News

Messaging system reaches workers on the shop floor

August 5, 2003

SYDNEY, Australia -- Manufacturing companies that implement e-mail systems obviously connect their office workers and managers. Those employees have PCs on their desks or laptops for telecommuting. But what about workers on the shop floor? They have been left out of the electronic loop.

That is, until now. According to a report in Manufacturers' Monthly,IBM Corp. has developed Lotus Workplace Messaging, a Web-based messaging system designed to bring those workers without a dedicated workspace or current e-mail access into the world of electronic communications. See related story, "Kiosks aid not-so-human resources."

Max McLaren, IBM regional manager for Lotus Software, said in the report that there is growing usage of e-mail from an HR perspective, a corporate policy perspective and for general administration.

"The capability we are offering with our new messaging system is an affordable solution for deskless workers, and the technology capabilities provided mean that workers can use it at work at a kiosk, or a shared PC, or from their home PC.

"We envision a sturdy kiosk solution that can be accessed by many people over and over again, with all the security built into the technology to ensure workers' privacy," McLaren said.

McLaren sees every person on the shop floor having access to e-mail. "For just a couple of bucks per user per month, it makes sense," he said.

Once employees get used to logging in regularly, companies can start adding more complex applications like coordination of work flow and working in groups from the floor, the report said.