Description

Since we are focusing on the industry in Turkey our innovation contents not only a product, but, moreover, a service package which is suitable for the Turkish market. Statistics show that about 46.5 million people are using mobile phones and the number of smartphone users is expected to grow. (Statista, 2017) That is more than half of the population (Total population: 79.51 million). Therefore, a mobile application is our starting point. The app can be complemented by other devices such as infra-red cameras to spot evolving heat in endangered places within a company. Another feature will be an E-Learning platform as essential part of the application combined with a reward system which is working as an incentive in order to motivate employees and to increase the awareness for this important issue. FIPR uses infrared technology to mainly tackle overheating machines and smouldering in bales or piles of stock. The technology could probably also be used to prevent smoking in sensitive areas. In contrast to common reactive systems (fire sprinklers, calling the fire brigade etc.), FIPR is a proactive system based on two main assets: a detection algorithm using infrared-cameras and employees using the FIPR application. In case of the detection of smouldering or overheating machines, the triggering infrared-camera will start a beacon and warning signal. In addition, it will send a warning to smartphones, first to those smartphones in the room, giving information on the kind of potential fire as well as the exact location. It will also deliver information on how to proceed, e.g. that a machine needs a 15 min cooldown or bales need to be moved/ fully covered with an extinguisher blanket. As there sometimes won’t always be a person in the affected room, the system will make sure that at least one up person is contacted through messages on their smartphone. The manager will always be included when warnings go off. The affected spot is continuously monitored and the camera can detect whether measures have been taken by an employee (reduction of heat/glimmering) or not. If an employee effectively took measures/followed FIPR’s instructions, all prior contacted smartphones will show a message informing that the hazard is over. Nevertheless, should a fire break out that is no longer extinguishable with a hand extinguisher, all infrared-cameras give, both visual and acoustic signals at the same time and send a message to registered smartphones, effectively warning all employees in the entire building to evacuate it. Meanwhile it will inform the nearby fire brigade. The FIPR App can be more than just showing sensor results. The other huge focus is education. One of the largest risks of fires in the textile industry are human errors. Education is very important in all aspects of life. Therefore, with the help of FIPR it is possible to educate people and create a better working environment. FIPR gives workers a further connection with each other. The app is free to use for every worker. There are three main factors involved in the educational program: Workers train workers, a reward system and the sense of community. Workers train workers means that skilled workers working at the company can train other workers. These skilled workers know how the machines work as they have been working with them for such a long time and how to behave in emergency situations. This is why they are the best trainers (Kappel, 2018). Within the educational part of FIPR a reward system is implemented. Every worker contributing either offline trainings or gets a reward on choice of the company e.g. a bonus or a raise. This makes it also very easy to scale the effort of the workers. The reward system itself should not be the only motivation for the employers but also the community. Involved workers get the chance to add value to other workers with sharing their knowledge which can lead to most satisfaction, as we assume that Theory Y human work motivation is applied. This intrinsic motivation leads to the creation of a co-responsibility within the workplace making it a better place to work at. All the mentioned factors will create a better working environment. FIPR is cost efficient, it saves a lot of money on refinancing and rebuilding if a fire breaks out and the challenges of recovering are averted. There is no longer a loss of SMEs clients and machines due to fire, the manager do not have to think about re-financing options which are hardly available in Turkey and no psychological scars arise anymore. Furthermore the innovation can be improved in several ways and many other businesses can use it, such as the cosemtics industry, hospitals and the refrigeration industry.

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