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Identifying rail asset maintenance processes: a human-centric and sensemaking approach

Kefalidou, Genovefa; Golightly, David; Sharples, Sarah

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Authors

Genovefa Kefalidou

David Golightly

SARAH SHARPLES SARAH.SHARPLES@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Human Factors



Abstract

Efficient asset maintenance is key for delivering services such as transport. Current rail maintenance processes have been mostly reactive with a recent shift towards exploring proactive modes. The introduction of new ubiquitous technologies and advanced data analytics facilitates the embedding of a ‘predict-and-prevent’ approach to managing assets. Successful, user-centred integration of such technology is still, however, a sparsely understood area. This study reports results from a set of interviews, based on Critical Decision Method, with rail asset maintenance and management experts regarding current procedural aspects of asset management and maintenance. We analyse and present the results from a human-centric sensemaking timeline perspective. We found that within a complex sociotechnical environment such as rail transport, asset maintenance processes apply not just at local levels, but also to broader, strategic levels that involve different stakeholders and necessitate different levels of expertise. This is a particularly interesting aspect within maintenance that has not been discussed as of yet within a process-based and timeline-based models of asset maintenance. We argue that it is important to consider asset maintenance activities within both micro (local) and macro (broader) levels to ensure reliability and stability in transport services. We also propose that the traditionally distinct notions of individual, collaborative and artefact-based sensemaking are in fact all in evidence in this sensemaking context, and argue that a more holistic view of sensemaking is therefore appropriate by placing these results within an amended Recogntion Primed Decsion making model.

Citation

Kefalidou, G., Golightly, D., & Sharples, S. (in press). Identifying rail asset maintenance processes: a human-centric and sensemaking approach. Cognition, Technology and Work, 20(1), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-017-0452-0

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 29, 2017
Online Publication Date Jan 16, 2018
Deposit Date Dec 1, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Cognition, Technology and Work
Print ISSN 1435-5558
Electronic ISSN 1435-5566
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-017-0452-0
Keywords Rail asset maintenance, Sensemaking, Context timelines, Processes, Human-centric
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/905740
Publisher URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10111-017-0452-0

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