23-05-2012, 03:35 PM
Development and Testing of an RFID-based Cutting Tools Tracking Application
Development and Testing of an RFID-based Cutting Tools.pdf (Size: 311.91 KB / Downloads: 38)
Abstract
Recently one of the important concerns for manufacturing industry has been improving the return on investment. With the introduction of RFID technology, industry is hopeful of providing visibility to assets, supplies and personnel, and improves the operations. Using RFID-based asset tracking and more precisely tool tracking, machine shops can introduce automated management and maintenance achieving near real-time location, reduce shrinkage and monitor tool condition.
The current research project presents an interactive application capable of tracking the tools, managing their maintenance by following up their effective usage automatically and organizing their storage and utilization.
Introduction
Competitiveness is obviously necessary for industrial production. In order to keep abreast, manufacturers continually have to improve efficiency. There are many ways to do so. One of latest methods is to integrate an RFID-based asset tracking system in the manufacturing facilities.
Study of RFID-based tool tracking in machine shops is the focus of research in this work. Among the existing automation systems many asset tracking programs already exist but they often use bar-codes which do not allow to process more than one item at a time. Only a few of them manage tool tracking and most of the time they do not deal with tool maintenance.
In order to meet manufacturing requirements, a cutting tools tracking system was created. Prior to describing the developed system, its implementation and the tests conducted in simulation exercises, a brief description of RFID technology, Asset Tracking and .NET Framework is provided in the following sections.
Background
RFID Technology
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an identification technology which consists in setting up communication between a tag which is in the interrogation zone and one or more antennas connected to a reader. There are other identification technologies which are quite popular in industry such as:
•Magnetic stripes for credit cards, smart cards, security gates keys
•Bar-codes for goods tracking in stores and inventory systems
However, compared to the bar-code technology, RFID is much more efficient. Bar codes only allow scanning one item at a time and require ‘line-of-sight’, whereas RFID can deal with multiple tags even when the tags are not in the line-of-sight. In many instances, human intervention is no longer required, and the transactions can be automated.
Typical RFID System
Asset Tracking
Asset tracking refers to fixed assets, which are items purchased for long-term use and that are evaluated by different metrics leading to measurable return on investment.
In order to know exactly which assets they own and to manage it efficiently, companies use asset tracking systems. This kind of system enables continuous as well as discrete industries to keep track of what equipment they have, where it is located, who is using it, when it was checked out. This may involve machines, computers, printers or copying machines, office equipment, tools, pallets, etc.