Heavy-duty industries such as steel manufacturing and military utilise rugged computers to streamline their tasks. But, in such harsh conditions, it is not just the computing equipment that companies and institutions need to worry about. They also give importance, particularly, to operators’ safety and long-term wellness as it provides many benefits in the overall productivity and ROI of the company.
According to the Labour Force Survey, there are 469,000 workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2017-2018. This results in 6.6million working days lost due to such illnesses. Also, there are 71,062 employee non-fatal injuries reported by employers under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) in 2017-2018 [Health and Safety Executive].
These numbers have a tremendous impact on the country’s economy. In 2016-2017, the total costs to employers would amount to £3.0 billion. Despite these numbers, there has been a long-term downward trend with regards to costs and number of work-related injuries. This means that companies and institutions are focusing on improving their guidelines and rules in terms of safety and long-term wellness.
Many industrial sectors utilise computing equipment to aid in the daily tasks and maintain high production rate. Usually, these devices are built with industrial workstations for easier computing operations. So, it provides productivity and operational efficiency to increase ROI.
Now, how can large-scale industries benefit from an ergonomic industrial PC workstation? Keep reading to learn the applications of industrial workstations in heavy-duty industries and see how it is set up to optimise large-scale operations.
Understanding the Benefits of an Ergonomic Workplace
High productivity and streamlined workflow are the requirements in industrial operations to avoid bottleneck operations. Or else, it may result in costly losses.
Since PCs are the core of most of the operations in heavy-duty industries, it is essential to set it up ergonomically. Equipping these PCs to rugged workstations is an ideal option to reduce the occurrence of bottlenecks.
Industrial ergonomics means adapting job tasks to natural body movements in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction. Aside from health and safety benefits, an ergonomic workplace and equipment improves productivity, helps reduce operational costs and streamline operations.
Some of the key benefits of an ergonomic industrial workplace are the following:
- Cost-reduction. Injuries and musculoskeletal disorders can cause employee absences. This results in significant productivity loss but also costs in the form of compensation. With ergonomic equipment, it reduces a company’s costs and better budget allocation.
- Boost productivity and quality. An ergonomic workplace and equipment allow operators to work quickly and efficiently. Plus, personnel are able to properly focus which often result in fewer errors.
- Better safety culture. In large-scale operations where harsh conditions prevail, ergonomics play a defining role for a streamlined, safe and highly-productive work environment. Companies with a profound safety culture are able to minimise costs and improve overall ROI.
These advantages show why industrial PCs set up to workstations are a top choice when it comes to designing an ergonomic workspace.
Stainless Steel Industrial Workstation in Food Processing
Hygiene and sanitation are top priorities for food manufacturers. What’s more, the stringent food safety regulations in the UK make it a challenging task for these companies. At the same time, global food demand continues to rise. Meat production alone is projected to increase up to 376 million tonnes by 2030 [World Health Organization].
With this, the food processing industry faces not only the challenge to produce food. They need to increase the production rate to meet the growing demands. That is why companies who are operating in this industry are utilising IoT and other automation applications. And to meet the safety, sanitation and efficiency requirements, they set up their PCs to stainless steel rugged workstations.
What makes industrial workstations an ideal solution is an efficiency it provides. It is an ergonomic answer to streamline any industrial operations. Moreover, industrial PC workstations are safe from liquid and dirt damages. Thus, making it an excellent choice to set up rugged PCs for food automation processes.
Here are the features of a rugged workstation fit for food processing:
Stainless Steel (304)
Since sanitation is a vital component in the food industry, using food-grade materials and equipment is a must. Industrial workstations are made with stainless steel (304). It has high nickel content which makes it resistant to corrosion. That’s why panel PCs equipped to rugged workstations can be set up in monitoring and processing food operations.
Plug and Play
Food processors need to meet the daily production demands so operational downtime can cause backlogs. But, ruggedised workstations have a plug and play feature. It is compatible with standard PC enclosures. Computers and peripherals are easy to set up to these workstations. So, it prevents long downtimes to set up computer equipment.
VESA mounting solution
An ergonomic workplace provides several benefits that help in creating a dynamic and streamlined operation. Industrial workstations are VESA-compliant which improves accessibility to operators. This makes it convenient and efficient to monitor automated tasks. Therefore, it optimises overall productivity and higher ROI.
Seamless Distribution Operations with Industrial Workstation
According to the ITS World Congress, transport and logistics are facing the challenge to increase efficiency, improve sustainability and reduce costs. Having a seamless supply chain improves inventory management and better budget allocation. To meet these challenges and achieve a seamless distribution process, logistics companies are utilising advanced technology and IoT (Internet of Things) in their workflow.
Integrating IoT and tech has become a trend in supply chain operations since it provides operational efficiency and revenue opportunities. In fact, IoT applications are built to improve interoperability and connectivity. As a result, optimising cargo flows and distribution operations are faster and more efficient.
But, warehouses bear harsh conditions and limited workspace that may hinder an operator from utilising IoT in many aspects of operations. An excellent solution to address this issue is mounting rugged panel computers to industrial workstations. These workstations are compact so it only takes up a small footprint. Operators can now take advantage of IoT and have an ergonomic workspace.
