Innovative Baggage Handling

Sustainability shines light on the three p’s: People, planet and profit. This research is about the people aspect in baggage handling systems and the impact on efficiency. Baggage handling areas are usually situated underground and working conditions are characterized by heavy physical labor. Schiphol Airport has started the 70 million bags program to, amongst others, create better working conditions for its baggage handling staff and to operate more efficiently at the same time. This is accomplished by mechanizing the process of baggage handling as much as possible. Since 2003 Schiphol has developed the Innovative Baggage Handling Area, which consists of several innovative projects, mainly aiming at mechanizing the unloading and loading process. It is these processes that typically involve heavy physical labor. Furthermore, the newly built baggage hall is above ground and therefore provides more daylight for the baggage handling staff. In my research I focus on the development  of these innovations (innovation management) and the effect they have on the operational baggage handling system (transport and logistics).