NLMK-SAP Innovations Lab together with the National Centre of Internet of Things (NCIT) have developed a pilot 3D positioning system for shop-floor employees of hot-dip galvanizing line No.1 at NLMK Group’s Lipetsk site.
The system enables real-time tracking and analysis of equipment operating mode changes and employee positioning. The tracking information, amassed in a database, is later analysed to enhance operational health and safety (OHS), human resource and contractor management practices. The system will highlight OHS risks and eliminate them in advance. currently, the system is being prepared for full-scale industrial operations.
The pilot system was developed in three months. The new solution is based on the SAP Cloud Platform, RTLS-UWB positioning system, 3D imaging technology and LoRaWan wireless communication technology. The project’s technology-development partner was NCIT. The pilot was developed on a fully featured line, used for production of steel products for automotive, construction industries, and white goods manufacturing.
Elena Demyanova, NLMK group vice president for IT, commented that the employee positioning system was one of the first projects for the NLMK-SAP Innovations Lab. "This system is of current interest because not only does it helps us analyse large quantities of data but also it prevents accidents at work, reduces safety risks, and improves operational efficiency. I hope that in a short time we will move from the pilot to full-scale roll out”.