Using Bluetooth Technology For WIP Inventory And Production Process Tracking
Using BLE tags
you can manage WIP inventory and track production process for the manufacturing orders efficiently without a need to constantly scan every single part.
A Bluetooth IoT gateway installed at each station
will detect work orders tagged with the BLE tags and will update production status in the central database in real time.
Live Manufacturing Process Tracking With BLE Tags And Gateways: Overview
Track work orders through the production process using these three easy steps:
Step 1: Install IoT Gateways
Install a
Bluetooth IoT gateway at each station and
connect them to network. You can use dedicated gateways, or smart mobile devices (iPads, Android tablets, Android phones)
with the
gateway software installed.
Step 2: Label Work Orders With BLE Tags
BLE tags are small plastic tags that
you can attach to each work order at the start of the process. BLE tags advertise work order identifier, which is detected by the IoT gateway at each station.
Step 3: Review Production Tracking Data Via A Cloud Software Web Interface
Give all team members access to live status of everything in production, as well as production history of current and past work orders.
Review production tracking reports via a cloud software web interface from anywhere.
Production Tracking And WIP Inventory Management In The QR Inventory Software
QR Inventory gives you choice of smart tags and scanning devices for the production process tracking.
You can use a lower cost, but still effective
work in progress tracking
with QR codes and smartphones.
If you would like a more advanced tracking system that does not rely on shop floor employees for WIP tracking,
you can opt for a more advanced production process tracking option that uses BLE tags and IoT gateways.
BLE Production Process Tracking Hardware
BLE Tags For Production Tracking
BLE tags allow you to fully automate production tracking process.
Unlike QR codes, BLE tags do not require a shop floor employee with the mobile app to scan them and record work order progress.
BLE tags, just like active RFID tags, are detected automatically by the gateway.
You can purchase different BLE tags based on your manufacturing environment and products. The tags can be water and dust proof.
They can be rugged and resistant to impact or vibration. They can be attached to the product with a zip tie, adhesive surface or with the screws.
You can find several types of rugged waterproof and dust proof BLE tags that come with the QR Inventory software
here.
If you are dealing with the temperature sensitive product, you can use BLE tags with built-in
temperature and humidity sensor.
If you need different type of BLE tags for your specific manufacturing conditions we can accommodate this - please let us know when asking for a quote.
After work order went through the entire production process you can re-use the BLE tag, without losing production history data for the original work order.
BLE IoT Gateways For Production Process Tracking
An IoT gateway serve as a bridge between work orders tagged with the BLE tags, and a back end cloud software.
In can detect the tags using BLE signal, and connect to the back end cloud software via wi-fi.
For work in progress tracking you will need to install a gateway at each station, or each step of the manufacturing process.
A gateway at each station will detect work orders tagged with the BLE tags as they arrive at the station and leave.
As soon as there is a change in work order status, an IoT gateway will update it in the central database in real time.
Shop floor employees do not need to do any extra work for this to happen.
You can use a dedicated IoT gateway at each station, or use smart mobile devices iOS or Android based (iPads, Android tablets or Android phones)
as gateways. We provide an
IoT gateway software that you can install on any number of devices at a low flat fee.
NFC Tags And Gateways For Production Process Tracking
If some of your stations are very close to each other, BLE based production process tracking system may not be your best choice.
The advantage of BLE over NFC is a long scanning range. Depending on tags and gateways and their configuration, BLE tags can be scanned at a distance of 50 -100 yards
in the open space.
You can limit the scanning distance by setting low transmission power for the tags, or by limiting scanning distance on gateways. However, with the very close stations (within 5 yards or less) there still can be a mix up.
In this case, a very short range that is required for NFC scanning works in your favor.
NFC tags are detected within an inch or less, so a shop floor employee will need to take work order and bring it within one inch of a gateway to scan.
This is not much of an extra work,
and you can be sure that there is no mix ups.
BLE Production Tracking Software: Process And Reports
What Is Required From Shop Floor Employees For Production Tracking
The only thing that shop floor employees need to do is attach a BLE tag to a work order at the beginning of the process, and remove
when the work order is completed. You can then re-use a tag for the next work order.
From this point on shop floor employees just do their job - nothing extra is required for production process tracking.
BLE based work in progress tracking system works on its own. Gateways detect arriving and leaving work orders, and send data to a back end cloud software in real time.
If you are using NFC based production tracking system, a shop floor employee will need to scan a work order at each station. To scan he just needs to hold
a product within an inch from the gateway for a second - so no big distractions.
BLE Production Tracking System Reports
Regardless of whether you are using BLE or NFC for production process tracking, you can access real time reports on any office computer, in any location via a cloud
software web interface. You will be able to review and export the following data:
- Live status of each work order in production
- Production history of current and past work orders, with the time when the order arrived and left each station
- How long each work order has been at each station
- Statistical reports showing average, min and max time work orders spent at each station, time between stations, etc.
The statistical reports allow you to analyze your manufacturing process, find out the bottlenecks and improve productivity.
