Safe shipment of produce begins with a safe working environment
One of Japan’s leading processors and receiving agents for produce actively utilizes video surveillance solutions to maintain quality in the produce market.
Mission
Kuraka Group owns receiving areas and warehouses into which produce are carried, and in which forklifts are frequently moving to and fro. At the neighboring shipping dock, a number of large trucks are parked, waiting to be loaded. Over time, the company has taken various measures to prevent accidents involving collisions within the facilities. Because the facility is an open-access area, the company is also focused on preventing theft and losses.
In the past, analog surveillance cameras had been installed for internal monitoring of the facility, but due to expansion of the facility over many years it became difficult to manage individual cameras, and problems were occurring with the cameras themselves. In addition, many of the environments around the entries and exits are strongly backlit, and it had not been possible to obtain good footage capable of holding up to scrutiny. Also, the previous system lacked the performance necessary for searching recorded footage, and staff needed to put in long hours in order to pinpoint important shots.
Solution
The customer was impressed by the performance of IP66-rated products, and eventually selected AXIS M2025-LE Network Cameras. Inconspicuous AXIS M3045-V fixed mini dome cameras were installed in the offices, at the entries and exits to the cutvegetables processing area, and its ancillary cleanroom. Footage from cameras in the various locations is recorded on AXIS S Series equipment in the Control Center, and is managed centrally from the same Center.
Result
The intuitive interface of AXIS Camera Station provides a simple operating environment that succeeds in drastically reducing the workload of security personnel. Ryo Kataoka (Supervisor, Systems Section, Information Management Office), who is in charge of the video surveillance system at Kuraka Group said with relief, “Before, I had to sit and stare at video footage for at least 20 minutes. But now, since we moved to the new system, I think I spend only about one tenth of my time doing this.”
Moreover, because the system has made centralized monitoring possible, and management of footage from the cameras distributed throughout the facility to be carried out at the Control Center, recorded footage is now being utilized in the company’s safety measures. Ryo Kataoka spoke on the impact of this new system, stating that, “Workers know they are being watched by cameras, which has led to a reduction in the kind of behavior that leads to accidents, and to improvements in the safety of the work environment.”
Before I was forced to sit and stare at video for at least 20 minutes, but with the new system it only takes a few minutes, and I have really felt the increase in speed. I would estimate that it takes only about one tenth of the time it used to. Also, workers know they are being watched by cameras, which has led to a reduction in the kind of behavior that leads to accidents, and to improvements in the safety of the work environment.
System installation background and details
The company has expanded steadily. The company has equipped the facility with multiple storage warehouses and shipping docks matched to the type of produce. Forklifts move back and forth frequently within the receiving area and the warehouses, and at any one time there are multiple large trucks entering or leaving the shipping dock area, making it essential to prevent accidents between facilites and workers, and vehicles.
In order to support these initiatives, the inside of the facility had previously been monitored using an analog video surveillance system. Camera management had become difficult due to expansion over the years, and some cameras were not working properly. Another issue concered cameras set up to record from inside the facility facing toward an entry or exit, light shining into the entry or exit caused backlighting in scenes, which made it difficult to obtain good footage. What is more, the recorder used for the analog cameras did not have a verification function for recorded footage, so staff spent hours viewing video to find the corresponding scene when accidents or breakages occurred.
It was out of desire to resolve these issues that the company deployed a system with superior video quality, that was efficient and easy to operate. Among the system requirements, particular emphasis was placed on three points; the ability to cover the warehouses, shipping docks, cut-vegetables processing factory and offices throughout the facility, the ability to obtain clear footage even under backlit conditions, and the ability to verify footage quickly.
AXIS S Series recorders equipped with AXIS Camera Station video management software were selected along with AXIS M2025-LE and AXIS M3045-V Network Cameras. The products selected for installation in the receiving area and the warehouses were AXIS M2025-LE bullet cameras, which can be adjusted freely to point in any direction to meet the needs of the setup location.
Thanks to Wide Dynamic Range obtained by Dynamic Capture, the effects of backlighting are minimized even during the day when direct sunlight is shining in through the entry and exit, allowing clear footage to be shot. Small and unobtrusive AXIS M3045-V fixed dome cameras were installed in the offices, the entries and exits to the cut-vegetables processing area, and inside its ancillary cleanroom.
The system was installed by Axis partner NTT Data Customer Service Corporation, who were responsible for the design, preparation and servicing of the network infrastructure within the facility. Axis distributor SunTelephone Co., Ltd. was in charge of designing the camera and video management system, and played a central role in its deployment.
Footage taken by the various cameras installed in the facility is transmitted to and recorded continuously by 3 AXIS S Series units set up in the Control Center. A major advantage of AXIS Camera Station is the intuitive operating environment and superior video management functionality. In particular, staff can find the necessary portions of recorded video in just a few minutes, which has led to major reductions in the time needed to verify events that have occurred within the facility.
Moreover, because the system has made it possible for centralized monitoring and management of footage from the cameras distributed throughout the facility to be carried out at the Control Center, recorded footage is now being used effectively as part of the company’s safety measures, which has led to a reduction in the kind of behavior that leads to accidents, and to safety improvements.
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