Newcastle Systems has relaunched its free MotionMeter app, a real-time activity tracker designed to perform time studies within the warehouse and identify causes of waste. Updates to the app include increased running speeds and a redesigned interface to improve usability and reporting.
Today’s U.S. warehouse worker wastes an average of 6.9 weeks a year walking. This unnecessary motion costs the industry an estimated $4.3 billion in annual revenue, according to an internal study conducted by Newcastle Systems and data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. In removing costly motion and product handling, warehouses can improve efficiencies, increase production as well as their bottom line.
Wasted motion does not happen all at once—it may be 20 seconds here and 10 seconds there, making it extremely difficult to identify. Wasted motion may include walking to a printer to print labels, walking to a computer to access data, or walking to a static desk to dimension product.
The MotionMeter app generates an in-depth overview, known as the Savings Report, which can be exported as a PDF and e-mailed directly to the app user or supervisors within an organization. Once waste is identified, warehouse managers can implement specific plans and technology solutions to reduce waste and improve productivity.
MotionMeter includes several personalization features, including names of processes and tasks, labor rate and number of employees. Free to download, MotionMeter is currently available for Android and iOS mobile devices and can be found on the App Store and GooglePlay.
