Knowing Where: Track & Trace in Production and Logistics

Complex structures as well as considerable cost pressure present companies in the manufacturing industry and logistics with the same challenge: rapid decision making based on real-time information is becoming increasingly more important in order to stay competitive.

Today, RFID systems are the means of choice to generate decision-critical information. They bridge the gap between the physical world of production (operational technology, OT) and IT-based MES and ERP systems. By linking objects with the data of the IT systems, RFID systems generate the necessary transparency for lean processes and digitalized supply chains. The aggregated information, such as times, locations, users, or processes completed, allow smart functions such as automated production and ordering processes, the identification of error sources or the accurate forecasting of potential bottlenecks. RFID information enables your systems and decision-makers to make the right choices.

Transparency from incoming goods to shipping

RFID based information provides countless processes in production and logistics with transparency, from the incoming goods department to production and warehouse, right through to shipping. The returnable transport items (RTI) such as pallets, grid boxes, plastic boxes or metal tubs play a major role here. Returnable transport items are a key factor for ensuring the quality of production processes.

RFID-based container management ensures that returnable transport items are always present at the right location, in the correct quantity and quality, and at the right time. The costs for an RFID system are therefore paid back very quickly thanks to the enormous savings achieved since no missing containers need to be procured at short notice and made available at the place of use.??

Benefits compared to barcodes

RFID offers key benefits for RTI identification compared to comparable technologies, and compared to barcodes in particular. There are thus hardly any restrictions in the use of RFID-based systems, since a suitable RFID tag is available for virtually every situation and environmental condition. Moreover, the reading of large quantities can be automated easily in an RFID-based system without any tedious and error-prone manual steps.

To ensure a smooth running RFID-based container management system, special management tools make it possible to display all RTI information on a single platform. This therefore bridges the gap between the physical world of production and IT-based MES and ERP systems. By linking objects with the data of the IT systems, RFID systems generate the necessary transparency for lean processes and digitalized supply chains. This information enables both the systems and the decision makers to draw informed conclusions, thus enabling greater efficiency in RTI management and a high level of adaptability in response to seemingly unforeseeable events in the RTI circulation.

Efficient container management saves costs

It goes without saying that reusable containers must not be treated like disposable items. Only efficient pool management can turn RTIs into a powerful instrument for the creation of sustainable supply chains. Shrinkage, damage or inefficient management often lead to the necessary procurement of additional RTIs in order to prevent bottlenecks and downtimes, so that the actual total stock exceeds the optimum quantity. It is often the case that nobody knows how many RTIs are in use in the entire process chain.

It is therefore particularly important to keep the number of RTIs in circulation as low as possible in order to tie up as little capital as possible. However, a sufficient number must be kept available at the same time in order to avoid breakdowns in the supply chain. The worst case would be the standstill of the just-in-sequence or just-in-time line because of the absence or lack of reusable containers where they are required.