Data collection system types

The function of this section is to provide an overall framework within which to describe the important aspects of data collection systems in the CPI. As mentioned in the introduction, the emphasis in this chapter will be on methods for identifying the causes of errors that have led to accidents or significant near misses. This information is used to prevent reoccurrence of similar accidents, and to identify the underlying causes that may give rise to new types of accidents in the future. Data collection thus has a proactive accident prevention function, even though it is retrospective in the sense that it is usually carried out after an accident or near miss has already occurred. 

The model of human error held by management and the plant culture constitutes the environment in which the data collection system operates. Within this environment, all data collection systems need to address the topics listed in Figure 6.1. These topics, from the types of data collected, to the feedback systems that need to be in place, will be addressed in subsequent sections of this chapter. 

The discussion of alternative types of data collection systems serves to emphasize the fact that the design of such systems needs to have very clear objectives. Although a range of data collection systems have been described as if they... 

The following types of information are collected in most CPI safety-related data collection systems ... 

The fact that the model connecting error types with their causes may change as a result of gaining further experience with the data collection system means that the informahon gathered on the PIFs in a situation may also change. For example, if incident data indicates the neglect of safety procedures because of production pressures, then the questions relating to this area wUl need to be extended. 

Pure paper-based data collection systems are most suitable for small and short-term studies. Their advantages are that no computer hardware or software is needed at the participating sites because data are recorded manually on paper forms that are transferred to the centralized location in batches. A major drawback is that participating sites do not have real-time access to their data because no database is created locally. However, both hardware and software are needed at the centralized location for the data management system. The type of hardware and software used is determined by the configuration of the centralized computer. The most commonly used platforms include Open VMS, Unix, or PC, and one of the most widely used software packages is SAS [16]. 

Although it is possible to identify and test every scenario of consistency checks, a business decision has to be made as to the depth of the checks. However, it is essential that all serious scenarios that could affect data analysis be tested. This is true for any type of data collection system. However, for a system to be one hundred percent reliable, every scenario must be tested and dealt with appropriately. A scenario that cannot be predicted at the time of development may be incorporated into the system or handled as an exception and dealt with accordingly when it occurs. 

The use of electronic-based data collection and management systems allows the easy tracking of patient progress in the trial. Patient, visit, and form status are tracked. Patient status can be in screening, excluded, randomized, withdrew, or completed study. Similarly, status codes can be assigned to protocol scheduled visits to indicate whether the visit occurs or not. Form status depends on the type of the data collection system. For example a form in a distributed data collection system can be incomplete, filled, completed, altered, or transmitted. ... 

The author discusses changes in materials, changes in equipment (rotor type, rotor speed, data collection systems), mixing control (energy, temperature, time, thermal history) and mixing methods (previous mixing methods, carbon black dispersion control). 14 refs. Articles from this journal can be requested for translation by subscribers to the Rapra produced International Polymer Science and Technology. 

Material will be delivered to the factory in batches. Factory floor data collection systems will be available using bar code scanning technologies. A bar code is placed on an arriving batch of material. The code includes Information about material and size for each home type. Upon arrival, the code is scanned to identify the material and accordingly instruct the machines, robots, and other equipment to set the appropriate process plans for that specific home type. 

Eor design of a large-scale commercial extractor, the pilot-scale extractor should be of the same type as that to be used on the large scale. Reflable scale-up for industrial-scale extractors still depends on correlations based on extensive performance data collected from both pilot-scale and large-scale extractors covering a wide range of Hquid systems. Only limited data for a few types of large commercial extractors are available in the Hterature. 

The types of data required for incident reporting and root cause analysis systems are specified. Data Collection practices in the CPI are described, and a detailed specification of the types of information needed for causal analyses is provided. 

It should be emphasized that it is usually necessary to develop the data collection specification on an incremental basis and to utilize feedback from the system to modify the initial model relating causal factors to error types. This dynamic approach provides the best answer to the problem that no predefined error model will be applicable to every situation. 

Specify Data Collection Methods and Responsibilities Several types of data collection have been specified in earlier sections. It is important that the responsibilities for operating the various aspects of the system are imambiguously defined. 

Three reports have been issued containing IPRDS failure data. Information on pumps, valves, and major components in NPP electrical distribution systems has been encoded and analyzed. All three reports provide introductions to the IPRDS, explain failure data collections, discuss the type of failure data in the data base, and summarize the findings. They all contain comprehensive breakdowns of failure rates by failure modes with the results compared with WASH-1400 and the corresponding LER summaries. Statistical tables and plant-specific data are found in the appendixes. Because the data base was developed from only four nuclear power stations, caution should be used for other than generic application. 

Electronic-based data collection and management systems rely heavily on computer hardware and software at both the participating sites and the coordinating centers. The hallmark of the electronic-based data collection and management systems is the elimination of paper data collection forms. Instead of recording data on paper forms, data collectors enter data directly into a computer system where an electronic data record is generated for each form. The method of data transfer to the central location depends on the type of the electronic-based data collection and management system. 

Various issues must be considered before deciding on the type of the data collection and management system. The wide range of computer programming languages, database management, proprietary software, and hardware provide for the ability to select the most appropriate system design for a trial. 

Computer applications allow for defining and managing several important nonclinical data types that are managed by the system itself. Such data are referred to as metadata or control data. These are information such as domain-specific descriptions, application conditions, parameters, and methods in a repository. Control data fields can be part of the data collection forms or in system-defined tables. Some of these control fields include electronic signatures, form status, transmission date, transmission number, field completed, and memo fields (large text format). The database contains tables for reference ranges, visit schedule, form schedule, labels, and drug codes. 

---