RFID technology has been in the spotlight for its use in tracking items as they flow from manufacturing sites, through distribution centers, onto trucks and onto the retail floor.

But what about assets that don't go out the door? Whether it's a drill bit, an engine hoist or a piece of medical testing equipment, an enterprise needs to know where it is, who's using it and when its service life expires.

Any item used in a work process is eligible for intelligent asset management with RFID. And the ROI can be substantial.

Valuable Assets, Valuable Data

By tagging assets with RFID labels and hardened asset tags that can be identified by readers at key points in a work site, an organization can track more items in more locations with more accuracy than with paper-based or even bar code systems. That means more useful data about when, where, and by whom assets are used.

Are consumables being used at too fast a rate? Before RFID, you might know you were spending too much, but now you can pinpoint the inefficiency. Are tools being misplaced, or hoarded by employees? With RFID, you can identify the wasteful patterns and design ways to correct them. Is safety equipment being used properly? An RFID system can alert managers when it's time for refresher training.

In just about any setting, RFID is a powerful solution. With stationary and mobile readers installed throughout a facility, RFID is always on -- freeing up personnel for more critical tasks. An enterprise-class WiFi network can establish a seamless link between RFID and an enterprise's IT architecture, minimizing data entry lag time, human errors and infrastructure costs.

Since an asset management system is completely internal, it can take whatever form the user wants -- unlike a supply chain management system, which requires coordination with suppliers and customers.

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