If you’re working in the manufacturing or production industries, you know how frustrating it can be to fight against your own processes constantly.Optimizing production processes sounds great in theory, but it’s easier said than done. There are many factors to consider, and it’s hard to know where to begin. Fortunately, RLTS can help you improve visibility and performance in your production processes.
Real-time location systems (RTLS) use sensors and tags to track the real-time location and movement of assets, materials, and people. When you implement RTLS for manufacturing in your production environment, you can gain unprecedented visibility into your processes, enabling you to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
Hereare ways RLTS can help you improve your production processes and stay ahead of the competition:
Improved Visibility into Production Processes
One of the key benefits of using RTLS in production processes is its improved visibility. With RTLS, you can track the location and movement of raw materials, work-in-progress, finished goods, tools, equipment, and personnel throughout your facility in real-time. This enables you to have a clear and accurate picture of the status and progress of your production processes and identify any inefficiencies that might be slowing down your operations.
For example, a manufacturing company that produces medical devices uses RTLS to track the location and movement of components and tools used in production. By doing so, they could identify the root cause of delays and reduce the time it took to assemble each device by 40%.
Increased Efficiency and Productivity
By providing real-time information about the location and availability of assets, RTLS can help you optimize the flow of materials and products through your facility, reduce inventory levels, and minimize idle time and waiting.
For instance, a food processing company that used RTLS to track the location of pallets and containers in their warehouse reduced the time it took to locate and move products by 50%, resulting in a 30% increase in productivity.
Reduced Downtime and Delays
Another benefit of using RTLS in production processes is reducing downtime and delays. RTLS can help you take proactive measures to prevent or mitigate production disruptions by providing real-time alerts and notifications about potential issues or deviations from expected performance,
A perfect example is a pharmaceutical company that used RTLS to monitor its production environment’s temperature and humidity levels. It detected a potential issue with its HVAC system before it caused any damage to its products, resulting in significant cost savings and increased customer satisfaction.
Improved Safety and Security
RTLS can help in improving manufacturing facility safety by ensuring compliance with safety regulations, preventing unauthorized access to restricted areas, and quickly responding to emergencies or incidents.
Another scenario is where a chemical company used RTLS to monitor the movement of hazardous materials in their facility. This company prevented unauthorized access to these materials and ensured compliance with safety regulations, reducing the risk of accidents and liability.
How RTLS Works in Production Processes
To understand how RTLS can be used in production processes, it is essentialto firstunderstand the different types of RTLS technology. There are several types of RTLS technology, including:
- Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) – RFID uses radio waves to transmit information between a tag and a reader. RFID tags can be either active (powered by a battery) or passive (powered by the reader’s signal). RFID is a common technology used in supply chain and logistics applications.
- Ultra-Wideband (UWB) – UWB uses short-range radio waves to transmit information between tags and anchors (fixed reference points). It provides high accuracy and precision in tracking and is commonly used in indoor positioning and asset-tracking applications.
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) – BLE uses low-power Bluetooth signals to transmit information between tags and receivers. It is commonly used in asset tracking andindoor positioning applications, especially in environments where high accuracy is not required.
Once the RTLS technology is selected, the next step is to install the necessary hardware and software components. This typically includes tags, readers, antennas, and a software platform to collect and analyze the data.
In production processes, tags can be attached to assets, tools, equipment, and personnel to track their location and movement. Readers and antennas are placed throughout the facility to capture the signals from the tags and transmit the data to the software platform. The software platform then processes the data and provides real-time information about the location and status of assets, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions and optimize their production processes.
Conclusion
The demands of modern manufacturing can be daunting, and it’s easy to get bogged down in the details.By adopting real-time location systems (RTLS), you can revolutionize how you manage your production processes and achieve greater efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Think about all the benefits you could enjoy with RTLS. Those advantages can translate into reduced costs, faster time-to-market, better customer satisfaction, and a stronger competitive edge.
Why wait? Reach out to experts in the field, conduct your research, and start planning your implementation strategy. With the right mindset and tools, you can optimize your production processes and achieve the success you’ve been striving for.