Asset Tracking with RFID and RTLS

RFID and RTLS-enabled Asset Tracking provides real-time status of critical assets within manufacturing, service, and distribution operations, for facilities as diverse as assembly plants, hospitals, maintenance depots and trailer yards. The benefit? Improved asset utilization, reduced expedite costs, improved operational efficiency and minimized risk.

What Assets Need To Be Tracked?

A Chemical Manufacturer automated Asset Tracking by RFID-enabling their ERP system with OAT software, saving labor costs on customer deliveries and minimizing scrap product.

Asset Tracking has a broad definition – assets come in all shapes and sizes, from a single component part to an 800-passenger commercial aircraft, from a hospital stretcher to specialized tools and indirect materials. Business cases for asset tracking usually originate in a specific functional area and are focused on a labor-intensive process, such as tool, equipment or container tracking. The following table illustrates common asset tracking use cases by industry and functional area.

Asset Tracking Examples

 

Assets Tracked by	INDUSTRY
	Aerospace & Defense	Automotive	Chemicals	Consumer Products	Healthcare	Industrial Machinery & Components	Oil and Gas
Mfg Assets	• Components • Subassemblies • Tools • Tooling • Production Equipment • Composites Materials	• Components • Subassemblies • Tools • Production Equipment • Finished Goods	• Hazardous Materials • Containers • Indirect Materials	• Hazardous Materials • Containers • Indirect Materials	• Medical Device Components • Production Equipment	• Components • Subassemblies • Tools • Production Equipment	Containers
Distribution Assets	• Transport Jigs	• Finished Goods	• Transport Containers	• Warehouse Inventory	• Tissue Samples • Rush Shipments	• Finished Goods • Trailers	Tools
Sales & Service Assets	• Component Inventory • Tools • Tooling	• Replacement Parts	• Transport Containers	• Store Deliveries	• Hospital Equipment • Stretchers and Wheelchairs • Consumables	• Replacement Parts • Tools	Production Equipment
OAT Solutions	• Work-in-Process Tracking • Tool Tracking	• Work-in-Process Tracking • Tool Tracking • Yard Management	• Work-in-Process Tracking • Container Tracking • Container Pedigree	• Work-in-Process Tracking • Container Tracking • Container Pedigree	• Equipment Tracking • Cycle Counting	• Work-in-Process Tracking • Tool Tracking • Yard Management	• Work-in-Process Tracking • Tool Tracking • Yard Management • Container Tracking • Equipment Tracking

What are the Most Common Asset Tracking Challenges?

• Lack of visibility into the movement, use and specific attributes of capital assets: components, subassemblies, equipment, indirect materials, tooling, etc.
• High costs of managing assets: additional labor, duplicate inventory, expedite fees and compliance fines
• Scheduling, safety and quality issues due to lost, missing or non-compliant assets

How Does RFID Automate Asset Tracking Processes?

A Specialized Equipment Manufacturer worked with OAT to automate kitting and shipping of high-value assets to end customers, resulting in reduced costs for outbound shipping and customs documentation.

Based on 200+ implementations, OAT’s Asset Tracking deployment guide provides best practices, ERP integration examples and process flows for eight common use cases:

• Receiving
• Reusable Container Tracking
• Component / Subassembly Tracking
• Tool and Equipment Tracking
• Jig/Mould Tracking
• Whole Goods Tracking
• Shipping
• Yard Management

Learn More:
Spotlight on Asset Tracking and Work-in-Process
Asset Tracking for Manufacturers
Real-Time Reporting on Assets
Asset Tracking with RFID: Development Tips