Application of RFID technology in tool management

With the development of RFID technology, this technology is widely used in various Asset MANAGEMENT. Today I will explain to you a typical application of RFID technology in asset management-Tool management.

Tools of all sizes

In production and life, we need to use a variety of tools, such as medical equipment for doctors' surgeries, railway maintenance and management tools, aerospace aircraft maintenance tools, special police equipment, and so on. Some of these tools are small in size and easy to lose, some are of high value and require high maintenance costs, and some tools need to be inventoried before and after use to prevent the loss of tools from causing safety issues, etc. The large number and variety of these tools bring a big problem to our work during maintenance and management. With the increasing maturity and popularity of RFID technology, this problem of tool management has now been well solved.

Let’s look at some cases: In the mining industry of precious minerals such as diamonds and jade, the tools used for mining are expensive and need to be used around the clock. This poses a challenge to tracking and managing tools. It is not cost-effective to hire full-time workers to look after them, but Mining companies need to find a way to protect their valuable tools. Now the diamond mining company has chosen a security tracking system based on RFID technology, combined with an RFID read-write all-in-one machine to complete this work. The fully automated system allows workers to quickly sign in or log in to the tool management system. Workers only need to log out to receive information and then return the tools to the system management desk.

RFID toolbox

Tracking metal tools that are often covered in dust requires fast and reliable RFID technology, especially when there is no tool attendant on site to verify the tool return process. RFID technology provides real-time tool tracking and management solutions without sacrificing safety. Tools can be picked up and returned conveniently while reducing tool loss and increasing productivity. Mining tools carry RFID tags that are resistant to metal interference. The RFID technology's back-end system works with gateway readers and touch-screen monitors. Workers only need to scan their badges and choose whether to return the tools or check them out of inventory. The information desk then scans the tool and displays an image of the tool on the screen for workers to verify the photo before removing it. This will ensure accountability. Mining companies adopting this technology can improve productivity, safety and accountability. This also ensures less incidents of theft, helping reduce company budgets.

Tools with RFID tags

Similar applications also appear in airports. Every time an aircraft is repaired and inspected, various tools are required. They are large and small, and there are many in number. If these tools are left inside the cabin, they will cause huge harm to the safety of the aircraft and passengers. It may even cause irreparable losses. A tool management box based on RFID technology successfully solves this safety hazard. We install micro RFID electronic tags on each maintenance tool, install RFID electronic tag readers and writers on the tool boxes, and combine it with a complete RFID background data Management system, tool box can remind workers if any tools are missing when they complete repairs and return tools. The same RFID tool management solution is widely used in railway management, national power grid management, surgical tool management, etc.

Surgical instruments with RFID electronic tags

There are far more cases of RFID technology applied in tool management than these, and there are more RFID asset management solutions still in the development stage. It can be said: "The diversification of assets determines the diversification of RFID technology application methods."