Gourmet, a Dutch company since 1951, cultivates, selects, packages, and distributes a variety of onions, shallots, and garlic. The company maintains an uninterrupted flow of quality products by storing over 35,000 cubic boxes. To streamline tracking and optimize internal logistics, Gourmet sought a more efficient system than manual barcode scanning. Aucxis suggested to implement the Forklift Solution for the automatic tracing of the wooden boxes by using passive RFID technology.
Challenge
Gourmet's extensive cultivation programs across the globe ensure an uninterrupted supply of high-quality products for its customers, resulting in the storage of over 35,000 cubic boxes. Upon passing strict entry checks, the products are sorted into wooden storage boxes based on their quality, size, and weight. Forklifts then transport these boxes to designated storage areas for drying.
Prior to adopting a more efficient system, each storage box was assigned a lot number using a barcode label, and barcode scanners were employed to track the boxes' movements throughout the warehouse. This manual process proved to be error-prone and time-consuming. Gourmet needed a system tracking the large product quantities faster and more efficiently throughout the internal logistics chain.
Solution
Aucxis suggested to implement the Forklift Solution to automatically track the wooden boxes using passive RFID technology.
The project consists of the following building blocks:
- RFID tags: Identification is possible by mounting two durable UHF tags on each storage box. Localisation is accomplished by cutting floor tags into each row of the storage room. The forklifts pick up the warehouse location as they drive over these floor tags.
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Fixed RFID detection points
- For the automatic detection of the unique boxes in the tilting machines (where the boxes are filled with the selected product).
- At each entry and exit of a process line to define which product the boxes must be filled with.
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RFID equipment on the dozens of forklifts to enable the automatic scanning of the transported boxes and the reading of the floor tags. Each forklift is equipped with 1 Impinj RFID reader and 4 Kathrein RFID antennas.
The Aucxis generic middleware HERTZ guarantees the filtering, data processing, and connectivity with Gourmet's WMS.ensures the filtering, data processing and connection with Gourmet’s WMS.
Result
- Each box is fully traceable throughout the internal logistics chain.
- Accurate info in real time: which box, with which contents, is located where?
- Control of the stock at all times.
- No manual scans needed to process the location and identity data.
- Increased efficiency by the automatic recognition of the products at the process lines.
- Reliable data and insight into the internal cycle of the products lead to process optimisation and quality improvement.
- Seamless integration with existing software systems.
Gourmet's RFID solution will further evolve to automate process lines, phase out the barcode system, install an outdoor RFID gate for outbound shipments, and optimize forklift traffic routes.
By embracing RFID technology, Gourmet has taken a significant step towards enhancing efficiency, improving traceability, and optimizing its internal logistics chain. The future holds even greater potential for automation and data-driven decision-making, further solidifying Gourmet's position as a leader in the onion, shallot, and garlic industry.
About
Aucxis offers powerful and flexible RFID solutions through hardware installation and development of RFID middleware and interfaces. As an independent integrator, Aucxis helps customers define and aquire the RFID components best suited to meet customer objectives.
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