Poster

Client Context

Client Overview

The client is the Trondheim Public Library located in Trondheim, Norway, and it is known as the “cultural center of Trondheim.”. The library system is made up of the main library (our client) and eight “branches” spread out across the city. Its 52 full-time equivalents (FTE) manage approximately one million material loans, host 1,500 cultural events, and maintain a collection of over 430,000 inventory items. This project was done in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Project Objective

Problem Description and Objective

The material flow system at the main library requires seven library staff to spend ~30% of their work hours  performing manual labor tasks each day due to unbalanced bin fill rates and lack of material traceability. The client’s goal is to reduce manual labor hours to at most 1 hour per staff member per day to enable staff to perform more value-adding (patron-facing) activities. 

Design Strategy

Design Methodology

The design methodology starts with a baseline evaluation of the current material flow system. Then, two types of redesigns were created: 1) using only current resources and 2) using new resources.

Deliverables

Deliverables

The recommendations report informs the design recommendation and includes the following information:

  1. Design analyses and comparison. Results and analysis of each design alternative of the material flow system with respect to key metrics (e.g., manual labor hour reduction).
  2. Cost-Benefit analysis. A benefit-to-cost ratio was created for each design alternative to enable comparison between the benefit and cost impacts for each design to choose the best redesign.
  3. Layout design and allocation. This was created to show how a new sorting machine could be implemented while fitting space constraints. It also includes how the bins should be allocated.

Value and Impact

Project Value and Impact
Approximately 20% of each library staff’s total work hours per day can be reallocated from manual labor tasks to value-adding activities (8.58 hrs total). The impact of the new design includes ability to host 3-5 new events per week, higher staff satisfaction, a 44% reduction in search time for materials, space reallocation of 60 m² to patron activities, and noise reduction.

Project Information

Spring 2023
Trondheim Public Library

Student Team

Taylor Helfrich, Kennedy Eltz, Paritosh Suri, Anjana Chamarthi

Faculty Advisor

Faculty Evaluator