ID Integration and RFID Technology:
Better, Faster, Cheaper
How simple tags can amplify efficiency and reduce costs in complex production environments
By Fiona McKay, Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance
In the last decade Radio Frequency Identification has been gaining traction in aerospace. The benefits it brings to inventory and asset tracking make it a key enabler to a lean and efficient organization – vital for those manufacturers determined to step up to the cost reduction challenges set by many of the OEMs and government agencies. Current advances in data collection and analytics have also enabled it to become an essential part of company operating systems. However complex it sounds, you don’ t need to look to large companies to find a solution to your RFID needs. Located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, ID Integration is providing solutions to everyone from small SMEs to giant corporations.
Fiona McKay
Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance Business Development Director
www. pnaa. net
PNAA SPOTLIGHT
The basics of RFID
Radio Frequency Identification( RFID) utilizes Automatic Identification Technologies( AIT) to read tags and capture data essential to efficient operations. RFID tags are like barcode labels on steroids, where data is transmitted via radio waves from a chip inside the tag. The RFID tag acts as a“ transponder,” automatically transmitting a signal upon receiving an incoming signal. The information can then be transmitted to computers in real time. There are two types of RFID tags, each with their own benefits and limitations.
Passive tags – these tags do not communicate unless they have been energized by radio frequency signals, such as those generated by a handheld reader. The tag collects the energy emitted by a reader’ s antenna, powering the data chip that then reflects back a signal to the reader. The read range of passive RFID tags is relatively short, usually 25 – 30 feet. However, the advantages are significant as the small size and simplicity of the tags means they accommodate smaller parts and are both inexpensive and disposable, hence bringing numerous benefits to operations where a high number of assets need to be tagged and where there are significant numbers of consumables.
Active RFID – these tags do not rely on antennas as their power source, as each tag contains a small battery that powers up their internal transponder. Like a cell phone, they broadcast their own signals, hence they have a much longer read range than typical passive tags and can utilize the existing Wi-Fi network. These tags are larger and more expensive than the passive tags, but they are re-usable and can be critical to high value assets such as tools and jigs, and high value parts in storage across a large area.
The Rise of RFID in Aerospace
The principles behind RFID were initially driven by the retail industry as a way of tracking and managing inventory. Its success has led to the technology being deployed across many industries and it is now posed for explosive growth, with forecasted revenues of more than $ 18 billion by 2026. Whilst aerospace has taken longer to adopt the technology, advances in the last five years have enabled the barriers to implementing RFID to be largely overcome, reducing costs significantly and practicality of implementation improving substantially.
54 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS