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Track and trace (TTQ) solutions for manufacturing

Track and Trace (TTQ) solutions by ifm offer innovative ways to improve manufacturing efficiency and address the Six Big Losses. This article provides an overview of:

  • Impact of TTQ solutions on production efficiencies and quality improvement.
  • Advanced tracking technologies for raw materials and returnable assets management.
  • Smart tooling and error-proofing techniques in manufacturing processes.
  • Applications in access control, work-in-progress management, packaging, and storage.

Smart tracking solutions address the Six Big Losses

ifm TTQ (Track, Trace, and Quality) solutions target the Six Big Losses on efficiency. Whether you are looking to improve availability scores with returnable asset tracking, or to improve quality with automatic machine set up and RFID enabled smart tooling, it is important to understand how specific solutions impact production efficiencies.

What if everything you produced was of the highest quality?

What if every shipment that left your facility was 100% accurate, every time?

What if you always knew the location of every tool or raw material?

What if you could quickly raise operating efficiency by implementing a tracking solution?

ifm tracking solutions address every aspect off OEE (overall equipment effectiveness). With all resources in one place, it’s never been easier to choose your next continuous process improvement project to boost efficiency. Identify a tracking solution to benefit your facility and get started below.

Raw materials management

Tracking technologies applied to raw material storage and retrieval ensure that production never stops, enabling:

  • Automatic and reliable raw material location tracking
  • Real-time accurate inventories and minimization of lot sizes
  • Autonomous tracking for fixed storage bays and unstructured environments

Returnable assets management

Tracking container assets within a facility increases availability for production while protecting a manufacturer from unexpected losses and fines by enabling:

  • Real time location tracking of assets within the facility
  • Validation of receipt and shipment of high value assets for production
  • Communication to many databases and software suites at once

Smart tooling

By applying serialized identifiers, tracking technology enables smart tooling capabilities within production processes and machinery, enabling:

  • Confirmation of the correct tool for the job at hand
  • Real time location tracking and maintenance data storage
  • Automatic configuration of machine parameters for the installed tool

Error proofing

Identification technology enables manufacturing processes to proactively prevent errors from occurring. Ensure every product is made to specification with zero mistakes by enabling:

  • Defect identification within production/assembly at the point of error
  • Real time tracking of a “batch of one” throughout production
  • Effective quarantine, accurate rework, and scrap rate tracking

Access control

Tracking technologies ensures the right people are at the right machine at the right time so critical assets are managed properly, enabling:

  • Varying levels of access to machine adjustments and process changes
  • Optimization of your workforce; the right person on the right machine
  • Enhanced security, and protection of machine assets in complex processes

WIP management

Tracking work-in-progress (WIP) gives real-time insight as to what is in production, giving the ability to create a digital twin of the production floor, enabling:

  • Effective, lean, and intelligent production
  • Real time optimization of production scheduling
  • Location tracking of WIP subassemblies and needed material inventories

Packaging and unitizing

Ensuring the correct packaging is used for your product is a critical control point for any robust quality control program. Adding unique identifiers on bulk packages or shipments enables:

  • Effective mixed-lot prevention measures in production/packaging
  • Reduction in lot sizes, limiting potential impact of a product recall/rework
  • Location tracking, shipment verification, and product sequencing of finished goods

Storage and retrieval

UHF RFID technology enables a low cost, highly effective inventory tracking and localization capabilities by enabling:

  • Real time tracking and inventory of finished goods into/out of storage bays
  • Localization of finished goods in unstructured environments with mobile automation
  • Location and destination prompt to personnel to reduce sourcing and shipment time

Sequencing and shipments

Serialization of shipping units unlocks the capability of ensuring that every order is complete and sequenced by enabling:

  • Sequencing verification for JIT (Just in Time) Manufacturing
  • Automatic shipment manifest and verification with timestamps
  • Reliable recording of all activated shipping units moved through portal control

Solution Family OEE improvements IO-Link HF
AL / DTI
Modular HF
DTE10 / ANT
All-in-One HF
DTE60
Modular UHF
DTE930 / ANT9
All-in-one UHF DTE90 Gate tracking system
ZZ0818
Image-based code reading
O2I5
Raw materials management
Maintain inventory levels for uninterrupted production
Logistics
Intra-logistics
Availability   + ++ +++ +++ +++  
                   
Retunable asset management
Locate assets in real time
Logistics
Intra-logistics
Availability   + ++ +++ +++ +++  
                   
Smart tooling
Storage of tool maintenance data, automatic machine setup, location
Intra-logistics
Maintenance
Quality control
Availability
Quality
+++ ++ ++   +    
                   
Error proofing
Workpiece identification in flexible manufacturing
Quality control Quality ++ +++ ++ + +   +++
                   
Access control
Access levels to machine parameters and optimization of workforce
Quality control
Maintenance
Availability
Quality
+++ ++ ++   +    
                   
WIP management
Movement and status in production of partially complete products
Intra-logistics
Production
Availability
Performance
++ +++ +++ ++ ++ +++ ++
                   
Packaging and unitizing
Package content verification and combination for logistics tracking
Quality control
Intra-logistics
Quality       +++ +++   ++
                   
Storage and retrieval
Optimization of storage locations and processes
Intra-logistics Performance
Quality
      +++ ++ +++  
                   
Sequencing and shipments
Shipment sequence verification and manifest creation
Logistics Performance
Quality
      +++ ++ +++