Motion mining technology forms the basis for building a comprehensive planning tool and database for industrial work processes. It uses mobile sensors and miniature radio transmitters to record the processes as they take place. The individual work steps are automatically reconstructed from the raw data from the sensors using a pattern recognition solution developed in-house, movements, postures and the work situation are detected and the resulting efficiency and ergonomics indicators are then made available for further analysis.

The data obtained is used to determine efficiency indicators and optimization potential in the area of productivity as well as ergonomics. This also creates a direct benefit for employees. In the course of ergonomics analyses, key figures are recorded that allow direct conclusions to be drawn about the strain on employees. These include, for example, the number of handling operations, the distances covered or the number of bending operations. Overall, the processes and, above all, the working conditions for employees can be sustainably improved, throughput times shortened, delivery reliability increased and sick leave reduced. The technology also helps to quantify ergonomics in the workplace. The hardware and software used works independently and does not need to be integrated into the company's IT system to carry out the measurements, which makes it simple and efficient to use.

For companies, previously hidden optimization and rationalization potentials are raised and at the same time the effort for the necessary recordings and analyses is reduced. This not only works very quickly and simultaneously for processes running in parallel, but also provides an objective basis for decision-making and a cross-industry database that can be used not only to derive best-practice solutions for given process tasks, but also just for benchmarks. In this way, information about the processes is obtained directly from the store floor data, enabling optimization and rationalization potential to be identified and exploited during a continuous improvement process. This generates extensive benefits for companies and their employees.

Gregor Blauermel, chairman of the jury and chairman of the VDI-GPL Technical Logistics Advisory Board: "By awarding the Innovation Prize to Motion Miners, the jury has not only recognized an innovative solution, but also rewarded the entrepreneurial spirit behind it. Initially marketing the product via services in order to raise the necessary funds for further development, while at the same time developing a better understanding of the needs of potential customers, shows the will to succeed. The idea of recording movement and stress profiles using sensors and automatically generating recommendations for action from the data is completely logical when you look at it backwards - but you first have to come up with it and then it has to work! That's why I'm particularly pleased that we were able to award another start-up this year - make something of it!"

Background

The "Logistics Innovation Prize" is awarded annually by the VDI Society for Production and Logistics (VDI-GPL). The prize is awarded to the company that has made an outstanding contribution to innovation in logistics. The winner is selected by an independent jury of competent and recognized experts. The 2019 jury consisted of:

• Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Gregor Blauermel, Managing Partner B416 Unternehmensberatung GmbH & Co. KG
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fottner Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics, TU Munich
• Rolf Müller-Wondorf, Editor-in-Chief of Logistics for Companies
• Martin Schrüfer, Managing Editor-in-Chief of materialfluss and LT-manager
• Dipl.-Ing. Jean Haeffs, Managing Director, VDI Society for Production and Logistics
• Prof. Dr.-lng. WiIlibald A. Günthner, Chair of Materials Handling, Material Flow, Logistics, TU Munich
• Thilo Jörgl, Editor-in-Chief of LOGISTIK HEUTE
• Matthias Pieringer Deputy Editor-in-Chief LOGISTIK HEUTE
• Winfried Bauer, Editor-in-Chief Conveying and Lifting

The award ceremony will take place at the 28th German Material Flow Congress organized by the VDI Wissensforum. The call for entries for the VDI Logistics Innovation Award 2020 will begin in fall 2019.