Challenge
Worker safety is paramount in any organization, but it’s an ever-present concern for manufacturers. As machine complexity grows and operational processes become more sophisticated, manufacturers need new technologies that can improve worker safety without sacrificing productivity. Manufacturers are eager to find ways to:
- Reduce workplace hazards by using technologies like augmented reality (AR), vision and wearable biometric sensors
- Control high-cost impacts from labor inefficiency and medical and insurance costs due to employee injuries
- Comply with safety requirements
Solution
A Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband and multi-access edge computing (MEC) solution can power AR and artificial intelligence (AI) for hazard training and monitoring. The solution can help improve operation-wide safety to reduce injuries and safety-related fines by supporting the following capabilities:
- Enables continuous, low-latency process monitoring and alerts if machine activity poses a risk or if surrounding environmental conditions are hazardous
- Leverages AR to train operators, enabling efficient performance and optimizing safety
- Harnesses data from Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and cameras to help predict and manage performance and improve machine use
- Combines with digital twin (DT) and predictive maintenance (PdM) use cases for a total system efficiency solution
- Integrates with other technologies, including cameras, biometric sensors and environmental sensors, for a complete system solution
Benefits
Organizations that can leverage near real-time machine data can monitor machine performance and output virtually as it happens. This way, they can more easily and strategically address problems and inefficiencies before these inefficiencies compromise safety and business objectives. With a solution powered by 5G and MEC, manufacturers can:
- Reduce operating inefficiency by preventing injuries and related lost work time
- Improve worker productivity, experience and safety
- Provide immersive experiential training, passing process knowledge to new operators
- Detect changes in environments that aren’t seen by the human eye
Supporting Stats
- Manufacturing represents 11.6% of U.S. economy at $2.33T in 20181
- Cost of serious injuries that require medical attention estimated to be $39K per injury2
- National Safety Council (NSC): $161B in total Injury costs in 20173
- The metal fabrication sector avg 2017 injury rate = 4.5/100 workers4
1 https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-manufacturing-what-it-is-statistics-and-outlook-3305575
2 National Safety Council - https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/costs/work-injury-costs/
3 National Safety Council - https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/costs/work-injury-costs/
4 https://www.bls.gov/web/osh/summ1_00.htm
For discussion only. Verizon makes no representation that it can or will provide the proposed product/service/functionality depicted here at any specific time in the future or at all.