Feature Barcoding & labelling RFID earns its stripes in factories
Matt Parker, market development manager of Zebra Technologies Europe, explains the latest tracking technology that can boost factory operations significantly
W
e hear increasingly about the need for greater visibility in the supply chain. Although the benefits of a clear per- spective on assets, equipment, work in progress and scrap are numerous, bot- tlenecks and inefficiencies can only be removed and corrected if they can first be identified. To achieve this in a fac- tory setting requires extensive busi- ness data and intelligence through the capture of extensive information on the whereabouts of all items and goods in the supply chain.
This is where Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies come in. According to a recent survey from VDC, the EMEA market for RFID printers and encoders is expected to have grown by nearly 20 per cent by the end of this year. The increase is attributed to spill over demand from manufacturing and other high volume industries wanting to better monitor inventory levels and track assets. Though hyped in years gone by, RFID can now really deliver against this and offer strong benefits for man- ufacturing professionals looking to improve asset tracking to enhance supply chain visibility, efficiency and flexibility while reducing costs. The best solution for factory environments
involves a combination of both ‘pas- sive’ and ‘active’ RFID, where passive RFID refers to tagging that can only be activated by using an RFID reader. This process can encode smaller items and is good for component manufac- turing where the continual real time tracking of items is not always neces- sary. Passive RFID lends itself to han- dover processes in goods in/out applications, or in the management of the many thousands of small piece parts or components that align at the point of manufacture or sale and that do not warrant constant visibility until assembled into a larger, higher value asset.
Alternatively, active RFID works best within the manufacturing hub. It is ideal for stock replenishment, mouldings, ‘Just In Time’ and real time location tracking. Through a tightly integrated platform comprising tags, sensors, access points and GPS transponders it allows users to associ- ate a unique ID to a specific asset, part or workstation. A call for parts, indica- tion of presence, or transmission for location is sent via a programmable signal, enabling stock and component replenishment processes to operate in a truly lean way. This offers real time data from factory floor to external
Fully integrated bespoke barcode reader
he compact, modular BCL300i barcode reader from Leuze electronic is said to offer a combination of cost effectiveness and functionality because the customer can define the unit to optimally match their application – a bespoke solution. For example in a material handling application, its compact design means it can be placed close beside a conveyor, whilst the choice of four optional heated optics (High, Medium, Low and Ultra-Low-Density) with a large depth of field and large range of reading angles, guarantee reliable detection especially in difficult environments like wide conveyors. The large number of options including line or raster scanning, fixed or oscillating mirror, combined with advanced fea-
T
tures like code reconstruction technology (CRT) are said to give exceptional read performance. Code reconstruction technology which enables the reading of damaged or soiled codes by constructing a complete
code from overlapping fragments was previously only available in the highly successful big brother the BCL500i as used by the warehouses of the UK’s best known high street shops. The BCL300i integrates Profinet and Profibus into barcode readers which means the barcode readers can be configured by the PLC over the network. This means replacing a Profibus BCL300i just requires the swapping of the unit by undoing its M12 connectors. The replacement unit once connected will be configured automati- cally by the PLC across the Profibus network and start working. Interface options extend beyond Profibus and Profinet to include Ethernet, MultiNET, and RS232, RS422, & RS485, plus a choice between M12 plugs or terminals. Configuration can also be done using the integrated webConfig software via USB or Ethernet. Because the software is built into the unit, there is no software to down- load and no special cables to use. Leuze electronic T: 01480 408 500
www.leuze.co.uk
Enter 310 14
Matt Parker, Zebra Technologies Europe market development manager
supply that eliminates disjointed, labour intensive processes and enables stakeholders to respond quickly to changes in inventory and production status, as well as customer requests. State-of-the-art software and hard- ware can now locate, track, manage, and maximise the utilisation of high- value assets, equipment, and people. Whether tracking containers through a supply chain, optimising manufactur- ing fulfilment or providing wide-area asset traceability, the best solutions now use real time locating systems (RTLS) to provide constant visibility of inventory ranging from small items in a tool bin to forklifts or pallets in a warehouse.
Knowing the location of every item in your operation provides scope to optimise your processes. By incorpo- rating ultra-wideband (UWB) and global positioning systems (GPS), these latest application-matched loca- tion solutions can also enable your business to put the right asset in the right place at the right time.
Capitalising on long range, high pre- cision, and long battery life, RTLS solutions let you rapidly and cost effectively deploy multiple tracking applications. Highly scalable, they enable you to track and manage thou- sands of assets and personnel in the most challenging environments, resulting in an efficient supply chain and savings in time, money and space. The latest technologies are highly effective regardless of the size of your operation. From large-scale operations to batch jobs, real-time locating systems deliver around the clock visibility, allowing you to tag, track and manage items from the start of the production line through to completion and shipping.
Moving ahead we are likely to see both passive and active RFID use becoming increasingly pervasive as early adopters have witnessed signifi- cant improvements in day-to-day operations. Factory environments in particular are experiencing the visibil- ity improvements that RFID offers through real time location monitoring of each asset as it goes through the manufacturing process. As those test- ing and piloting the technology see the potential for RFID across a range of new practical applications we’re also likely to see them in action among increasingly unusual environments.
Zebra Technologies Europe T: 01772 797555
www.zebra.com
Enter 300 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 Factory Equipment
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