{"id":26278,"date":"2021-12-10T13:00:27","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T05:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/barcode.com.sg\/?p=26278"},"modified":"2021-12-02T21:18:59","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T13:18:59","slug":"real-time-rfid-tracking-and-automation-spread-efficiency-and-visibility-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/barcode.com.sg\/real-time-rfid-tracking-and-automation-spread-efficiency-and-visibility-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Real-Time RFID Tracking\u00a0and Automation Spread Efficiency\u00a0and Visibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Challenge<\/h4>\n
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Troy Design & Manufacturing needed an automated tracking system to monitor and guide each step of its +150 daily vehicle conversions at its new Chicago Modification Center.\u00a0Troy Design & Manufacturing (TDM) is a Detroit- based Ford Motor Company metal stamping subsidiary that was expanding into the vehicle conversion business with its new Chicago Modification Center, where it planned to convert +150 base-model Ford vehicles into police interceptors each day. TDM realized a manual, paper-based tracking system would not be efficient enough to handle operations. And while barcoding and fixed terminal entry would certainly be beneficial, these methods alone would still not provide the level of automation that TDM needed. A highly automated, computerized infrastructure would need to be implemented to more efficiently track, guide and report every step of vehicle conversion.<\/p>\n

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Solution<\/h4>\n
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Zebra FX9500 Fixed RFID Readers<\/a> and AN200 RFID Antennae<\/a> were integrated with Lowry Solutions Work-In-Process (WIP) manufacturing software.<\/p>\n

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TDM selected trusted Zebra partner, Lowry Solutions, to implement its robust vehicle tracking and guiding vision. Zebra<\/a> hardware was chosen not only because of Lowry\u2019s relationship and familiarity with its products, but also because TDM had done extensive research and heard numerous industry recommendations favoring Zebra over its competitors. Coupled with Lowry\u2019s Work-In-Process software, Zebra FX9500 Fixed RFID Readers<\/a> and AN200 RFID Antennae<\/a> would comprise the Chicago facility\u2019s tracking infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Result<\/h4>\n
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Automated work-flow enabled by RFID<\/a> led\u00a0to more precise visibility, data collection and consistency than anticipated, setting a higher standard for facility efficiency and potential. With its vehicle tracking infrastructure deployed, TDM has found numerous advantages\u00a0with RFID<\/a> automation. Operators are more focused on performing their tasks and their workflow is streamlined with less paper-based documentation and tracking duties. Vehicle visibility and conversion progress data have prevented downtime, and the consistency and reliability of RFID<\/a> data capture has provided further insight into the facility\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n

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Operators are more focused on performing their tasks, and their work-flow is streamlined with less paper-based documentation and tracking duties.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Real-time Tracking Realized<\/h4>\n
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When TDM began drafting its concept model for the Chicago Modification Center, it realized that manual, paper-based documentation would not\u00a0be robust enough to track all of its customers\u2019 vehicles while meeting\u00a0its production targets. TDM was confident that it needed to implement a\u00a0form of automatic data capture across its processes, and needed to select between primarily adopting barcoding or RFID<\/a>. TDM IT Manager Chris Morgan explained, \u201cAs we worked through it, we realized that we would\u00a0need something more \u201chands-off,\u201d both so we could reduce the amount of movement required of the operators and to ensure that we were tracking and timing the vehicle from the moment it enters its cell. We didn\u2019t want to rely solely on the operator to report this later. That\u2019s what got us going down the route toward RFID<\/a>… and we knew the majority of the industry relied on Zebra<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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TDM selected Lowry Solutions to help establish it\u2019s RFID<\/a> vision. Morgan explained, \u201cWe did some research and came across Lowry Solutions, who had some experience in the environment. They were recommended through Ford Motor Company, our parent company, and proposed an agile software development process using RFID<\/a>.\u201d TDM research yielded an RFID case study conducted at the Ford Cologne-Niehl plant involving Austrian RFID<\/a> middleware specialists, 7iD, which featured real-time vehicle tracking similar to what TDM had in mind for its modification center. Lowry then contacted 7iD, and the three organizations began outlining strategies and logistics for the Chicago facility.<\/p>\n

Collaborations Facilities Effective Implementation<\/h4>\n
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Paul Rakowicz, Vice President of Software Development at Lowry, explained, \u201cWe received regular feedback from TDM, so when we got\u00a0to the implementation phase, TDM already knew what they were getting, because they were involved in the development process. There were no surprises because they had seen, touched and participated in everything.\u201d Timeframe demands were successfully\u00a0met thanks to this hands-on tailoring and collaboration. The completed solution is able to generate RFID tags with complex work instructions, bill of materials and tracking numbers tied to the vehicle\u2019s VIN number as it enters the facility. With this information, operators can direct vehicles through production cells with real-time guidance solely from automated RFID<\/a> scans and reads.<\/p>\n

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Automation Exeeds Expectations<\/h4>\n
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The real-time visibility provided by RFID<\/a> offered even more opportunities for streamlining operations than previously anticipated. Morgan explains,<\/p>\n

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FX9500 Fixed RFID Readers<\/a>, AN200 RFID Antennae<\/a> and WIP manufacturing software continue to deliver outstanding, reliable real-time automation:<\/p>\n

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