Studies show the average error rate during order picking and shipment is between 0.3% and 3%. Average product loss and freight cost can easily exceed $100,000+ annually. So why are companies still using a manual process to track and verify raw materials and shipments?
"UHF product tracking is complex." | ...everything new seems complex. |
"UHF tracking is expensive." | ...well, it used to be. |
"I tried UHF 10 years ago, it doesn’t work." | ...technology improves. |
"I will never see a return of the investment." | ...now you will. |
What if you could find a gate or conveyor tracking solution that was inexpensive, simple, and could be up and running in days or weeks without months of both software and hardware development?
Rather than equipment, the barrier for companies instituting an automatic gate tracking program has been the severe cost and complexity of software integration and the creation of actionable data from installed hardware. In many cases, the software development and implementation far exceeds the hardware cost, limiting the financial feasibility of a useful tracking program.
Capability is another barrier. Simple triggering mechanisms provide inaccurate or incomplete data on the direction of movement, and UHF field reliability in older equipment designs provides dead zones and error in the tracking process.
The wireless and automatic tracking of UHF-tagged assets, combined with directionality and direct connection to the IT layer offers a solution that addresses your concerns - allowing you to optimize loading times, avoid picking errors, improve returnable asset tracking, and increase efficiency in your facility.
Using our continued growth in UHF deployment, our knowledge in RFID technologies, and continued developments in connectivity and edge processing, ifm developed a tracking solution to address common challenges to successful system deployments.
The gate tracking solution consists of all required hardware to activate a single tracking cell. Initially, a master gate enables northbound communication to any ERP system and/or cloud solution while handling the southbound control and configuration of up to 10 connected supplemental gates.
The system’s multi-touch edge controller provides intuitive configuration and point-of-use diagnostics. A single controller can support up to 10 tracking gate systems, allowing for real time display of errors, and on-the-fly shipment adjustments. A simple, easy-to-use configuration wizard will have systems communicating in 15 minutes.
Why should you spend time in developing software for a control tracking "solution"? We believe you should be concerned with using your information, not the data and hardware handling.
We believe you should spend time where it makes sense - in the simple, direct, connection to your existing ERP or MES system. By offering platform independence, the ifm solution adapts to your existing software structure and offers reliable tracking data.
The only thing you need to decide is how to apply the information provided. The information is available through a universal JSON structure. A middle-ware “connector” program provides a condition-based comparison of exported lists.
JSON syntax for connector program
To Edge Controller | [{“eventID”:5,”gateID”:490502,”direction”:”OUT”, “EPC”:”E2801114200087CB77001234E21F2021000000000002AD5F”,”TID”:””,”user”:””,”timestamp”:”2021-03-15T13:14:30+0100”}] |
From Edge Controller | [{“eventID”:6,”gateID”:490512,”direction”:”OUT”, “EPC”:”E2801114200087CB77009876”,”TID”:”E21F2021000000000001767B”,”user”:””,”timestamp”:”2021-03-15T13:14:30+0100”,”result”:”ERROR”}] |
A complete automation of raw material reception, sequencing, and shipment verification doesn’t only offer a savings in fees or shipment costs to correct a missed order.
Automation of these areas:
ROI calculator
ifm invites you to explore the possibilities by calculating your own system's payback period. Keep in mind that these numbers only account for calculable expenditure, and are usually realized in 1/2 the projected timeframe.
As a global controls solution provider, free application and technical support is just a phone call away, any time you need us. Our service center is staffed from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm Eastern Time to cover all US time zones.
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