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RFID Solution: ADT
Partners With TOSHIBA On Largest Item Level
ADT
12/5/2006
ADT, Europe’s leading provider of electronic security solutions, has
helped TOSHIBA Europe develop an integrated radio frequency
identification (RFID) solution that is significantly increasing the
throughput of its laptop configuration plant at Regensburg in Germany.
The Regensburg manufacturing facility handles the customer-specific
configuration of every TOSHIBA laptop destined for Europe, the Middle
East and Africa (EMEA). To address warehousing bottlenecks and improve
workflow and logistics efficiency, a project team consisting of ADT,
TOSHIBA Europe (software interface developer), TOSHIBA TEC (vendors of
RFID label printers) and UPM Raflatac (suppliers of RFID tags) was
established. |
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Critical to
the success of the project was ADT’s ability to help TOSHIBA achieve
optimal label placement and equipment configuration. Gerrit Wassink,
ADT Europe’s RFID General Manager explains: “From the very early
stages it was clear that label placement was going to be crucial, as
was the ultimate design of the system because the space available at
the TOSHIBA plant to install the RFID equipment was very limited.”
Extensive label placement testing was subsequently conducted at the
ADT Europe RFID Performance Lab in the Netherlands to identify the
optimal label position. This facility, which was accredited by
EPCglobal IncTM earlier this year, is the first of its kind in Europe
in which customers can test and refine crucial aspects of their RFID
solution before deployment. ADT also undertook a detailed site survey
to ensure that the final system design met the space restrictions and
would perform effectively in a challenging environment.
Following a successful pilot phase in September, the solution was
fully operational by early October. The current daily average
throughput of 9,500 laptops is expected to grow by 57 per cent to
15,000 by the end of 2006. With every laptop passing through the plant
receiving an RFID tag, almost four million tags will be used each
year, making this project the largest item level RFID deployment in
Europe to date.
TOSHIBA Europe’s Manager EMEA Engineering Gerd Holzhauser explains the
challenge: “Our key objectives are focused on quality, efficiency,
availability and reliability so we are able to maintain the optimum
product set-up and release structure. For our customers, this means we
can guarantee a reliable product quality with a maximum level of
competence and responsiveness. We commit ourselves to deliver
customised products that are easy to order and with a supply
capability to match any configuration request. This new RFID solution
will help us meet that commitment more efficiently than ever before.”
“The solution we have helped TOSHIBA implement clearly shows the
benefits which item level RFID can bring to a fast moving supply
chain,” concludes Gerrit Wassink from ADT. “TOSHIBA is saving up to 90
per cent of the time it previously spent on warehouse booking and is
using warehouse space more efficiently. Importantly, it has also
eliminated double handling and product availability delays. As a
result of the success of this project, TOSHIBA Europe is planning to
share its experiences to help develop RFID solutions at other TOSHIBA
sites around Europe.”
About ADT
ADT, part of Tyco Fire & Security, designs, installs and services
electronic security systems for retail, business and government and
home intruder protection and detection systems. Sensormatic® is a
leading brand of ADT. In Europe, ADT's products include alarm systems
and integrated security applications that link access control, CCTV,
electronic article surveillance and source tagging systems. They are
used to deter thieves and protect people, goods and property. |
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