Description

The product consists of a hardware and a software part. The hardware part consists of 17 IoT sensors that are worn over the work clothes with Velcro straps. These sensors are needed to record the movement of the individual worker. Based on this, our cloud calculates the activity of the individual muscles and the load on the joints. In our visualization software, these loads can be analyzed to derive ergonomic recommendations. In combination with fully automated process and material flow tools such as spaghetti diagram, material flow diagram or productivity verification (pieces per minute), precise key figures for ergonomics and productivity can be defined. Also, due to the amount of data, ergonomics can be correlated with productivity for the first time and it is shown that ergonomic workplaces automatically lead to faster work for the individual employees. The primary use is in all areas where employees are still physically active and therefore have high absenteeism rates of 7 to 14% in some cases. In intralogistics, for example, this applies to picking or packing work.

Innovations

Previous ergonomics analyses are based on the view on the human body and cannot look into the body. This means that they cannot describe the overload as a key performance indicator, only approximately. This is tried to describe by certain joint angles. (e.g. working above shoulder level is bad, an inclination of the upper body of more than 30 degrees is unergonomic). However, according to the current state of science we know that these findings, which are in use today and are still from the last millennium, do not correspond to the real load. It often happens that previous ergonomic workplace optimizations did not lead to a reduction of lost work days, but rather increased the process efficiency or reduced the rate of operating errors. With Computed MyoGraphy it is now possible for the first time to define the overload as a key figure, which has a direct influence on the days lost and thus allows a “true” ergonomic analysis. In the area of process analysis, we use widely available state-of-the-art tools, which can be used without integration into the IT structure. Thus, Predimo provides a worldwide unique USP in the area of health/ergonomics and usees state-of-the-art automated tools in the area of process analysis.

Market relevance

A shortage of skilled workers is one of the major issues in today’s world. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find employees for logistics. Often the investment in automation is associated with high costs, furthermore the demand for mechatronic engineers to install and maintain the equipment is also increasing, so this is associated with a lot of effort. Our technology of Computed MyoGraphy is the first tool that can analyze human overload due to physical work. Thus, for the first time, meaningful recommendations for action can be derived, which really help. This has not only influence on the field of logistics, but helps in all social areas, in which humans move a lot or move little, because no movement or vibration can be measured and processed. The social added value is therefore unique. It includes all people in all industries.

The greatest added value can be created in industries with a high level of physical stress, such as logistics, skilled trades, solid forming, etc. In addition to these classic industrial fields of activity, our product is already being used in top-class sports such as the German Football League or by various Olympic teams in order to reduce their sick and lost days and to ensure faster integration. Due to overload alone, a damage of 20 billion Euros is caused in the industrial fields of activity in Germany per year, trend rising.

Customer benefits

The main advantage for the customer is that, for the first time, health/overload can be recorded as a key figure. Up to now, often AU-days, subjective opinions or ergonomic risk procedures are used to assess the current situation. With Computed MyoGraphy, for the first time, solid values and full transparency are available from which measures can be derived that really help and with which an ROI can be determined. Especially in combination with process analysis, this results in insights that increase health, well-being and productivity.

Another advantage of this analysis is that in case of commissioning as a service provider, we are eligible for funding by the German statutory health insurance companies. Thus, especially in financially uncertain times, value can be placed on a neutral analysis, with clear key figures, which in the end also allow fundable measures to be introduced. (Note: The health insurance companies are obliged to support the analysis financially. The amount of support is based on the number of policyholders of the respective health insurance companies and other factors in the company).