Temperature control system manufacturer integrates active RFID function for electronic signage system
chrispeng [ad_1]
Thermo King, an international manufacturer of temperature control systems, integrated active RFID functions for the company’s “e-Kanban” parts replenishment system at its Galway plant in Ireland. When the number of parts on the assembly line drops to a preset level, workers only need to press a call button integrated with an active RFID tag. The factory’s wireless local area network receives the tag signal. The signal on the label indicates the part number and the place where the replenishment is needed. The system software places an order and sends a person to send the parts to the required processing point.
“The previous use of various manual processes by Thermo King was inefficient, labor intensive, and error-prone,” said Amir Ben-Assa, head of AeroScout’s industrial solutions marketing. Thermo King’s RFID system uses WiFi active RFID tags, call buttons and software produced by AeroScout. Solution provider IMEC Technologies is responsible for integrating the AeroScout system with Thermo King’s existing Cisco Unified Wireless Network (Unified Wireless Network), which also transmits wireless data from mobile computers and barcode readers in the factory.
Thermo King has installed about 100 call buttons and active tags. The system covers all areas of manufacturing. Some processing points have also installed multiple call buttons due to the use of multiple parts.
“We need an upgradeable solution to reduce parts replenishment time and increase factory capacity and productivity,” said Padraig Campbell, Supply Chain Manager at Thermo King. “AeroScout and IMEC help us improve while adopting our existing wireless infrastructure. Improve operational efficiency.”
Thermo King has fully adopted this system since August last year. The company did not announce the system until the reliability and return on investment of the system were confirmed, according to Ben-Assa. Thermo King did not provide detailed information on time, cost or other return on investment, but said the system greatly reduced inventory. Thermo King is considering adding 500 tags to track small locomotives and other equipment.
Thermo King is AeroScout’s first published application case of parts replenishment. AeroScout has long been known for providing WiFi-based active RFID asset tracking systems in medical and industrial environments.
[ad_2]
