Global aviation maintenance company uses UHF RFID technology to track maintenance tools
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The global aviation maintenance company adopts a tool tracking system based on RFID technology to ensure the visibility of maintenance tools, whether in the warehouse or in use. The system is provided by the Italian information service company NG Way. Although misplaced tools rarely happen, once they happen, the maintenance of the aircraft will be delayed for several days or weeks. And if the tool is dropped inside the aircraft, it may cause foreign objects outside the aircraft to invade.The RFID tracking solution provided by NG Way in Italy guarantees the visibility of tools, and the passive UHF used in the solutionRFIDThe tags are from Xerafy, and the readers are from CAEN RFID.
The global aviation maintenance company has 12 maintenance factories throughout Europe and the United States, and was the first to adopt an RFID tracking system in Switzerland. Maintenance workers throw tools in the aircraft or other foreign objects invade the aircraft will bring huge losses to the aircraft. According to statistics from Boeing in 1998, the loss of a single engine maintenance tool caused damage to the aircraft’s exterior and caused losses of more than $1 million. At the same time, the losses caused by the loss of tools amounted to tens of thousands of dollars.
The tool tracking software interface provided by NG Way is as above
In order to improve the traceability of maintenance tools, a global aviation maintenance company piloted the RFID tool tracking solution developed by NG Way. The NG Way solution not only effectively prevents tool loss, but also provides tool managers with other information, such as which tools are assigned to a specific maintenance worker, the frequency and purpose of tool use, etc. This information can help managers decide when the maintenance expires and store it in the software database.
The Xerafy RFID tag is attached under the plastic handle
In the fourth quarter of 2013, the maintenance plant in Switzerland began to pilot the RFID tracking system. A total of 276 tools, such as hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, sockets, etc., are pasted with Xerafy’s XS series Dot-On and Dash-On passive EPC Gen 2 UHF tags.
The Dot-On model is a round label with a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 2.5 mm; the area of the Dash-On model is 12 mm * 13 mm * 2.2 mm. All tags are installed on the metal parts during the tooling process. However, with the implementation of the RFID system, all tags are attached to the tool surface. Each label has a unique ID code.
Maintenance workers allocate a variety of different maintenance tools every day. Before the tool is taken away, the CAEN R12401 handheld UHF RFID reader is used to read the tag information, and it is connected to the computer via Bluetooth. At the same time, the tool tracking software is used to store the barcode of the maintenance worker’s wristband and enter the code of the task to be performed.
CAEN R12401 handheld UHF reader communicates with computer via Bluetooth
The ID codes of all tags are stored in the NG Way software. Once the tool reaches the maintenance period, the system will issue an alarm reminder that the tool needs to be moved to the company’s maintenance department. The maintenance worker reads the tag ID through the CAEN RFID handheld reader, and then enters the task to be performed into the software system. After the maintenance worker completes the maintenance work, he reads the ID code of the tool again and marks the task as completed.
After the maintenance worker returns the tool kit to the tool library, the manager reads the RFID tags of all tags. If the tool is lost, he will hold it in his hand.ReaderSet to Geiger mode and search in the work area. If the radio frequency signal from the tool tag is detected, the reader will emit a beep to help the staff find the missing tool.
Due to the smooth progress of the pilot, the Global Aviation Maintenance Company believes that the RFID tracking system can improve the traceability of tools and ensure that the tools are used in a timely manner, and decided to adopt the system in other maintenance plants.
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