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Ask the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Expert: Scheduling Assistance
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Product Tracking

Asked on Jul 21 2006 9:00:11:000AM

Q

I'm IT student working on my senior project. I've been tasked to find the best way to track manufacturing tools and mylars through the company. My initial idea is to use RFIDs as much as possible and possible use bar codes for the other items. Any suggestion on the smart questions to ask of the company and eventually the RFID/bar code companies?

Bill Gibson, Hurlburt Field, FL
AHere you go.

Questions for manufacturers:

1. Project related information such as --


  • Goals, timeline, budget, and anticipated ROI


  • Current process for managing tools and mylars


  • Challenges with the current system


  • How you anticipate bar codes or RFID improving the system


  • Expectations regarding EAM, ERP, etc. systems integration

2. Bar Code and RFID specifics requirements --


  • Size, material, surface of the item


  • Data on the tag


  • What is needed to print -- when? where?


  • Speed? Any time critical parameter?


  • Proposed process for managing tools and mylars


  • Environment of tag (temperature, acid, etc.)

3. RFID-system requirements --


  • Environment of the antenna (metal, water, etc.)


  • Noise surrounding (screen, neighboring reader, el. motor, etc.)


  • R/W-distance from tag to the antenna


  • Communication to host system, which protocol?


  • What data is necessary?


  • Environment of the reader-system (temperature, humidity, liquid, etc.)

Questions for Bar Code and RFID Vendors:

1. Company related information such as --


  • Size, location, local support capabilities


  • Implementation and training services


  • Referenceable customers to prove claims


  • Alliances for delivery of hardware, services, etc.


  • Expertise and ability to perform on-site inspections


2. Solution capabilities --


  • Specific hardware and software


  • Middleware (for integration, data aggregation, etc.)


  • Frequencies and standards (e.g. ISO, EOC)


  • Specific implementation and integration services


  • Ongoing maintenance services and costs

3. Deployment --


  • Testing facilities or capabilities (including volume)


  • Integration of readers with back-end systems


  • Bar code printing capabilities


  • Reporting (on-line, 3rd party, exporting, etc.)


  • Ability to customize tag design as required

Meet the expert

Dave Kasabian

Research Director, AMR Research Inc.

Dave Kasabian brings more than 20 years of business experience within performance management and business intelligence to his position as a research director in AMR Research's Enterprise Strategies Service group. Before joining AMR Research, Dave was a practice director at Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting, where he focused on requirements definition and vendor selection of business intelligence and performance management solutions. Prior to Alvarez & Marsal, Dave spent 13 years in a variety of roles at performance management software vendors, gaining diverse experience in product marketing, services management, client advocacy, and channels and implementation. Dave received his BA from the University of New Hampshire.
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