Work protocol with Hololens for GEFCO logistics

Proof of Concept with Amazing Results

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Gefco official partner of ArtiShock

Enterprise AR GEFCO Logistics

At ArtiShock we know that AR has enormous added value in various industries where craftsmanship and manual work predominate.

We could not imagine that the cooperation of ArtiShock with GEFCO in logistics would lead to a productivity increase (time) of >50% *, a further quality improvement of 70% * and an increase in job satisfaction of 30%. *These percentages are based on a baseline measurement with an untrained reference group

Video Enterprise AR Solution

This project with our partner GEFCO shows how realistic it is to expect and realize an ROI when investing in Augmented Reality.

 

About GEFCO

GEFCO is the world leader in complex supply chain solutions and the European leader in automotive logistics. Building on 70 years of expertise and 13,000 staff, GEFCO designs smart, flexible solutions to meet the most complex supply chain challenges in all industrial sectors. GEFCO is present in 47 countries, with a strong global network of partners and serves 300 destinations worldwide. In 2018, the Group generated a turnover of € 4.6 billion

It is almost unbelievable (and at the same time very logical) that the results of the Augmented Reality application that ArtiShock has developed for this logistics giant offers such added value that we will continue to use this technology together with this multinational.

Project phases

When we started this Augmented Reality project a year ago, we went through many phases. We received the invitation from Gefco’s Innovation department to come and talk about the possibilities of AR. Obviously, first to convince the board and management that Augmented Reality will deliver a Return On Investment (ROI). We showed previous projects that we have realized with the Microsoft Hololens and gave our vision for the future of AR. We were commissioned to develop a Proof Of Concept (POC) and to prove that AR would indeed bring added value.

Step 1: Project team

As a first step, we have put together a project group. This project group consisted of employees from various departments such as planning and administrative employees. This part was untrained in the packaging of critical medicines. We added trained employees and we also involved the customer and the supplier of the boxes in this test. None of the subjects in the test group had experience with Augmented Reality.

With traditional paper instructions, the group allowed us to perform a ‘zero measurement’ (defining the starting point). Packing medicines in special cooling boxes turned out to be more difficult than initially thought. We filmed this session and documented the results of this analog exercise. Almost 95% of the packed medicines was handled incorrectly by the untrained employees.

The average duration for packing a box was approximately 45 minutes with 2 persons per box. Trained personnel went flawlessly, how could it be otherwise, and the time was around 30 minutes per box per person, including input and output with the internal ERP system. The video of this first step has already triggered a lot of discussions within the organization.

Findings

  • More appreciation for the work of trained personnel;
  • Understanding the complexity of a seemingly simple task;
  • Involving the entire organization provides support
  • Video provides new insights into the way things are actually organized;
  • Video provides clear tools for developing a first version of a structured work protocol.

Step 2: refining the work protocol

After analyzing the video, we worked out and refined the work protocol together with GEFCO. We discovered that some steps in the existing work protocol were not always logical and GEFCO has been able to improve a number of elements in the work process in the current approach. Because you zoom in on the details within a work process, it appears that some parts could be improved. Organizations may also be used to taking work processes for granted because “it has been that way for so long”. A blind spot that we suspect many organizations have to deal with?

We have also conducted research into external suppliers of Enterprise AR solutions. It soon became apparent that these systems were very rigid and that little customization was possible. Based on the findings and consultation with GEFCO, it was decided to set up its own system for this Proof Of Concept. We have developed a Content Management System for the digital content of the various steps of the work process (packing protocol). This allows the various steps in combination with photo documentation and the 3D models (as Augmented Reality reference) are organized.

Findings

  • Analysis of existing processes offers new insights;
  • In the world of Enterprise AR there is sometimes too good a representation of things.

Step 3: design of the Augmented Reality Work protocol

The work protocol has been developed for screens taking into account UX (User experience) and UI (User interaction) for use with the Microsoft Hololens (read more about spatial design here) and discussed with the customer in several sessions. The cooling boxes and all components required for this such as cool packs, gel packs, freeze-tags, payload and so on have been worked out in 3D. We have converted 4 variations of the boxes to 3D for AR. Within the digital work protocol, each step is accompanied by an Augmented Reality animation.

After we worked it out as a digital work protocol, we did the final test with the results described above. We also made a video registration and carried out measurements during the final delivery.

Findings

  • There is a 50% improvement in productivity from the zero measurement;
  • There is a 70% error reduction in untrained respondents compared to the zero measurement;
  • There is a 30% improvement in job satisfaction;

There are more results, but unfortunately we cannot share them all publicly. Would you like to know more? please contact us.

Great Results

Een verbeterde productiviteit van 50%
Duidelijk instructie lijden tot kwaliteitsverbetering van 70%
verslaglegging tijdens de procedure
Inpakken gaat gestructureerder
Starten met de taak met de Hololens
Enterprise AR packing instructions
We have shown that Enterprise AR in the industry delivers amazing results in terms of the value of Augmented Reality.

Enterprise AR leads to partnership

During 9 months we worked intensively and with heart and soul on this Enterprise AR project. Because amazing – and especially measurable – results have been achieved based on a baseline measurement, we have proven that Augmented Reality as an applied technology offers real added value for the industry. It’s way beyond the state of being a gimmick.

Because the thoroughly measured results are so interesting, Gefco has offered ArtiShock a long-term partnership. Read more about the confirmatory press release here.