Ask the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Expert: Scheduling Assistance
 Asked on Jul 10 2006 9:52:13:000AM | Q | Do you have any recommendations on how RFID could be used to keep track of personnel coming in and out of a facility? The personnel would not need to be "tracked" within the facility just counted as they enter and exit. The facility has three entrances where I was thinking fixed readers could be installed. The idea is to have RFID tags added to employee badges and captured each time an RFID tag goes past one of the fixed readers. The readers would need to be capable of reading these tags up to a distance of 2 meters. During an emergency exit (i.e. fire
drill) these readers would need to process approximately 300 people in a relatively short period of time (5 to 10 minutes). Is RFID technology up to this level of performance and based on the information I have provided could you provide any kind of ball park cost for the RFID hardware and a corresponding software package. For example is this something that could be configured for around 20 Thousand dollars or are we talking more like 200 Thousand dollars?
Respectfully, Al Hogan, Atlanta, GA |
| A | Allen: You hit the nail on the head as it relates to the challenges associated with using RFID for access and egress monitoring; i.e., read range and rapid multi-tag processing. Typical "vicinity" ID cards and readers require that the card be in close proximity (contact to 12-inches or so) to the reader/antenna. My experience suggests that even the longer-range systems with anti-collision (i.e., multi-tag simultaneous read) capability would have trouble picking up each member of a horde of anxious people trying to jam themselves through an exit. On the other hand, ActiveWave and Texas Instruments have products on the market that allegedly address these challenges. I would contact them directly. You might also want to give Checkpoint Systems a call. Not sure of pricing, but with only 300 people (to "card") and three entrances/exits to cover, it's likely that the cost will be closer to $20K than to $200K. Note also that manufacturers in the Far East (primarily Taiwan and China) are introducing RFID access control cards and "long-range" readers at what are advertised to be very attractive price points. A final point -- and I apologize that it should go without saying -- regardless of how solid a given solution might appear to be, ask for references and do some pilot testing before moving ahead. Good luck! John |
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