Industrial Asset Tracking: Tips and Best Practices

It is more imperative than ever before to monitor physical assets with effectiveness. Whether machines, equipment or materials in inventory, the loss of control over them leads to downtime in operations, financial losses, and safety hazards. And that is where Industrial Asset Tracking comes in.

The use of new technologies such as RFID asset tracking helps organizations within the industrial sector to achieve real time visibility, increase productivity, and minimize human intervention. However, merely installing the tracking system is not enough. The best way to obtain the highest ROI is for the company to have a well-designed plan in place, based on industry guidelines.

What Is Industrial Asset Tracking?

Industrial Asset Tracking is a process of monitoring and tracking physical assets,equipment, inventory, tools, and so on,digitally. They allow businesses to follow the location, status, history of use, and condition of each asset so that maintenance and resource planning can be made more efficient.

Now handled by systems through RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) after being manually done via barcodes or spreadsheets, industrial asset tracking uses faster and more accurate tracking. RFID asset tracking has assets tagged with RFID chips which communicate with scanners or readers in real time to provide complete information involving minimal human intervention.

Industrial Asset Tracking: Why It Matters

Let us consider the costs of not having asset visibility:

• Overdue maintenance schedules
• Theft or loss of valuable equipment
• Downtime due to missing components or tools
• Inefficient use of assets
• Off-schedule inspections and compliance issues

These are not bottom-line-impacting crises. Manufacturing, oil & gas, construction, and logistics industrial verticals need precision. A well-executed RFID asset tracking system can make assets where they need to be, when they need to be there, and operate as needed.

Key Benefits of RFID Asset Tracking in Industrial Environments

RFID asset tracking delivers real benefits:

1. Real-Time Visibility

Track assets in facilities, yards, or sites in real time. Managers make decisions immediately.

2. Use of Assets

Identify the usage of assets and find out about idle assets and optimize the use of resources.

3. Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance can be easily done due to the automatic alerts generated before breakdown.

4. Improved Security

Get to know of any unauthorized movement of assets with geofencing and tampering alert systems.

5. Simplified Compliance

Electronic and reliable audit trails for insurance purposes, government regulations, and company policies.

Best Practices for Industrial Asset Tracking

The following best practices will ensure that you get the most out of your asset tracking investment:

1.Inventory of Existing Assets

Perform a thorough audit before installing an industrial asset tracking system. The asset tracker will depend upon what kinds of assets do you have, where are they located, and in what condition are they.

Tip: Concentrate on high-valued assets and assets that have a lot of turnover while choosing RFID.

2.Choosing the Right Kind of RFID Tags

RFID tags are not alike. Some manufacturing industries require:

• Tags for metal surfaces

• Outdoor tags

• High-temperature RFID tags

• Tamper-proof tags

3. Integrate with Current Systems

Your industrial asset tracking system must not be run in silo mode. Mesh it with:

• ERP systems such as SAP and Oracle
• CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems)
• Inventory management systems
• IoT platforms and dashboards

This provides a single ecosystem for hassle-free working and decision-making.

4. Creation of KPIs and Calculation of ROI

Proceed with caution without thinking ahead. Come up with your KPIs, which can be:

• Loss reduction

• Better inventory tracking

• Time savings

• Adhering to maintenance plans

• Analyze your KPIs in order to calculate your ROI.

5. Mobile and Cloud Access

Today, most asset tracking using RFID comes with mobile access and cloud access. You get real-time updates from the location, as well as access to the asset data.

6. Role-based Access Control

Everyone does not have to have full access to your system. Assign access based on role.

Industrial Industries That Accrue Benefits from RFID Industrial Asset Tracking

RFID asset tracking benefit extends to industrial industries:

• Manufacturing – Monitor WIP (Work In Progress), equipment, and spares.
• Oil & Gas – Monitor safety equipment, dangerous goods, and regulatory status.
• Construction – Track tools, construction equipment, and construction material for various construction sites.
• Warehousing and Logistics – Maximize turnover and reduce loss.
• Utilities & Energy – Monitor transformers and meters in vast geographies.

Problems That Need To Be Resolved (And How They Could Be Solved)

There are plenty of benefits, however there are also certain issues:

• Metal or liquid interference – Employ tag shielding or RFID specialty tags.
• High upfront cost – Invest in high-ROI assets first and ramp up gradually.
• Hostile environment – Work together with solution providers who have knowledge about industrial floor layouts and risks.

Working with industrial and warehousing RFID solution providers will help you install the system easily based on your specific requirements.

Choosing the Right Partner for Your Industrial Asset Tracking Solution

The success of your industrial asset tracking system is also dependent on the capability of your provider. Select an industrial RFID partner who can provide you with:

• Customized RFID solutions
• On-site consulting & systems design
• Interface with your existing systems
• Project handling capabilities in UAE

Transform Your Business with RFID Asset Tracking

Industrial asset tracking is no longer an option; it is a necessity. With UAE’s industrial operations becoming increasingly complex, RFID technologies provide the speed, accuracy, and control companies need to stay competitive.

In the matter of monitoring the movement of products from one place to another or the automation of internal procedures, RFID systems have been found to be the trusted approach that gets the job done. Using such a strategy will ensure cost savings, productivity, and regulatory compliance..

Why Acube Infotech?

Acube Infotech’s team is industry specialists in RFID asset tracking and industrial asset management for the UAE market. We deliver end-to-end solutions with ruggedness to withstand industrial conditions and flexibility to fit into your business processes without a hitch.

We have helped production units, logistics companies, and construction firms in UAE to gain control over their assets, cut production bottlenecks, and attain long-term efficiency.

Ready to take your asset tracking to the next level?

Contact Us at Acube Infotech for the Best RFID Tracking Solution for Your Manufacturing Processes.

Contact Acube Infotech Now | Browse Our RFID Solutions