Logistics 4.0: How Motion Mining® technology is turning students' everyday lives upside down

In mid-November 2022, students from two universities met in a lecture hall to silently push chairs with small pieces of paper. Sounds bizarre? But on closer inspection, this experiment turns out to be an exciting logistics experiment in which the students from Bocholt and Meschede learn about Motion-Mining® technology.

What is special about this experiment is not only the innovative technology, but also the fact that it is a joint elective subject of the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences and the University of Applied Sciences Südwestfalen. Prof. Dr. Andreas Besse from the Westphalian University, Prof. Dr. Stefan Lier and Katharina Tscheuschner from the South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences work closely together, pursue common didactic approaches and share their industrial contacts. Students from the bachelor's degree programs in economics, business informatics, industrial engineering and bionics benefit from this interdisciplinary collaboration.

The joint elective was made possible by the commitment of Prof. Dr. Andreas Besse and Prof. Dr. Stefan Lier, who had already pursued joint didactic approaches and shared industrial contacts in the past. The participating students came from the bachelor's degree programs in economics, business informatics, industrial engineering and bionics. Their goal was to analyze logistics processes on the basis of a large logistics company and to work out concrete recommendations for improvements.

For the experiment, students wear wristbands and belt sensors to measuer and ergonomically study their movements in the lecture hall. By pushing the chairs and distributing the slips of paper, the participants simulate operational transport and manufacturing processes. The data collected is analyzed using special software. For example, the students can analyze the duration of the processes, delays, and the time spent on various activities such as walking, standing, or handling products.

Timo Steinhauer from MotionMiners took over the evaluation and training in the use of the software. Incorporating the technology into the experiment at the universities gives the company the opportunity to show students what is possible in data analysis in industry today. Big Data applications today are more insightful, detailed and convenient for use than traditional methods of data discovery.

The experiment not only serves research and testing of the Motion-Mining® technology but also has a practice-oriented added value. The students can apply their findings to the cooperating logistics company and thus make a concrete contribution. Prof. Dr. Stefan Lier emphasizes that everyone involved benefits. The company receives a comprehensive analysis of its logistics processes, and the students can acquire valuable skills for their future careers through practical, project-oriented and experience-based learning.

The Motion-Mining® experiment shows how collaboration between universities and companies not only links theory and practice but also makes innovative technologies usable for business. It is a prime example of the importance of practical training and interdisciplinary collaboration in the academic world. Through such projects, students are optimally prepared for the challenges of the working world and can at the same time help companies to continuously optimize and improve their processes. Motion-Mining® technology shows us that the logistics industry can continue to benefit from innovative solutions created through collaboration between research and business.