Abstract: The rise of RFID technology has brought intelligent changes to factory asset management
Keywords: RFID technology
In today’s highly competitive manufacturing environment, the efficiency of factory asset management directly affects the operating costs and production benefits of enterprises. The traditional asset management model relies on manual records and regular inventory, which not only consumes a lot of manpower and material resources, but also easily leads to errors and omissions. The rise of RFID technology has brought intelligent changes to factory asset management.
—-＞ Introduction to RFID technology ＜—-
RFID, or Radio Frequency Identification, is a technology that uses radio signals to identify specific targets and read and write related data. It mainly consists of three parts: RFID tags, readers, and antennas.
RFID tags, like the “electronic ID card” of assets, can be divided into active tags and passive tags. Active tags have their own power supply, long signal transmission distance, and large data storage capacity; passive tags rely on the radio frequency signals emitted by the reader to obtain energy, with low cost and small size. The tag stores detailed information about the asset, such as the asset name, model, specifications, purchase time, and user department.
The reader is responsible for reading or writing information from the tag. It can be a handheld device that is convenient for workers to use during mobile operations; it can also be a fixed device installed in a specific location, such as the entrance and exit of a warehouse, or a key node on a production line. The reader transmits radio frequency signals through the antenna. When the tag enters the signal coverage range, it will be activated and exchange data with the reader.
The antenna is a bridge to achieve signal transmission, ensuring stable and efficient communication between the reader and the tag.
-> Application of RFID technology in factory asset management＜-
1. Asset storage
When a newly purchased asset enters the factory warehouse, the staff only needs to stick the RFID tag on the surface of the asset and enter the asset information into the tag through a special writing device. Subsequently, when the asset passes through the storage channel equipped with an RFID reader, the reader instantly reads the tag information and automatically synchronizes the asset storage data to the enterprise asset management system. This process does not require manual registration, greatly shortening the warehousing time and avoiding possible errors caused by manual entry.
2. Asset Inventory
In the past, the factory’s asset inventory work often required a lot of manpower and time. The staff needed to check the asset information one by one, record the asset quantity, status, etc., which was not only inefficient, but also prone to omissions or repeated inventory.
With the help of RFID technology, inventory work has become easy and efficient. The staff held the RFID reader and walked along the predetermined route in the factory area. The reader can quickly and automatically read all asset tag information within the coverage area. At the same time, the system compares the real-time read data with the asset information in the database, and automatically generates an inventory report, which clearly shows the difference between the actual quantity and location of the asset and the system record. The entire inventory process can be completed in a short time, and the data is accurate and reliable.
3. Asset Tracking and Positioning
In the daily operation of the factory, it is crucial to accurately grasp the location and flow of assets. By deploying fixed RFID readers in key areas of the factory, such as warehouses, workshops, and production lines, the movement trajectory of assets can be tracked in real time.
For example, when the equipment on the production line flows between processes, the reader installed at the process node will automatically read the equipment tag information and record the arrival and departure time of the equipment. Through the asset management system, managers can check the current location of the equipment at any time, promptly discover the idle or abnormal stay of the equipment, reasonably arrange production tasks, and improve equipment utilization.
4. Asset maintenance and early warning
RFID tags can also store asset maintenance records, maintenance cycles and other information. When the asset is approaching the maintenance time, the system will automatically issue an early warning prompt. When performing maintenance operations, staff can quickly read asset information through the reader to understand the historical maintenance of the asset and provide a reference for maintenance work. This helps to ensure that the asset is always in good operating condition, extend the service life of the asset, and reduce the failure rate of equipment.
—-＞ Advantages of RFID technology application ＜—-
Improve work efficiency: Automated data collection and processing greatly reduces manual operation links, saving a lot of time and labor costs.
Improve data accuracy: Avoid errors that may occur in manual entry and inventory, and ensure the authenticity and reliability of asset data.
Real-time monitoring of asset status: managers can grasp the location, usage and other information of assets in real time, make timely decisions and optimize resource allocation.
Reduce operating costs: By improving asset utilization and reducing equipment downtime, the operating costs of enterprises are reduced.
RFID technology has brought unprecedented convenience and efficiency to factory asset management. With the continuous development and maturity of technology, more and more factories will benefit from it, realize the intelligent upgrade of asset management, and enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises.
Post time: Feb-24-2025
