Symbol Puts Wi-Fi on Assembly Lines

Mobile networking company Symbol Technologies , riding
the Wi-Fi popularity wave, has rolled out new real-time
location-tracking products based on the 802.11b (Wi-Fi) networking protocol.

The new system is aimed at helping manufacturers improve their tracking
abilities on parts and assembly, especially as assembly plants mull deploying wireless networking systems to help them extend their infrastructure.

Called Spectrum24 RTL, it offers 802.11b wireless networking and
differential time of arrival (DTOA) technology in order to keep track of
assets and data with a 10-foot range, the company said.

The system uses RTL “tags,” small handheld devices that can be attached to assembly lines, or to assembly parts as they roll down a manufacturing line. The devices can be used to trigger a call to plant management, or just help the assembly line keep track of the manufacturing process after assembly, such as storage or shipping destinations.

The Holtsville, N.Y.-based Symbol is positioning the product to plants that are looking to upgrade
or even replace their assembly-line communications systems, such as
hard-wired KANBAN call buttons, which act as “buzzers” from workers to plant
management that more parts or material are needed at a workstation.

Instead, the RTL pitch is that setting up “wireless” call buttons allows
plants to automate calls for more assembly parts without triggering an assembly-line
shutdown, which can be the case with legacy, hard-wired call buttons. Meanwhile, as assembly lines are re-worked to prepare for new products, Symbol is moving to capture a chance to pitch the plant on going wireless as a way to save on the cost of re-routing hard wires for call buttons by adopting wireless “tags,” that can serve as portable call buttons.

Symbol officials said they are targeting other sectors as well.

“With this system a supermarket wholesale distributor, for example, can
save hundreds of thousands of dollars associated with product spoilage and
inefficient asset use at distribution facilities,” said Ray Martino, general
manager, network products, Symbol Technologies.