Within the project duration we managed to achieve a disruptive market innovation at a global scale - ERGOVIA v.6 (Kinematix) – a new generation of SMART (HW&SW) tools for process analysis and optimization of the production cycle in automotive and other manufacturing industries. Currently, our product is at an average TRL7 level (prototype demonstration in operational environment), while HW data unit is at TRL9, sensors and the measuring gloves are at TRL7 and the software ERGOVIA Control Application with Kinematix module is functional in a limited beta version (TRL7) and still under further development (integration of other functions and modules). The key innovation, however, is our new software module Kinematix. This module pushed our product ERGOVIA onto a new level of ergonomic measurement market.
ERGOVIA has become a complex process analyzation tool, that is capable to make in-time analysis and audiovisual record of the process, evaluate and archive critical moments of the analyzed process based on various ergonomic methodologies (EAWS, HWD). It is capable of evaluating the existing work process and visualize its critical moments based on a system of 10 factors: process time; force/weight (load); position/grip; frequency of occurrence; structural shape of the active part 1; structural shape of the passive part 2; material characteristic of the active part; material characteristic of the passive part; working tool; interconnecting medium.
By enabling time-dependent analysis of all the above-mentioned factors, ERGOVIA creates a platform for complex ergonomic analysis of the production process based on global time-force standards (EAWS, HWD methodologies). ERGOVIA Control Application with Kinematix module is capable of providing tree-like experimental structure of ergonomic measurements. This enables the user to repeat the same working process and identify/monitor inter-dependencies of the 10 factors mentioned above. This way, we are able to find and evaluate the optimum efficient solution to a long-term healthy production. ERGOVIA is a unique complex multi-factor process analyzing tool for the following areas:
- Research and development of evaluation methods in ergonomics by providing complex analytical data to create process-oriented force-and-time production standards
- In-depth research of “cause-effect” in the area of occupational medicine (musculoskeletal diseases) by providing complex information (data) on “force – time – grip – frequency” aspects of the production process
- Lean operation management, increasing efficiency of production processes by providing complex data for development of specific norms, methodologies and work standardization
- Development of global catalogue of ergonomic force-time standards
- Sport medicine, increasing efficiency of sportsmen in certain sports
As to socio-economic impacts, ERGOVIA may prevent occupational diseases and injuries (most commonly, musculoskeletal diseases – MSDs): for employers, MSDs reduce company efficiency due to loss of productivity; and they increase societal costs, namely worker compensation, medical and administrative costs. In some EU Member States 40% of the costs of workers’ compensation are caused by MSDs, reaching up to 1.6% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country itself. In general, the cost to the EU each year in lost productivity and sickness absences is estimated at 2% of the GDP.
This innovative product is in line with EU cross-cutting Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) in the field of monitoring, perception and awareness in manufacturing (provide cost optimisation), characteristic (human) motion detection in computer vision (reliable track of human motion from visual input based on accurate algorithms) and material/energy – efficient manufacturing process.
