This project sought to develop a data analytics system for manufacturing floor employees that will ultimately be able to accurately track multiple physical stresses experienced by those on the manufacturing floor such as repetitive motion, muscle usage, and hearing loss. This year the project focused on solely developing the hearing damage analytics portion of the system. The need for this technology is apparent, manufacturing employees are the core of any manufacturing company. Yet, very little analytics is done on these individuals, with most companies simply tracking number of hours spent performing a specific task. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 882,730 occupational injuries and illnesses that resulted in days away from work in 2017 alone. Even this statistic does not fully encapsulate the losses experienced by companies, as loss of work efficiency due to physical strain is also an important factor. The end goal of this project is to develop a system that can accurately quantify and track the physical stresses that those on the manufacturing floor experience, such as repetitive motion, muscle usage, hearing loss, etc. This collected data will then be analyzed in order to optimize the efficiency of a company’s manufacturing workforce, to ensure the output of a company is at its greatest potential. The analytics this system will provide will enable employers with the means to significantly reduce the number of wasted labor hours due to injury, while also optimizing the efficiency and health of their workforce and thereby increasing overall company profit and performance.

The group would like to thank their faculty sponsor Dr. Gary Bledsoe for their support of this project.