Detecting Downtime and Analyzing Staff Activity with Video
Video-based activity analysis needs defined work zones, observable operations and pause conditions. A system can measure presence and selected action durations. To connect a pause with production losses, consider it alongside the assignment, equipment status and shift circumstances.
How the request arises
Managers notice that the same workload takes different amounts of time on different days. Footage exists, but a supervisor must review it. A conversation at a bench, waiting for a part and an equipment stoppage can look similar despite different causes.
At Busted, we start with the decision a report should support: finding prolonged material waits, checking operator presence while equipment runs, or measuring the interval between two operations.
Which states we define
For each zone, define clear states: a person at the workstation, a distinguishable action underway, an empty zone or a product handoff starting. Intervals become events under agreed rules. Brief occlusion should not split one work episode into artificial pauses.
Define 'downtime' carefully. If an employee must observe an automated cycle, stillness may be part of the job. A process specialist or area manager confirms the rule before measurement starts.
What the report looks like
A useful report shows durations by zone and shift, episodes above a threshold and links to clips. Managers see the time distribution first, then open examples. This distinguishes isolated delays from recurring organizational constraints.
When comparing shifts, account for workload, work type, staffing and material availability. Add context when conditions differ; the same duration can represent different situations.
What is needed to start
Prepare a shift recording, a work-zone layout and explanations of typical pauses. These establish which states can be distinguished reliably. We then agree metrics and a manual reference for the pilot.
Busted video analytics helps locate episodes for management review and measure selected processes. The analysis is defined around the actual production setup.