Asset Tracking Solutions for Manufacturing: How RFID Transforms Efficiency

Today in the manufacturing industry, which is highly competitive, efficient and accuracy are not merely good to have, they are the very essence of a company’s success. For instance, going down the production line from raw material to the last stage of finishing, knowing precisely where each and every unit of the company’s assets is at a particular point in time can save time, the company’s money and at the same time, give it the opportunity to make customers happy. Asset Tracking Solutions for Manufacturing is the answer to this, with RFID Asset Tracking being at the forefront in restructuring how the manufacturers handle the resources.

We at Acube Infotech know all too well that it is not all rosy for the manufacturers as they have to deal with the labyrinth of supply chains, compliance with regulations, equipment that is not operational, and inventory that shrinks without them knowing etc. The aim of this article is to shed light on how the utilization of asset tracking technology in combination with RFID can serve as a turning point for manufacturing businesses by not only gaining higher visibility but also efficiently running operations and finally having the ability to scale up their businesses with absolute assurance.

Why Asset Tracking is Crucial for Manufacturing

Manufacturing is essentially a continuous movement of assets: materials, components, tools, machinery, vehicles, and finished products. Without a strong tracking system, enterprises are exposing themselves to:

• Production Delays caused by materials that are lost or tools that are not accessible.
• Inventory Inaccuracies that result from the mistakes made in manual tracking.
• Compliance Issues when there are no complete audit trails.
• High Operational Costs due to the combination of inefficiencies and unplanned downtime.

By introducing dependable Asset Tracking for Manufacturing, firms can have up to the minute information about the position, the usage, and the condition of every asset. Along with cutting down on the waste, this also guarantees that the resources are used in the best way possible.

Traditional Tracking vs. RFID Asset Tracking

For several years, a majority of the manufacturers have been using manually maintained logs, barcodes, or spreadsheets to handle their assets. Although these methods had their purpose, they are insufficient in large scale and rapid environments. In addition, manually managed assets are susceptible to mistakes; barcodes can only be scanned in a line of sight, and the data used are often outdated compared to the asset movements.

Asset Tracking is the solution to these drawbacks:

• Non Line of Sight Requirement: The data is automatically captured by the RFID readers even if they are not in direct scanning.
• On the Spot Visibility: Assets can be located while they are going through production lines or storages.
• Great Accuracy: The use of RFID technology decreases human errors to the minimum and makes sure that the records are correct.
• Flexibility: The system can expand with your business without any problems.

Manufacturers with the implementation of the RFID technology can track the movement of thousands of assets at the same time, hence the possibility of making the decisions of their operations in a shorter period of time and in a more efficient way.

Key Benefits of RFID Asset Tracking for Manufacturing

1. Real Time Asset Visibility 

RFID can offer visibility from the beginning to the end of a process, so a manager is always aware of the location of an asset, be it raw materials waiting for production, tools on the shop floor, or finished goods ready for shipment.

2. Improved Inventory Accuracy 

To make data capture more efficient, RFID technology is employed, which totally abolishes manual counting errors and ensures that inventory records are accurate. The manufacturer is in a position to minimize the differences between the stock and the actual quantities and adjust the restocking levels accordingly.

3. Enhanced Productivity

Workers no longer spend so much time looking for lost tools, or parts. RFID makes the work rolling smoothly and the workers can devote their time to activities that add more value to the company instead of performing manual checks.

4. Reduced Downtime 

Essential machines can be labeled and watched to make sure they receive maintenance on time. This preventive method will give operators the confidence that they will not be experiencing an unpredicted breakdown and a part of their production will come to a halt, thus being a waste of money.

• Regulatory Compliance The majority of the sectors require the provision of detailed audit trails as part of their regulations. RFID being a technology that records automatically the movements of assets is an effective and a reliable way of compliance reporting.
• Lower Operational Costs RFID technology can produce great savings by cutting the losses, the misplacement, and the inefficient use of resources.

Applications of Asset Tracking in Manufacturing

Asset tracking technologies can be designed to fit the various areas of the manufacturing process. Some widespread applications are:

• Raw Material Management: Make sure the necessary materials are at your disposal at the proper time, thereby reducing the chances of production bottlenecks.
• Work in Progress Tracking: Follow the goods as they proceed through the various stages of production to better throughput.
• Tool & Equipment Tracking: Stop the disappearance of tools and be sure of the availability of the most important equipment for use and maintenance.
• Finished Goods Monitoring: Get a hold of products from packaging to storage and shipping, thus supporting the process of on-time deliveries.
• Quality Control: Keep complete traceability of both the sources and the finished goods to be able to respond to the requisitions of recalls or regulations.

Why Choose RFID for Manufacturing Asset Tracking?

 RFID’s automation and scalability, unlike barcodes or manual methods, make it an ideal match for manufacturing facilities that are usually changeable and large volume. A few of the major reasons are:

• Durability: The physical structure of an RFID tag allows it to function in even severe industrial environments.
• Speed: Since multiple tags can be scanned at the same time, the user can save a lot of valuable time.
• Integration: RFID technology can integrate easily with ERP, MES and warehouse management software.
• Flexibility: RFID solutions, from small factories to big plants, can be adapted for different operational requirements.

How Acube Infotech Helps Manufacturers

At Acube Infotech, our core competency is on providing smart asset tracking solutions that are perfectly fitted with the needs of manufacturing businesses. Our Asset Tracking systems are purpose built to:

• Allow on the spot visibility of asset movement.
• Richly connect with existing business systems for seamless operations.
• Deliver user friendly dashboards to empower the decision making process.
• Keep information safe and reliable.

What’s more is that we offer you such solutions that are adaptable and can be fitted with your business whether you are a medium sized manufacturer or a multinational corporation. We take the job of partnering with you to identify your pain points, come up with a strong tracking system design, and be there for you when you need us to make sure you get the maximum ROI.

The Future of Asset Tracking in Manufacturing

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution keeps developing, the identification of assets is going to be a major point. Besides RFID, IoT powered sensors, AI engaged analytics and cloud integration will equip manufacturers with proactive inputs, automated resolutions, and uninterrupted flow of supply chain.

Essentially, the implementation of such technologies in their firms will reap the benefits of being ahead of the pack in productivity, adaptability, and client delight.

Conclusion

The manufacturing process has now changed the asset tracking that was once an optional thing becomes a must have feature. RFID Asset Tracking for Manufacturing gives the precision, the time saving and the on the spot data that are required to survive in the present challenging climate.

Through the implementation of our cutting edge tracking solutions, we at Acube Infotech enable the manufacturers to not only manage their resources better but also increase their efficiency and grow their business without any hesitation.

If you really want to make use of the amazing factory asset tracking to turn your industrial firm into a powerhouse, then team up with us to get it done sooner rather than later.