Challenge:
Develop a plug-and-play system that can be easily integrated into the existing workflow to assist operators in the manual handling of magazines at each workstation. The system should be:

• User-Friendly: Intuitive and straightforward for operators to use without requiring extensive training.
• Cost-Effective: Economically viable considering the large number of workstations, with a budget per unit between 800-1300 EUR.
• Scalable: Easy to deploy across all 200 workstations without significant downtime or disruption to current operations.
• Durable and Reliable: Capable of withstanding the daily rigors of a manufacturing environment, the system should have a lifespan of at least 5 years with minimal maintenance costs, not exceeding 5% of the initial investment annually.
• Throughput Improvement: Capable of maintaining or ideally improving the current throughput time of 8 minutes per workstation.
• Ergonomic and Fatigue-Reducing: The system should either reduce the physical strain on operators by at least 30-50%—as measured by reductions in lifting frequency, force exertion, or other ergonomic metrics—or eliminate the need for human intervention altogether through cost-effective automation. Any solution, whether reducing or eliminating operator involvement, must still fall within the per-unit budget of 800-1300 EUR. The solution should aim for a significant decrease in work-related injuries and enable the reallocation of human resources to more value-added tasks.
• Rack Handling Precision: The system must ensure that racks are handled in a manner that avoids the risk of components falling out. This means maintaining the racks as close to horizontal as possible, with a maximum permissible tilt angle of 5-10 degrees during handling, particularly for racks containing lamellar spring locking mechanisms.

Expected Outcomes:
The proposed solutions will be evaluated based on:

• Ease of Integration: How well the system can be installed and adapted to existing workstations.
• Cost Efficiency: The ability to meet budget constraints while delivering high value.
• Operator Assistance: The effectiveness of the system in reducing the manual workload and potential strain on operators.
• Rack Handling and Safety: The ability of the system to keep the racks stable and close to horizontal during handling, adhering to the 5-10 degrees tilt limit to prevent any risk of components falling out.
• Operational Impact: The impact on throughput time, overall production efficiency, and the potential to free operators from repetitive and exhausting tasks, allowing them to focus on more critical and skilled work, or replacing the need for human labor in these tasks entirely, while staying within the defined budget.

Guidelines:
This challenge will be hosted during the World Conference on AI-Powered Innovation and Inventive Design.

Who Can Participate:
All conference attendees are invited to participate, either individually or as part of a team. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply your skills and creativity in AI-powered innovation and design to a pressing industrial need.

What’s in it for You:
The winning solutions will gain recognition at the conference and be awarded a prize sponsored by our generous partners. This is a unique chance to showcase your innovative ideas on a global stage and contribute to a challenge that could reshape industry practices.

How to Get Involved:

• Form Your Teams: Start gathering your colleagues and peers or prepare to take on the challenge individually.
• Engage and Innovate: Utilize the conference workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities to develop your ideas, and make use of AI tools to enhance your solution.
• Present Your Solution: Submit your proposals during the designated challenge sessions at the conference.

We look forward to seeing the groundbreaking solutions you come up with and wish all participants the best of luck!

Join us in driving the future of innovation and design!