Trusting security: A German mineral water producer ofiers a

Trusting security: A German mineral
water producer offers a refreshing approach
Video and audio communication as aids to process management at Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG
Known in Germany as ‘Water with a star’ because of its naturally sparkling properties, Gerolsteiner mineral water is a
popular German premium brand product which has found a
world-wide market. It is bottled at source in the Eifel area of
north west Germany where the volcanic geology provides natural carbonic acid and dolomite rock which together give the
water its sparkle, high mineral content and unique flavour.
Gerolsteiner Brunnen’s approach to security is pretty unique
too as its latest security concept has dispensed with routine
video recording and instead uses a GEUTEBRÜCK video system
to optimise and support operations.
Having thought long and hard Gerolsteiner Brunnen developed some
basic principles which underlie its relationship of trust with its employees and its approach to security. (1) The company’s aim is profitable
growth and safe and secure processes are fundamental to that. (2)
Its focus is on supporting processes and organizing them to be safe
and secure. (3) Every worker and visitor, whether from Gerolsteiner
or an outside company, should feel comfortable at Gerolsteiner and
the rules which are applied should assist in shaping this togetherness.
What do we really need?
The need to secure new buildings and operations and to include new
technology brought the realisation that the company’s old video system was no longer up to the job. In considering how to replace it the
central question was “What do we really need: video monitoring or
video-voice communication?” Either way it was felt that the focus had
to be on process management and the approach had to be positive to
reflect the company philosophy.
Surveillance and trust are not easy bed-fellows, and it was considered
crucial that everyone in the company should feel comfortable, because people work better when they are relaxed. So rather than applying
checks and limitations, people at Gerolsteiner are enabled with user
rights. These rights have a horizontal rather than a vertical orientation. Rights put employees in a position to express their responsibility,
and as a result the access control system is seen as a system of rights
rather than limitations.
Instead of thinking about controlling in a negative sense, Gerolsteiner’s
approach was to work out how a new video system might help control
room staff to do their jobs, for example when a vehicle enters the site,
or when someone enters the factory. These are the natural starting
points for many processes and the right moment to give the person
guidance or directions and to tell them about the house rules.
As a result, the GEUTEBRÜCK video system provides pictures while
the integrated voice communication system provides sound: both
are triggered by automatic switching. When someone requests entry
into the factory site control room staff need to respond with a suitable greeting, provide appropriate assistance and hence (importantly)
make a good first impression.
When the visitor presses the button on the intercom at the entrance
the video picture and the audio communication are activated simultaneously. Lights indicate this to the visitor and the guard in the control
room sees the visitor nice and clearly on the screen, even if it is dark
outside. If the operator knows the visitor, he or she can immediately
open the door remotely using the same system console as the video
system.
The control room is manned round the clock with two staff on each
shift. It has all the latest technology. The GEUTEBRÜCK video system
is their ‘remote eye’, which is switched manually when required but
otherwise works automatically.
Being located immediately next to the site entrance, the control room
is the obvious point of contact for visitors and business callers. Customers, or their carriers arrive unannounced all round the clock to
collect shipments of bottles. So this is where order processing starts
and ends. For legal as well as security reasons this involves the accurate and unambiguous recording of vehicle registration numbers.
GEUTEBRÜCK’s solution currently provides a crystal clear picture so the
number can be entered manually in the SAP order processing screen.
Future plans foresee the introduction of automatic number plate recognition and the automatic recording of data directly into the order
processing system.
Once the brief 10-second registration process is complete, the driver
receives an entry number with which to register at the loading bay.
As the relevant data arrives there before him, his arrival is anticipated
and loading can begin immediately.
Many other operational processes also benefit from the support provided by live pictures and voice communication. And of course when
parts of the plant are not operating, at night or during holidays, the
system’s video alarm features come into play to detect intruders and
display alarm reports and live pictures. These alarm pictures are stored temporarily but then automatically deleted after a set time.
tants VzM Beratung GmbH, they visited other users to see a variety of
systems in operation, and worked together to develop a full functional
specification in preparation for the tendering process.
The GEUTEBRÜCK hybrid video solution which was subsequently installed by TFA GmbH, Kreuzau-Stockheim differs significantly from
the other pure IP designs proposed. Its advantages include the
GEUTEBRÜCK video server’s system architecture together with its open
interfaces which offer easy integration with the Schneider Intercom
and Kaba equipment. In addition the system includes the potential
to link a site 4 kilometres away with two-core cable and switching 25
fps live video.
Staff solution
Gerolsteiner management report that the installed video solution works reliably and failure-free. The company is convinced that
installation and commissioning was made easier because the consultant, installer and client all worked co-operatively together on
designing the system and determining its components. It certainly
seems that control room staff who have been actively involved from
the outset, are very comfortable with the result. As Mr Krämer, a
security guard commented, “We wouldn’t now do our work any
other way!“ — In fact perhaps the finished system would be better described as a ‘staff solution’ rather than a ‘technical solution’!
Illustrations:
No looking back
“Why have permanent recording of video? How would looking back
help?” questions Heinz Lorse, the company security manager. “Here
there is no long-term storage of data so recording capacity is not needed. If a standard process is carried out and completed in compliance
with the rules then it is totally unnecessary to archive pictures of it.”
At first glance this may seem bizarre. But, given that the company
philosophy is not to be suspicious of people, it is entirely logical.
Despite the strict regulatory framework which necessarily applies in
all foodstuff manufacturing, for authorized people entering the Gerolsteiner premises the process is very easy. — Precisely because it
works on the basis of shared values and trust. Given that this is what
many visitors and business partners find attractive, they respect it,
support it and behave accordingly. As a consequence not only does
the works council have no issues with data protection but criminal
acts are the absolute exception.
Developing a technical solution
Gerolsteiner’s needs are met by an integrated all-in-one solution
with video from GEUTEBRÜCK, voice communication from Schneider
Intercom and access control from Kaba. These systems were selected
by a special project group consisting of representatives from the
company’s electrical systems department, its IT department and the
company security staff. Under the guidance of Bonn-based consul-
Gerolsteiner Brunnen’s unusual security solution includes a GEUTEBRÜCK
video system.
This GeViScope Speed View workstation is part of a solution designed to
make recording irrelevant by promoting immediate, positive actions.
The Gerolsteiner philosophy replaces the usual focus on plant security with one on process control and optimisation.
Gerolsteiner uses Argus, GEUTEBRÜCK’s high speed pan & tilt camera to
monitor the perimeter fence and the turnstile entrance as well as the public
helicopter pad.