E-Learning and Context Aware e-Support Software for Maintenance

Abstract

Industrial Maintenance is seeking to enhance the efficiency of asset usage according to multiple criteria and constraints. Its implementation is facilitated by the application of a range of enabling technologies, termed in this context as e-Maintenance. Integrated e-Maintenance solutions can support a multitude of industrial maintenance procedures, from toplevel management to low-level machinery technical issues. The level of complexity in these procedures varies greatly and requires a multidisciplinary level of skills from the involved personnel. Therefore, e-Maintenance applications can benefit from incorporating e-Learning and e-Support solutions. E-Learning can be an effective training method for maintenance, by providing cost effective, location-independent and easily updated training content. E-Support can be employed to provide technical staff with contextualized information and services in order to aid them with their assigned tasks. The WelCOM e-Maintenance architecture offers a framework that combines a networked infrastructure of intelligent wireless sensors, and a toolset of maintenance support services, linked to a CMMS. In this setting, one of the objectives is to integrate e-Learning in the form of web-based training modules and e-Support, by providing ubiquitous help through mobile devices to technical staff. The web-based learning is tailored to condition monitoring tasks, whereas the e-Support is planned to include instructions, videos, manuals or technical reports, all specially formatted to be delivered by a mobile device (tablet), exploiting its graphic, storage and networking capabilities. In this way, we aim for a smooth acceptance of the new e-Maintenance system, by providing easily accessible and context-depended support for maintenance personnel.

Current trends on ICT technologies for enterprise information systems

“…Significant contributors in the last few years towards such an end have been approaches such as game-based learning (Dominguez et al 2013), including serious games (Duin et al 2012;Hauge, Pourabdollahian, and Riedel 2013;Kerga et al 2013;Messadia et al 2013;Oliveira et al 2013;Pernelle et al 2013), as well as personalized and context-adaptive learning (Papathanasiou et al 2012), including mobile learning (Papathanasiou et al 2014). The concept of context is well-applicable to learning personalization, and can be enriched by aspects of social and collaboration-based learning, offered through VLEs (Limpens and Gillet 2012).…”

“…The concept of context is well-applicable to learning personalization, and can be enriched by aspects of social and collaboration-based learning, offered through VLEs (Limpens and Gillet 2012). The combination of context-awareness within the IoT framework in ambient environments enables the delivery of context-adaptive learning Papathanasiou et al 2014;Papathanasiou et al 2012). Learning personalization has explored different paths but in general it involves some type of mechanism for tracking the learning process evolution.…”

Current and prospective information and communication technologies for the e-maintenance applications

“…It is an important development since the organisational theories stress the importance of the human resources experience and knowledge as well as skills to perform different work tasks in an optimal manner and the e-training and e-learning modules of these platforms are tools that will surely be a support for the maintenance engineer in future with their different work tasks. Papathanasiou et al (2012) mention that the e-maintenance applications can profit from integrating e-learning and e-Support solutions, since e-learning is easily accessible and cost-effective learning method, which is location-independent, etc. In addition, the e-support for the maintenance engineer is also important because it provides right information and services to the maintenance engineer to aid them in their different work tasks.…”

“…The platform is based on the e-maintenance approach and it offers a framework that contains, for instance, a module-based intelligent wireless sensors and toolset of maintenance support services. In addition, the platform includes learning components that are specially developed to handle on spot e-support for the maintenance engineer at the plant floor (Papathanasiou et al, 2012;Pistofidis and Emmanouilidis, 2012). The WelCOm platform consists of an e-learning and e-support components intended for the use of a maintenance engineer working in a plant.…”

“…In addition, the platform includes learning components that are specially developed to handle on spot e-support for the maintenance engineer at the plant floor (Papathanasiou et al, 2012;Pistofidis and Emmanouilidis, 2012). The WelCOm platform consists of an e-learning and e-support components intended for the use of a maintenance engineer working in a plant.…”