Let me ask you a question: How would you feel about knowing your bosses can see every move you make at your desk or workstation? That may mean they can see when you stop to chat with a passing co-worker or slow down to adjust your desk to a standing position.
I ask because Toyota Motor Corp., the automaker whose Toyota Production System for lean manufacturing has been adopted around the world, is deploying a system of monitors at its Princeton, Ind., plant that automatically tracks workers' movements at their workstations. The workers do not wear trackers. The system developed by Texas-based Invisible AI has software that allows the computer to pick up the movement of hands, arms, wrists and bodies.
As Invisible AI told Larry P. Vellequette at our sister paper Automotive News, the idea is to find and fix production bottlenecks. Currently a job trainer or supervisor may spend a short time at an individual workstation and try to spot flaws, but the computer system can track movements all day, through every shift. Invisible AI points out that the system also can identify movements that can lead to injuries.
I appreciate the concept of consistent improvements and fixing problems quickly, but at the same time, I'm glad a computer isn't watching me.
