Nelson Javier Escobar Mora

Introduction: this study presents the application of a diagnostic tool to a Facility Management System based on the ISO 41001 standard in a Colombian hospital. The purpose is to assess the maturity level of the management system and its alignment with international best practices in hospital facility administration.Objectives: the study aims to evaluate the management system of a Colombian hospital according to the criteria established by ISO 41001 and the main areas of Facility Management, in order to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.Methodology: the assessment was conducted through the application of three questionnaires: the first two focused on the main components of the Facility Management System, and a third one addressing the system’s environment. This methodology enabled a comprehensive analysis of the interaction between macroprocesses and hospital departments.Results: the results show that the evaluated institution achieved a high score and meets most of the standard’s requirements. However, specific gaps were identified that need to be addressed to strengthen management practices and ensure a more efficient implementation of the system.Conclusions: this study provides an innovative and easily applicable diagnostic approach for other Colombian hospitals. The tool allows the identification of gaps between departments and highlights the interaction among the different areas of the Hospital Facility Management System. It thus serves as a useful foundation for progressing toward an integrated management system aligned with healthcare quality standards.

Urbanization and population growth have heightened the need for sustainable, efficient building materials that combine acoustic and thermal insulation with environmental and economic sustainability. Sandwich composite panels have gained attention as versatile solutions, offering lightweight structures, high strength, and adaptability in construction applications. This study evaluates manual, semi-automatic, and automatic production methods, selecting the automatic process for its efficiency, precision, and suitability for large-scale production. Extensive characterization techniques, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential Thermogravimetry (DTG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and flammability tests, were employed to evaluate the morphological, thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistant properties of the panels. The P200 sample, produced automatically, demonstrated high acoustic absorption in the mid–high frequencies (2000–4000 Hz), strong interlayer adhesion, and low thermal conductivity (2.75 W/mK), making it effective for insulation applications. The flammability tests confirmed compliance with EPA 1030 standards, with a low flame propagation rate (1.55 mm/s). The TGA-DTG and DSC analyses revealed the thermal stability of the panel’s components, with distinct degradation stages being observed for the polyurethane core and non-woven textile layers. The FE-SEM analysis revealed a compact and homogeneous structure with strong adhesion between the core and textile layers. These results highlight the potential of sandwich composites as eco-friendly, high-performance materials for modern construction.

This study proposes a sustainable Innovation Management Model (MGI) for the plantain agroindustrial chain, applied to the Quindío region of Colombia. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating various techniques, including a systematic literature review using the Scopus database, which analyzed 95 documents through the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. The identification and prioritization of relevant variables, along with the validation of the proposed model, were also conducted through the use of three questionnaires, supplemented by relevance and congruence indices. The analysis identified 53 variables for the entry stage, 36 for the transformation stage, and 31 for the exit stage. The findings revealed significant gaps within the agroindustrial chain, particularly in areas such as leadership, strategic management, and resilience among key stakeholders. The MGI, as prioritized by stakeholders, provides a framework that integrates variables and information flows, facilitating the development of new open innovation challenges. These challenges engage not only seekers—entities that require innovation—but also solvers—organizations that offer solutions. The implementation of this model will require supportive public policies, projects, and web platforms, such as Innocentive/Wazoku, Ninesigma, Ruta N, Yet2.com, Itonics, and Ennomotive, which, with the aid of artificial intelligence, can connect innovation supply and demand through open challenges.

The prospective studies applied to the plantain sector are extensive, but they are not directly related to innovation models. Therefore, this article proposes an Innovation Management Model for this chain and, specifically, for the one located in the department of Quindío-Colombia. The methodology employed combines stakeholder engagement, prioritization of variables, a comprehensive literature review, and model validation. The study identifies critical variables essential for fostering agricultural and technological innovation across platforms and projects, enhancing capacity development, and promoting research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) activities. Furthermore, it examines supply chain dynamics, innovation management processes, knowledge and technology integration, and the adaptation of business models for sustainable development, alongside environmental impact assessments. Initially, 53 variables were identified in the input stage, 36 in the transformation component, and 31 in the output stage. The analysis of priority variables revealed significant gaps in leadership and strategic capacity, resource availability, agricultural innovation, market competitiveness, information and communication technologies, regulatory compliance, and network resilience. These gaps profoundly affect creativity, innovation, and sustainability within Colombia's plantain sector.

