RFID technology helps improve the efficiency of public utilities maintenance staff
chrispeng [ad_1]
Copenhagen utility service company Hofor has reduced the time employees spend on collecting data on plumbing maintenance by using UHF RFID systems. The system allows the company to automatically identify the water valve, access its history and enter maintenance work information. Hofor has now attached RFID tags to half of the water pipe shutoff valves to track maintenance work.
Using RFID technology, valve repair work becomes simple and accurate. Company director Ole Skytte said: “We hope that on-site employees can obtain the correct maintenance data. In the past, it was difficult for them to obtain historical maintenance data of parts on site. After all valves are marked, the company will use this technology to track tools and all consumables. Later this year, other devices will also begin to attach tags.”
Since 2009, Hofor has started to use cloud software provided by the Danish company Pernexus to manage maintenance records. Pernexus and RFID company Beta Technic recently created a joint venture company, Veriloc Automation, to provide RFID hardware and location-based software management.
Hofor is Veriloc’s first public utility industry customer. Currently, the company is discussing the possibility of installing the solution with some other public utility companies.
Company manager Christian Almskou said that Veriloc provided UHF RFID tags from multiple suppliers. At the same time, employees were given a handheld RFID reader that can be connected to a mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth. The tablet is equipped with the Veriloc application, and maintenance workers can enter maintenance information through the application. This information will then be transferred to Veriloc’s content management software.
Maintenance personnel can observe Hofor’s underground water pipe valve by opening the valve cover on the street. When the maintenance worker lifts the valve cover, he can view the pipes and valves underneath. The label is attached to the underside of the valve cover by epoxy resin. The tag ID number and its location information are stored on the Veriloc cloud software.
Before the employees start maintenance work, they can log in to the Veriloc software to view the valve to be repaired and its location information.
In the past, employees had to manually record the list of valves that needed maintenance, and at the same time record the details of the services provided and the valve serial number information. Now, they only need to use a handheld reader to read the tag ID and view the valve information to complete these tasks. By viewing the history, they can also ensure that the appropriate services are provided. After completing the maintenance, employees can record the maintenance information and valve ID information in the system to improve the maintenance records.
About 10,000 valves are currently marked. Skytte said: “We have saved a lot of time. With this scanner, we can easily find every valve on the street.”
Skytte added: “We are very satisfied with the performance of the system. In the future we will attach 500,000 tags. The company currently hires some students to attach tags on evenings and weekends.”
[ad_2]
