Intelligence and maintenance proficiency: an examination of plant operators

Document Type

Journal Article

Publisher

Arnold Publishers

Faculty

Faculty of Business and Public Management

School

School of Business

RAS ID

3855

Comments

Edwards, D. J., Yang, J., Cabahug, R., & Peter E.D. Love. (2005). Intelligence and maintenance proficiency: An examination of plant operators. Construction Innovation, 5(4), 243-254. Available here

Abstract

The productivity and output levels of construction plant and equipment depends in part upon a plant operator’s maintenance proficiency; such that a higher degree of proficiency helps ensure that machinery is maintained in good operational order. In the absence of maintenance proficiency, the potential for machine breakdown (and hence lower productivity) is greater. Using data gathered from plant and equipment experts within the UK, plant operators’ maintenance proficiency are modelled using a radial basis function (RBF) artificial neural network (ANN). Results indicate that the developed ANN model was able to classify proficiency at 89% accuracy using 10 significant variables. These variables were: working nightshifts, new mechanical innovations, extreme weather conditions, planning skills, operator finger dexterity, years experience with a plant item, working with managers with less knowledge of plant/equipment, operator training by apprenticeship, working under pressure of time and duration of training period. It is proffered that these variables may be used as a basis for categorizing plant operators in terms of maintenance proficiency and, that their potential for influencing operator training programmes needs to be considered.

DOI

10.1191/1471417505ci100oa

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1191/1471417505ci100oa