RFID-Based Smart Manufacturing
Smart manufacturing covers the entire product lifecycle, enabling information-driven manufacturing with ubiquitous sensing. Its key technologies include smart sensing (RFID, sensors), artificial intelligence, smart drive technology,
smart CNC technology, smart logistics technology and more. In Europe, this is called Industry 4.0.
Applications of RFID Technology
RFID is an advanced contactless radio frequency automatic identification technology with long read range, high speed, strong interference resistance and simultaneous multi-target identification. In logistics, manufacturing, transportation,
defense and other fields, it has broad application prospects. In smart manufacturing, RFID automatic identification will play an increasingly important role,
enabling real-time automatic identification of products in the manufacturing execution system (MES) for flexible production, helping companies increase productivity, shorten production cycles, monitor operations comprehensively,
achieve information traceability, respond better to customer demand, reduce inventory and lower operating costs, helping companies reach the goal of a "smart factory".
Specific Applications of RFID Devices in Smart Manufacturing
1) Smart manufacturing processes. Industrial RFID tags are fitted to fixture plates/pallets and work-in-progress production information is written to the tags. RFID readers at workstations collect data with the MES system,
enabling information exchange with robots, conveyor lines, AGVs and other automated equipment.
2) RFID smart product lifecycle management. Combining RFID with sensor technology captures product status information during machining, assembly and other stages in real time and efficiently, giving manufacturers timely insight into the condition of work in progress throughout its lifecycle and providing strong data support for decisions and management.
3) Smart warehousing and logistics. RFID enables central site monitoring, fast passage and stock-taking, bulk goods sorting and more, making logistics transparent. At the same time, with automated inbound/outbound handling of work in progress and goods, bulk identification of goods, precise location of work in progress, shared logistics information and end-to-end product monitoring, manufacturers reduce inventory and make WIP logistics management smarter.
Advantages of RFID-Based Smart Manufacturing
1. Automatic identification and real-time management of work in progress, mixed-model assembly of multiple product types and automatic process data capture, raising the data capture rate to 99%;
2. Transparent, visual management of production processes, greatly improving manufacturing efficiency, quality and management.
3. Reduces material inventory by 20%, improves delivery efficiency and accuracy by 30%, and raises utilization of forklifts, AGVs and other resources by more than 50%.
