Ford RFID supply chain management Obvious effect
With retail giant Wal-Mart, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and other military representatives of the relevant mandatory instructions, RFID technology from a humble new wireless technology developed to the extent now – raging fire spread through the entire Earth.
Although worldwide, there is no application to the automotive industry, RFID technology make any mandatory requirements on the auto industry has also produced many successful cases of using RFID technology, RFID radio frequency Letters on Sweden have recently car dealer – HolmgrensBil Wi-Fi-based RFID technology to track real-time positioning system on the store’s 1,000 vehicles, precision management of trading activities in real time the case has done feature stories; through the rough statistics, in the automotive supply chain using RFID technology, showed a rising number of enterprises situation, put aside a number of cases is not abroad, in China, and Taiwan already have CNHTC Yulon RFID technology into a precedent; We believe that a single spark can start a prairie fire. Believe in the near future, the global automotive industry will be the same as the logistics and retail industries, RFID can be seen everywhere!
Overall development in the RFID an extraordinary 2005, TNT Logistics North America launched the first RFID reader device, primarily for the automotive industry to provide real-time visibility into operations management, improve the stock (inventory) management efficiency and to prevent the complex supply chain interruption problem, the initial test was Ford’s truck assembly plant for the.
TNT Logistics North America, mainly for large state-owned private enterprises and some medium-sized enterprises design, implement and operate complex supply chain solutions, the initial goal is to Ford’s supply chain RFID technology, and strengthen supply chain innovation and increase the auto industry value.
As part of this test, WhereNet’s active RFID technology to provide wireless sensor technology is fully utilized, these devices installed in the Ford plant to achieve real-time location, providing real-time information, TNT material sequencing centers (MSC) is also installed the related equipment. The center area of 375,000 square feet, can be achieved to receive Ford’s products, packaging and transportation and a series of work product material in a set order delivered to the production line. RFID reader device installed in the MSC’s main door, read the material on the RFID tag information and ID code. Access to data through automated, the system can determine whether the material is to be fully utilized to reach. In addition, Ford RFID systems can also be an advanced transport system (ASN) function combined with access to materials in transit location information.
There are other uses, such as cargo handling system can automatically monitor the process of monitoring the implementation of tracking and real-time as a control and the promotion of MSC and the assembly shop of the exchanges. In order to prevent disruption and reduction of manual operations, Ford used Tibco to provide real-time control software. When Ford’s all supply chain are involved, RFID systems can provide real-time monitoring, which involves material suppliers, sorting centers, workshops, and product distribution links with other aspects.
Sequencing centers to provide spare parts for the Ford assembly line, arranged in the order and the provision of materials, instrumentation, components can be delivered by the workers through the plastic billboards, the general delivery of parts not more than 35 pounds. Sorting operation is mainly the materials will be required in order to send in the past, generally in the 1000-2000 pounds, need to forklift transport. Although the instrument is smaller than the parts, but a transport over 500 pounds, also need to truck transport. The use of RFID technologies before most are used manually, often because of various reasons, process interruption, such as shipping delays, parts missing, misplaced and lost, and very common.
WhereNet’s active RFID tags transmit signals every four minutes and can be installed in the TNT sequencing centers and the Ford assembly plant receives the RFID reader, the tag data can be collected, classification, evaluation, and summarized. Ford also installed chart analysis software, installed on a forklift portable computer, to analyze the data. In order to use RFID technology, TNT uses a series of software, such as warehouse management systems, warehouse tracking systems and software, WhereNet’s Visibility service, which all through the Tibco middleware software to integrate.
TNT uses WhereNet’s active RFID solutions, RFID tags with Ford’s requirements and continuously improve the use of sensors, WhereNet’s software and infrastructure also continue to improve, with different parts of the supply chain to join the network becomes more and more important.
RFID technology is great potential for manufacturing and retail, TNT and early users truly feel the benefits of this technology, and it can optimize operations and improve efficiency. Through the use of Tibco’s second-generation active RFID software, TNT can be very accurate in accordance with the order to complete tasks, you can send goods to customers on time and provide real-time information.
This partnership combines Ford, TNT, WhereNet and Tibco’s strength, active RFID is now a very successful project implementation, real-time control and management worked well in all platforms, synchronization coordination is also very good. Ford believes that if globalization of supply chain integration, then the RFID technology will achieve greater success
