3M and Guardhat announce collaboration on connected safety

Rhea-AI Summary

3M has partnered with Guardhat to incorporate its Safety Inspection Manager (SIM) software into Guardhat's Industrial Internet of People (IIoP) platform, aiming to enhance product development and safety solutions. The collaboration is expected to expedite SIM improvements and explore new connected personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers. The transition is anticipated by mid-2023, leveraging 3M's expertise in safety equipment and Guardhat's innovative software capabilities. This initiative is aligned with the shared goal of improving worker safety and operational efficiency in industrial settings.

Positive

• Collaboration expected to accelerate the development of SIM software and connected safety solutions.
• Combines 3M's expertise in PPE with Guardhat's worker-centric software platform.

Negative

• None.

• Guardhat will bring 3M's Safety Inspection Manager (SIM) into its Industrial Internet of People (IIoP) platform to accelerate product development.
• This collaboration is expected to accelerate SIM enhancements while also evaluating new connected safety personal protection equipment (PPE) that aims to keep more frontline workers safe. 

ST. PAUL, Minn. and DETROIT, March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M today announced a collaboration with Guardhat, an industry-leading connected safety software company. Given the importance of connectivity as a key ingredient in safety programs, 3M is transferring its Safety Inspection Management (SIM) software to Guardhat. The transition is expected to be completed in mid-2023. In addition to the SIM transition, the two companies will evaluate future opportunities to collaborate by combining 3M's expertise in personal protection equipment with Guardhat's leading worker-centric software platform to create connected safety opportunities that aim to keep more frontline workers safe. 

SIM is a cloud- and mobile-based system that simplifies compliance, helps improve safety and eases work for EHS teams by digitally connecting people, places and PPE. Via mobile apps, RFID tags and barcodes, operations teams gain visibility into equipment status and location, training schedules and requirements, and inspection workflows to keep work moving while keeping people safe. 

For example, a maintenance crew planning to work at height can quickly scan the RFID tag on their fall arrest system via the SIM app on their phone before they begin work to conduct an inspection of the equipment and ensure it is ready to use. This inspection is recorded, and the equipment can be checked out to a worker and/or location. The system will also notify the team when the next inspection is due and provides transparency for compliance needs, inventory management, workforce training needs and more. 

The Guardhat IIoP (or Industrial Internet of People) Platform is an open, device-agnostic software solution built for the industrial workforce and its specific needs. That includes data privacy, management of the unstructured data produced by workers and their wearable device, processing for critical events at the human edge – to ensure that decision-making isn't reliant on network connectivity – and considerations for the unpredictable responses people can have to events and alerts. 

"3M and Guardhat share a common mission to help workers get the job done and get them safely back home," said Ray Eby, President of 3M Personal Safety Division (PSD). "A collaboration between our organizations brings together our expertise and innovation across PPE with Guardhat's pioneering, worker-centric software platform to better serve that joint mission. Connectivity is increasingly beneficial in safety solutions, and together we can deliver at scale." 

Saikat Dey, CEO and co-founder of Guardhat, added, "3M is synonymous with safety at worksites the world over. This collaboration allows us to dramatically expand the lives we touch. It combines best in class safety equipment and software to streamline asset management, speed remote support and emergency response and even prevent incidents before they occur." 

3M and Guardhat expect that this collaboration will accelerate development of SIM software and other Connected Safety solutions, as well as bring these solutions into the Guardhat platform – a platform built for real-time safety and collaboration with and among frontline workers that provides proactive alerts to and from frontline teams to help prevent incidents, respond to issues quickly and keep work moving. 

About 3M 

3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what's possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we're working to improve lives and make what's next at 3M.com/news or on Twitter at @3M or @3MNews. 

About Guardhat 

Guardhat builds connected technology to improve safety and collaboration with and among frontline industrial workers. We offer a proprietary connected worker platform – unrivaled in its ability to ingest, manage and analyze unstructured data, agnostic to device; easy to deploy monitoring and reporting software; innovative, wearable technology; and a growing ecosystem of partner integrations. With Guardhat, device manufactures can quickly bring connected solutions to market and companies can engage with a connected workforce across devices to speed reaction time and help proactively solve challenges. Guardhat is Detroit-founded, San Jose-based, global company. The company holds 13 patents in real time location systems, wearable solution design and connected worker software. For more information, visit: www.guardhat.com. 

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SOURCE 3M

FAQ

What is the nature of the collaboration between 3M and Guardhat?

3M and Guardhat are collaborating to integrate 3M's Safety Inspection Manager (SIM) software into Guardhat's Industrial Internet of People (IIoP) platform to enhance safety solutions.

When is the transition of Safety Inspection Manager (SIM) expected to be completed?

The transition of the Safety Inspection Manager (SIM) software is expected to be completed by mid-2023.

What benefits does the 3M and Guardhat collaboration aim to bring?

The collaboration aims to improve product development, accelerate SIM enhancements, and evaluate new connected personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers.

What is the stock symbol for 3M?

The stock symbol for 3M is MMM.