Take a look at the advantages of rugged PC workstations ideal for distribution and logistics use.
Avoid downtime in operations
Tight workspaces in distribution facilities make it difficult for the operators to move around. Good thing, the compact footprint of the industrial workstation makes it easy to bring computing system at the heart of the supply chain. Plus, these workstations have high IP & NEMA sealing so it can last under harsh conditions. So, it prevents backlogs in the operations caused by prolonged downtime.
Seamless freight monitoring
Utilising IoT in the supply chain makes real-time freight monitoring possible. However, large amounts of data will also be flowing into the computing system daily. Rugged PCs mounted on VESA-compliant and compact workstations has the capability to withstand frequent and extensive usage. This ergonomic setup has a small footprint whilst offering a secure platform to easily organise PC peripherals.
As a result, operators are able to seamlessly monitor cargo flow since the embedded PC and its accessories are clustered in one compact area.
Easy to setup
A distribution floor with a built-in industrial workstation can also make it more productive for the operators to execute tasks. What’s more, industrial workstations with plug and play feature makes it is easy to setup rugged PCs and peripherals. So, operators will be able to utilise the computing equipment efficiently.
Improve Safety in Steel-making Using Industrial PC Workstation
Steel manufacturing bears extreme conditions such as harsh temperature, vibration and dirt intrusion. Typical computing equipment will definitely not last in steel processing operations. So, for established steel manufacturers, ruggedised PCs are used for automation and monitoring applications. But, mounting these PCs to industrial workstations allows operators to maintain quality work whilst improving productivity.
These rugged computer workstations provide an ergonomic work environment which helps in improving the productivity in operations. Users are able to efficiently and seamlessly operate an embedded PC since all necessary peripherals are organised in a small footprint. This results in higher productivity rate and lesser bottlenecks in workflow.
So, what makes it the best option for computing system installation? Amongst the top reasons are the following key features:
High IP Rating and NEMA Sealing
The steel industry is filled with damaging conditions to equipment such as extreme temperatures, noise and vibration, and chemical intrusions. Good thing, industrial PC workstations have high IP rating and NEMA sealing. This means it can last under harsh work environment. It improves overall productivity and reduces costs that come along with frequent equipment repairs.
Custom-fit solution
Operators in the steel industry work in limited spaces since the steel production floor have large and heavy machinery. Ruggedised computer workstation is designed to fit in PC peripherals. Its flexible and durable construction allows it to last under the harsh conditions in the steel industry.
Stainless steel pedestal
Since the steel industry bears extreme working conditions, commercial-grade PCs may not be able to endure its existing environment. But, industrial workstations are made with stainless steel construction. It has the capability to withstand the harsh temperature, vibration, shock and impact damage present on the production floor. So, it allows the operator to utilise the computing technology efficiently.
Optimising Military Ops Using Industrial Computer Workstation
In military rugged computing, optimised size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) is crucial. And with technological advancements, it is important to utilise equipment that has fast interconnectivity and modular architectures. That is why the defence industry is using ruggedised embedded computers. It completely balances compact structure, performance capability, and robustness.
But, having an ergonomic setup in the military can play a vital role in their operations. By installing industrial workstations for military PCs, it allows the military personnel to easily access any applications used for critical operations.
Let us make a quick rundown of its key features on why it is an excellent workstation for military usage:
Compact and Robust Design
Generally, military operatives are deployed in different types of working environment and utilise panel PCs for specific applications. That is why an embedded PC mounted on industrial workstation is the ideal solution. Computer peripherals and cables are clustered within a compact footprint. So, operatives can have a robust computing system for efficient execution of military tasks.
Extremely Resistant to Varying Work Conditions
Vibration, shock, dirt and liquid intrusions, and extreme temperatures are some of the conditions that are present in military operations. Good thing, industrial workstations have a high IP/NEMA sealing. Therefore, this makes it safe to mount PCs and peripherals to workstations as internal components are well-protected.
Ergonomic Mounting Options
Military personnel requires an easy-to-setup and robust computing system. But, industrial workstations with VESA wall-mount brackets makes it efficient to set up standard PC enclosures and peripherals. As a result, operators can now use an excellent computing system even in a limited area.
Fast-track Industrial Operations Today
Technological advancements provide industries with the means to optimise and innovate their operations. Along with computing technology advancements, it is essential to design workspaces with ergonomic solutions in mind as well. This allows a more efficient and dynamic workflow which possibly results in higher ROIs. By setting up industrial workstations with built-in PCs, any operator can make use of the computing technology more efficiently.
Contact(+44) 01438 747111 today to start customising your industrial workstation fit for your business needs.
References
Health and safety at work Summary statistics for Great Britain 2018, Hse.gov.uk
5 Ways An Ergonomically-Designed Workstation Can Improve Your Productivity, Business.com
Ergonomics Industrial Ergonomics, Ergonomics-info.com
Stainless Steel: All About Food Grade 304, 18/8 and 18/10, Mightynest.com
How IoT Will Impact The Supply Chain, Forbes.com
Connectivity is key for the logistics of tomorrow, Itsworldcongress2019.com
The Unexpected Benefits of Good Ergonomics, Spine.osu.edu
