity and frequently associated with choroidal diseases, including CSC, CNV, and PCV. Although FCE is classically thought to be a congenital malformation, acquired FCE forms possibly exist.