NOX Supply Chain Logistics

 

 Using RFID at the item level has dropped the DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) supplies error rate from 5% to 0.2%

 - DLA Troop Support

SimplyRFiD's Nox System. Video created by the Defense Logistics Agency to showcase RFID in the Deptartment of Defense.

Pick and Pack with Ease Using RFID

When you are preparing manufactured items for shipment, you go through a picking and packing process before the items go out the dock door. After the items are loaded on the truck, NOX Vault handheld reader can verify that the items are all in place. When they arrive at their destination, a second pass with NOX Vault can verify that they were delivered. This in itself can eliminate losses in the supply chain.

NOX Supply Chain Logistics products improve your packing process, increase productivity, and eliminate losses from packing and shipping errors. Every company sets up their process differently, but in one form or another, every company puts items into cases, and organizes cases onto pallets, to efficiently fill the trucks. RFID tags can be placed on pallets, on cases, and on items.

 

SimplyRFiD works closely with the Defense Logistics Agency of the United States government. We have deployed our item-level RFID system to many Department of Defense suppliers shipping to the military. We have customers packing and tracking 300,000 items a month on our conveyor systems, and other customers shipping 10,000 items a month on our smaller pack table systems. Here is what our basic item level "Warehouse Management Systems" do:

 

SimplyRFiD's Warehouse Management Systems:

Supply chain RFID products offer a return on investment that dramatically changes the competitive position of a manufacturing company. For a full needs-analysis and quote on a supply chain process, SimplyRFiD will discuss your specific application.

1. Item-level RFID Tag production

Item-level tagging is done using an in-house RFID printer. Our NOX software sends print jobs to this printer and tracks every tag produced. It ensures each tag is associated with the item and its critical information in the database. Most Equipment Requirements Planning systems, including the DoD mandates for VIM/ASAP and WAWF, can be met and integrated with this system.

2. Handheld RFID readers

Assisting with tag production are any number of handheld RFID readers, depending on your configuration and needs. These readers allow on-demand use for item-tagging, case-tagging, or pallet-tagging. They are also used to find items, if desired.

3. Packing Station/ Pack Table

For associating tagged items to cases, we offer a packing station or pack table. The NOX Pack Station includes a fanless touchscreen PC for operator input. The touchscreen is designed for factory or industrial operation and can tolerate up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit room temperature. It can also be wall-mounted to save space. We include a fixed RFID reader and an optional RFID printer for case-RFID-label printing. This integrated approach is the simplest solution for quickly adding RFID to every shipment. This system will scan the contents of a carton and produce an appropriate case-level RFID tag with the unit pack information. The pack station can also be installed with audio readout.

4. Palletizer

For matching cases to pallets for shipment, the system includes a palletizer device. By placing the cases on a stretch wrap device, the system scans the cases on the pallet and produces a pallet-level RFID tag. This associates the cases with a shipping pallet.

 5. Conveyor

For maximum throughput, the NOX Conveyor includes a touchscreen PC for operator input, two fixed RFID readers and secondary slave RFID antennas, one RFID printer for case-level printing, and a secondary printer for exception reporting. The conveyor runs continuously at 120 feet per minute and automatically scans item tags, produces the case level tag, and prints an exception label with any corrective actions noted for non-compliant cases. The conveyor can process one case every 12 seconds -- continuously. This speed could be increased to one case every six seconds with a 240/foot per minute conveyor. The NOX conveyor can be connected to a spacing conveyor to keep new boxes releasing automatically.

6. Dock portal

A dock portal, while an optional part of any system, ensures that all items exiting that dock door are part of the shipment that has been selected. The system will generate an alarm and print an exception ticket to let the operator know if the pallet is being incorrectly shipped (identifies matching numbers to the shipment.)

Taken together, this system effectively reduces warehouse management costs dramatically, and ensures correct shipments to customers.

 

Want to know more?

Get a quote here.