Wearables

Sensor sleeves could maximize workplace efficiency

Sensor sleeves could maximize workplace efficiency
Sleeves equipped with sensors have been developed to time the actions of factory workers, in order to increase efficiency
Sleeves equipped with sensors have been developed to time the actions of factory workers, in order to increase efficiency
View 1 Image
Sleeves equipped with sensors have been developed to time the actions of factory workers, in order to increase efficiency
1/1
Sleeves equipped with sensors have been developed to time the actions of factory workers, in order to increase efficiency

In factories where products are mass-produced, it's extremely important to know how long the human workers take to perform certain tasks. This not only allows the pace of the assembly line to be set, but it also allows factory owners to identify time-wasting problems such as superfluous movements, overly frequent tool changes, or impractically-located components. Typically, workers are periodically timed by a stopwatch-wielding supervisor, or using a timer that they start and stop themselves. A new wearable time-keeping system, however, promises more accurate readings.

According to Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation, there are at least two main drawbacks to existing time-keeping methods. For one thing, workers tend to be nervous when being monitored by someone else, and will work faster than normal, possibly also making more mistakes. Additionally, a supervisor timing their employees is being taken away from other duties, decreasing efficiency.

Fraunhofer's new system, designed under contract for engineering firm DR. GRUENDLER, incorporates two sleeves worn by the worker. Each sleeve contains three matchbox-sized sensors, located on the upper and lower arm, and the hand. These measure the acceleration and angular velocities of arms and hands in the X, Y and Z axes. After initially being "taught" by the user, the hardware can identify and isolate actions such as reaching, grasping, setting up, joining, checking or releasing.

The system doesn't require any extra infrastructure (unlike GPS), and allows multiple workers - wearing multiple sets of sleeves - to be timed simultaneously. Once the data has been gathered, a PC application reconstructs the motion sequences, breaking them down into precisely-timed individual actions.

Presently, the Fraunhofer system is applicable to assembly jobs at workplaces where employees are seated. Down the road, however, there are plans for it to be adapted for use with standing and moving employees, and for it to be able to detect their posture.

13 comments
13 comments
Charles Gaines
Oh yes. Because being hardware in a wifi network will totally make factory workers feel better about themselves.
Jon A.
I really hope that the intended use is to identify best practices and eliminate movements that could lead to injury.
The cynic in me sees new horizons in the field of micromanagement, though.
I do wonder if this could be used for general purpose motion capture, eliminating the need for cameras and ping pong balls taped to actors.
Mr Stiffy
\"Slaves equipped with sensors have been developed to time the actions of factory workers, in order to increase efficiency.\"
This is NAZIWARE to the max.
Bill Bennett
I hope Jon A is correct and Mr Stiffy (does it not hurt being hard so long?) hope it is put to good use avoiding repetitive action injury rather than Mr Stiffy\'s POV
William H Lanteigne
No sensor will ever eliminate the most wasteful of all production problems: dirt-stupid management.
Captain Danger
This is great. Workers that are slacking off or doing things incorrectly can be targeted for additional training. Workers may not like it but really it is called WORK not HAPPY. Keep your mind on the job , produce a good quality product and a the end of the day go home with no worries.
Nick Beck
I\'d be interested in whether this is a data gathering exercise for robotic arm manipulators. Could be a similar strategy to GoogleVoice being a proxy for speech algorithms. Either way, more safety and production control outweigh the big-brother aspect. Work is work.
Bruce H. Anderson
Having run a stopwatch earlier in my career, I am keenly aware of the deficiencies involved with the process. The good thing about this product is that it is totally objective and thorough, with little opportunity of influence by either worker or supervisor. I like solid data. I think it will be too expensive and cumbersome as a micromanagement (dirt-stupid Nazi) tool.
BillB
This could be great for safety. You could program machinery to stop when the hand gets near a pinch point
Steve Rock
We are Borg, You will be assilimated !!! and if i go for a waz, will they tell me how many shakes is optimum ?
Load More