RFID Journal LIVE! 2021 Encore
Manufacturing On-Demand Sessions
Planning Your Manufacturing Line Deployment
The last thing any manufacturer wants to do is disrupt its finely tuned, high-speed production line. Deploying RFID technology successfully on any line requires careful planning.
Key takeaways:
* This session will address how to conduct a proper site survey.
* Learn how to gain the trust and confidence of line managers, IT managers, facilities and other constituencies to ensure a successful deployment.
Speaker: Doug Harvel, Senior IT Distribution Analyst, Kontoor Brands
RFID Provides Efficiency, Visibility for Food Company
California nut product manufacturer American Nuts, one of the largest nut processors in North America, has deployed an RFID system to boost its inventory visibility and tracking capability, as well as its production and shipping of finished goods at its two manufacturing sites. The firm is using the system to track the receipt of raw nuts, seeds and dried fruit through storage, the production of snack mixes and other products, quality assurance and shipping.
Key takeaways:
* Learn how RFID has improved on-hand inventory visibility.
* Gain an understanding of how the technology is being used to provide better management of production, procurement, quality assurance and recalls.
Speaker: Nate Willits, Chief Financial Officer, American Nuts
Boeing: Creating Effective IIoT Ecosystems
Learn how Boeing is creating effective Industrial IoT (IIoT) ecosystems for manufacturing and supply operations with Enterprise Sensor Integration (ESI) – an innovative software platform that integrates a myriad of sensor technologies that track, monitor and control assets and workflow processes. Discover how ESI enables an integrated IIoT ecosystem for tool & asset management, supply chain management and more. See how this ESI-enabled IIoT ecosystem optimizes processes, improves inventory control and reduces costs.
About ESI:
* ESI is an award winning, sensor-agnostic solution that solves IIoT connectivity challenges. It seamlessly integrates sensor technologies including RFID, GPS, and Mesh, BLE, Wi-Fi enabled sensors and more.
* ESI enables end-to-end visibility for assets, parts and supply chain operations. It automates processes such as tool management, distribution and bin management and invoicing.
* ESI creates ecosystems to support optimization and efficiencies by incorporating features for real-time alerts, mapping applications and environmental sensors.
Speaker: James Caldwell, Manager, Information Technology, Boeing Global Services
How to Take Inventory With Drones
A California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) research project has found that an RFID-enabled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, can read tags attached to static inventory (for example, steel drills or utility pipes) at an accuracy rate of 95 to 100 percent.
Key takeaways:
* The research focused on capturing data for the purpose of equipment inventory tracking in oilfields, but also included other utility-based equipment in storage yards or at construction sites.
* Learn how the system could also be used to track dynamic inventory.
Speaker: Tali Freed, Professor, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Cal Poly SLO, Director, PolyGAIT, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Linking RFID to PLCs to Automate Manufacturing
RFID technology is not only about identifying and tracking items, but also about automating processes and enabling machine-to-machine communication. The Auto-ID Lab at the University of Memphis will demonstrate, in the exhibit hall, how RFID systems can be used to identify objects and automate tasks in manufacturing.
Key takeaways:
* In this session, the lab director will explain how manufacturers can use RFID tag reads to trigger programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
* He will also discuss the potential benefits and applications of linked RFID and PLCs.
Speaker: Kevin Berisso Ph.D., Director, AutoID Lab, University of Memphis
Award Finalist Session: RFID Helps Manage Fuel Storage Facility Inspections
SunWest Engineering Constructors is using RFID technology to perform inspections for the purposes of regulatory environmental compliance of fuel storage facilities. In this session learn how the firm used RFID to minimize their environmental impact, as well as improving the accuracy of information and reducing the amount of time spent on preparing paperwork to document inspections. This project is nominated for RFID Journal award in the category of Best Use of RFID to Enhance a Product or Service.
Key takeaways:
* Hear how the firm is delivering additional value to the customer in the form of generating cost savings for required regulatory services, as well as verifiable accountability.
* Gain an understanding of how the technology is helping to reduce errors and improved reporting times.
Speakers: Michael Barber, General Manager, SunWest Engineering; Pamela Lawrence, President SunWest Engineering Constructors, Inc.
RFID Improves Traceability for Carbonated Beverage Filling Process
To keep pace with consumer demand, beverage companies rely on automated, high-speed filling lines that operate in a continuous, non-stop process flow, producing upwards of 2,500 items per minute, per line. The slightest problem on these automated lines has a major operational impact. If a vent tube (a critical filling component) is lost or damaged during the filling process, it becomes a safety and quality issue for the beverage manufacturer and is very costly to locate. Learn how Dorcia Engineering is using RFID technology to enable their customers to reduce down time and increase safety, as well as improving reliability of the production process.
Key takeaways:
* How Dorcia Engineering deployed high-frequency RFID technology to monitor the lines and quickly identify problems to maintain the highest uptime on the production critical machines.
* Learn how the firm patented and implemented a solution for missing vent tube detection, ultimately controlling the can filler.
Speaker: Grant Cook, President, Dorcia Engineering
Emerson Uses RFID for Efficiency Improvements in the Process Control Industries
Emerson, a global technology and engineering company that provides solutions for customers in industrial, commercial and residential markets, is using RFID technology to improve asset identification and access to asset identification, as well as enabling proactive maintenance. The system is designed to be used in control valves, pressure relief valves and other assets used in process control industries. Hear how the firm successfully conducted a laboratory trial within the Emerson Innovation Center, the world’s largest privately-owned flow testing lab, which closely matched the expected process control industry environment.
Key takeaways:
* Learn how RFID improves efficiency and reduces cost for asset identification.
* Gain an understanding of how the technology enables a more proactive maintenance and plant management approach through asset data review.
Speaker: Shannon Jelken, Senior Research Engineer, Emerson
Award Finalist Session: Weatherford Reduces Carbon Footprint in the Oil Industry with RFID
Weatherford is one of the largest oilfield services companies providing technologies and services for formation evaluation, well construction, completion, stimulation and production. The firm has successfully developed an RFID enabled system that reduces the operational time to construct a well, thereby resulting in a large emissions savings. The process of drilling and completing a well is energy intensive and time is often wasted by moving components in and out of a well, resulting in cost, CO2 emissions and HSE (health, safety and environment) risks. In this session hear how Weatherford is successfully deploying the system for two customers in Nigeria and Malaysia and why the system is a unique and innovative use of RFID technology in the oil industry. This project is nominated for RFID Journal award in the category of Best RFID Implementation (Other Industry).
Key takeaways:
* Gain an understanding of how the system resulted in a reduction of operating time of 60% when compared to a two-trip upper and lower completions process. In addition, the customer projects a total savings of approximately $200 million across the entire campaign of 22 wells.
* Learn how Weatherford has used RFID to reduce the total cost of ownership for its customers, provided efficient and flexible functionality, and reduced risk to the environment.
Speaker: Euan Murdoch, RFID Completions Product Line Manager, Weatherford
Award Finalist Session: Lockheed Martin and the Future Factory
Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Concepts will discuss Supply Chain future state RFID IOT applications ranging from real time location tracking visualization through holographic imagery, personnel tracking for operational efficiency and COVID containment, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality RFID enabled warehousing, and factory wall to wall inventory using autonomous system robot tracking.
Speaker: Corey Cook, Senior Solutions Architect, Enterprise Sustainment Solutions, Lockheed Martin
View the conference sessions from other tracks that are available on demand: Retail/Apparel Track, Supply Chain Track, Health Care Track, Internet of Things Track.