This research presents a preliminary proposal of facility management’s dimensions and performance indicators, as well as their classification through a technological management process, considering the international literature to provide management of physical assets in health services. This group of performance indicators function as an efficient measurement system, whose objective is to reveal the direction of facility management aligned with the organizational key performance indicators in the health sector. The use of these indicators tends to reduce the large amount of data to concise and practical information for healthcare facility management professionals. Ultimately, these indicators will contribute to the alignment of physical asset management with the policies, plans, strategies, and objectives of a health institution. The authors conceive this preliminary proposal as a source of new practical studies on performance indicators to optimize infrastructure management in the health sector with the discipline of facility management. Esta investigación presenta una propuesta preliminar de dimensiones e indicadores de desempeño para facility management, así como su clasificación a través de un proceso de gestión tecnológica, considerando la literatura internacional para brindar gestión de activos físicos en servicios de salud. Este grupo de indicadores de desempeño funcionan como un sistema de medición eficiente, cuyo objetivo es revelar la dirección del facility management alineado con los indicadores clave de desempeño organizacional en el sector salud. El uso de estos indicadores tiende a reducir la gran cantidad de datos a información concisa y práctica para los profesionales de la gestión de instalaciones sanitarias. En definitiva, estos indicadores contribuirán al alineamiento de la gestión de activos físicos con las políticas, planes, estrategias y objetivos de una institución de salud. Los autores conciben esta propuesta preliminar como una fuente de nuevos estudios prácticos sobre indicadores de desempeño para optimizar la gestión de infraestructura en el sector salud con la disciplina del facility management.

In this article, the design of a new model of transtibial prostheses will be shown, because there is a need to create a mechanism that simulates the anatomical behavior of the tibia-peroneal-astragaline joint, since existing prostheses continue to present disagreements in their Design, functionality, comfort and aesthetics. In the first part, the term amputation, its causes and indexes in Colombia are introduced, then everything related to transtibial prostheses, from its concept to the current confusion, then the research methodology used in this project, describing step by step the creation of the prototype, followed by a brief comparison of the proposed prosthetic and anatomical foot, finally the conclusion and discussion En este artículo, se expondrá el diseño de un nuevo modelo de prótesis transtibial, debido a que surge la necesidad de crear un mecanismo que simule el comportamiento anatómico de la articulación tibio-peroneo-astragalina, puesto que las prótesis existentes siguen presentado inconformidades en su diseño, funcionalidad, confort y estética. En la primera parte se introduce el término de amputación, sus causas e índices en Colombia, posteriormente todo lo relacionado con prótesis transtibial, desde su concepto hasta el desconcierto actual, luego la metodología de investigación utilizada en este proyecto, describiendo paso a paso la creación del prototipo, seguido de una breve comparación del pie protésico propuesto y el anatómico, finalmente la conclusión y discusión.

It is presents the characterization of the clays from the algodonal formation and the mechanical properties of the products manufactured in brickyard “Hora”, located in Ocaña, Norte de Santander, Colombia.Tests of scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, initial rate of absorption, 24-hour immersion, compressive strength, and modulus of rupture were performed. The results indicate that the clay contains a considerable amount of silico-aluminate, while the products have low mechanical strength and high percentage of water absorption. The clays used present difficulty in the process of shaping and compacting the products. None of the samples comply with the values established in the standard and do not allow their use as non-structural masonry products for interior or exterior use.

Acoustic pollution has become a global problem, but, having negative effects on the health and well-being of people, it becomes a variable to control in hospital environments. That is why this article presents the design of a panel with noise reduction properties and with characteristics that allow to replace the restrictions of the hospital environment, through the concepts of Home Warmth and Patient Safety as fundamental bases to limit the problem. The design exercise uses the VDI 2221 model and the problem / solution symmetry model in order to restrict the design and refine it without losing sight of the context for which the panel is designed. As a result, a design of the structure is obtained that later goes on to a stage of improvement of details, in which characteristics associated to the materials, production processes and other additional characteristics are defined.