Seoul Facilities Corporation Deploys 'Customized Bicycle Workstands' to 6 Ddareungi Maintenance Centers

Developed In-House by Maintenance Staff Idea
Customizable Operation by Physical Condition... Free Movement via Wheels, Personal Toolbox Installed

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Facilities Corporation recently announced on the 30th that it has independently developed a ‘personalized bicycle workbench’ that can improve maintenance efficiency while enhancing the working environment in response to the recent increase in the use of Seoul public bicycles, Ddareungi, and will deploy it to six Ddareungi maintenance centers in the Seoul area.

The corporation currently operates six Ddareungi maintenance centers in Sangam, Isu, Yeongnam, Gaehwa, Jungnang, and Hunryeonwon. Public bicycle Ddareungi has attracted attention as a transportation means suitable for non-face-to-face social distancing during the COVID-19 situation, resulting in a significant increase in usage. The number of uses in the first quarter of this year was 4.23 million, a 37% increase compared to 3.09 million in the same period last year.

To actively cope with the increased maintenance volume due to the rise in Ddareungi usage, the corporation has been conducting maintenance and repairs in collaboration with the private bicycle dealership ‘Ddareungipo’ since 2019, in addition to its own maintenance centers. Furthermore, since February, delivery staff have been performing simple maintenance such as battery replacement and tire air pressure adjustment directly on-site, and since March, three simple maintenance shops (Cheonho, Cheonwang, Dobong) have also been established and are in operation.

Maintenance of Ddareungi involves repeatedly rotating and moving the bicycle up, down, left, and right during work. On average, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to maintain one bicycle, with approximately 10 movements in total. The strain on shoulders, waist, and knees is almost at an occupational disease level. Not only musculoskeletal disorders but also a decline in work efficiency over time is common.

In response, maintenance staff came up with the idea earlier this year and developed a ‘personalized workbench.’ The advantages of the ‘personalized bicycle workbench’ are mainly threefold: ▲ customizable transformation according to physical conditions ▲ free movement through wheels ▲ equipped with a personal toolbox.

The workbench height can be adjusted to fit individual physical conditions, allowing maintenance staff to work in postures that reduce strain on the waist and knees. Additionally, the workbench is equipped with wheels, enabling easy movement and rotation of the Ddareungi with simple actions. Moreover, the toolbox at the bottom of the workbench stores about 20 frequently used tools, increasing work efficiency.

The corporation piloted the ‘personalized bicycle workbench’ at the Sangam maintenance center starting in February, and maintenance staff recognized its excellence in terms of efficiency and satisfaction, deciding to expand its operation to other maintenance centers.

Director Cho Sung-il stated, “Through the introduction of this bicycle workbench devised and developed by our employees, we have seen an increase in Ddareungi maintenance efficiency as well as improvements in the working environment for maintenance staff,” adding, “Seoul Facilities Corporation will continue to do its best to provide higher quality public services through innovation in various fields.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.