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Ford puts RFID into action at OAP
Oakville, Ont.--Ford Motor Co. is installing a wireless tracking system at its Oakville assembly plant (OAP), to better manage the flow of critical parts.
The wireless 'blanket' will cover the entire 485,000 square-metre complex. Trucks delivering key components to the assembly line will be fitted with transponders, and given access to a fast shipping lane into the plant.
"Wireless tracking is the next wave in supply chain logistics and will complement the plant’s conversion to flexible manufacturing," said Frank Gourneau, plant manager.
Called "Fast Gate," the dedicated lane will be similar in principle to Ontario's Highway 407, the world’s first all-electronic, open-access toll road. The transponders in the trucks will trigger the main gate to open and instantly record the time and location of the vehicles entering the site.
Forklift operators will receive real-time status on incoming shipments arriving at any one of the 177 strategically-placed receiving dock doors. The system is expected to improve communication between suppliers, shop floor workers and materials planning staff. Ford also hopes to use it to become more responsive to consumer demand.
"Imagine for a moment that a dramatic spike in fuel prices creates a flurry of customer orders for hybrid versions of Ford Edge," Gourneau says. "Our flexibility will allow a quick increase in production of these models, and wireless communications will help to get the hybrid parts and components to the final assembly area at the precise moment they are needed, and in proper sequence..The process is seamless and there’s never a need to stockpile parts."
The system--which will use 68 overhead antennas within the wireless grid--will benefit production of the 2007 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossover utility vehicles. It should be fully installed by the summer.
During production this fall, hundreds of trucks will deliver components in the sequence they're required at the assembly line, for the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, Freestar and Mercury Monterey.
The location of each truck and information about its cargo will be transmitted wirelessly to a database, allowing quick access to the data, Ford reports.
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