Radio-Frequency Identification for Time-and-Temperature Sensitive Materials Management

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an emerging and evolving technology that has great potential to significantly improve the flow of our factory floor, facilitate lean manufacturing, and reduce our overhead costs. A multi-disciplined team in Boeing is currently developing and testing an RFID-based system for the control and management of time-and-temperature sensitive (TATS) materials on the shop floor. The team has designed a system employing RFID tags on material packaging and readers at material storage units to automate the tracking of these materials into inventory and their consumption. This system will enable Boeing to optimize the supply chain and in-house inventory levels as well as automate the identification of expired materials. Additional benefits include the ability to automate material re-ordering with our vendors, reduce shortages, quickly locate recalled lots of materials, and warn of improperly located materials. In summary, RFID will provide total asset visibility to this process.