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Q: Is RFID still all hype or are there real life examples where RFID was cost justifiable?
A: Indeed, there still is life in RFID in spite of all the overhyping of the past few years (remember WalMart’s mandate?).
As a perfect example, we just recently completed a project with MISA Metal Blanking, a steel service center engaged in the
processing of steel coil into Class 1 blanks for the automotive industry. MISA maintains their inventory inside their
customers’ manufacturing facilities. As such, material may be picked and delivered to a manufacturing line by an employee of
either company. This required constant physical inventories to be taken to maintain the correct level of parts. MISA
needed a system that could capture all of the inventory as it was picked and avoid requiring anyone to scan bar codes since
there were people from multiple companies involved in the material handling. ToolWorx to the rescue. Using RFID tags printed
from our system along with outfitting the portal between the warehouse and manufacturing departments, our system automatically
captures each pallet’s contents as it’s moved from inventory to production. No one has to scan each pallet and MISA only
had to purchase one set of RFID readers for the portal, thereby eliminating the expense of multiple bar code terminals.
As a result, inventory accuracy is up and the constant physicals were eliminated. Case closed and RFID turned out to be the
best fit technology to meet MISA’s objectives.
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PRODUCE TRACEABILITY INITIATIVE COMPLIANCE
Have you heard of the Produce Traceability Initiative? Well, if you haven't, you will soon. The Produce
Traceability Initiative (PTI), sponsored by the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Produce Marketing Association and
United Fresh Produce Association, is designed to help the industry maximize the effectiveness of current
traceback procedures, while developing a standardized industry approach to enhance the speed and efficiency of
traceability systems for the future. The PTI has a bold vision which outlines a course of action to achieve supply
chain-wide adoption of electronic traceability of every case of produce by the year 2012.
What does this mean to you and how does ToolWorx fit in? Once this initiative is enacted by produce growers and
packers, the time to recall suspect produce and inform the public of precisely which produce lot(s) may be affected
will be significantly reduced and the accuracy will improve dramatically. ToolWorx happens to be in the front lines
of this initiative by working directly with growers to ensure that products are labeled accurately right in the field
as the produce is being picked and packed. By employing our unique SmartPack™
technology solutions, ToolWorx is consolidating all of the identification and labeling logic right inside the
printer without the need for a separate PC or terminal, which is critical for a field operation.
Stay tuned for more updates as we roll this out over the next several months.
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SMART PRINTER WEBINAR REPLAYS ON TW WEBSITE
Did you miss the July Smart Printer webinars featuring several ToolWorx error proofing case studies? If so, we have
them available on our website for your viewing pleasure any time at
Webinars under the Resources Menu.
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Error Proofed to the Max
What do you get when you combine an Intermec Smart Printer, an automated
label applicator, a fixed scanner, and the ToolWorx
SmartPack™ software system?
The ultimate error proofing system for ensuring that cartons are labeled and palletized accurately with no human
intervention.
The process we used is as follows:
- The ToolWorx SmartPack™ software, residing in the applicator printer, generates and automatically applies the appropriate
serialized carton label
- The fixed scanner reads that label as it moves down the conveyor and adds it to the list of cartons serials being
placed onto the pallet
- When the appropriate number of cartons have been placed onto the pallet, a secondary printer prints a master pallet label
- At the same time, all carton serial numbers are linked to that pallet serial number
- When the material handler moves the pallet to storage, by scanning just the pallet serial number, the warehouse inventory
is automatically updated to know where every carton serial number is located
As a result of this system, the manual labeling process is completely eliminated and accuracy is ensured.
Obscure applications (I didn't know you guys did that!!!):
- Rail Car Loadout - ToolWorx has been implementing this system with our partner Fairbanks Scales to control the loading
of rail cars for mining facilities that load chemicals right from the silos
- Potato Grading System - ToolWorx recently completed the development of this system to assist USDA regulated potato
processors to accurately grade potato shipments from growers
Intermec Media case study coming out
Watch your emails carefully as you aren't going to want to miss the latest Case Study to be published about a recent
ToolWorx success using our Shop Floor Data Collection System. This time, the lucky customer is none other than one of our
partners, Intermec, more specifically their Media Products Division in Fairfield, OH, where our system is saving them over
$100,000 per year in increased inventory accuracy and productivity.
PARTNER NEWS
Glacier
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Everest 2000 Rugged Computer. Customers who take delivery of an Everest E2000 from Dec.
1st, 2009 - Feb. 28th, 2010, will receive a 12-month extended warranty FREE! That's up to a $350 value and gives you
a great value with a free 24-month warranty.
Intermec
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SD61 Wireless Base Station for management of up to 7 Intermec Blue Tooth scanners.
ToolWorx has certified the SD61 to be compatible with all Intermec Smart Printers.
Microscan
Quarter 4 Happenings
Despite the gloom and doom in the economy, ToolWorx is expanding. Since our last newsletter, we have added
two new members to the ToolWorx team.
First up is Pat Bush, who is our new Director of Sales. Pat comes to us from Intermec Technologies, one of our key
partners, where he was responsible for all Printer/Media sales and resellers in Michigan. At ToolWorx, Pat has assumed
responsibility for all of our Smart Printer product sales as well as our growing reseller channel.
Next up is Jim Lee, who is our new Senior Sales Engineer. Jim has a long history
of experience in systems solutions, especially in vision and scanning systems. Jim is responsible for mobile systems sales
as well as supporting the entire ToolWorx team with his expertise.
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