RFID Case Study: Track and trace lifesaving ventilators along the distribution network
Confidex | Zebra | TSL
Contact usMedigas Italia are one of the primary suppliers of home-based oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation services in Italy. They take care of the needs of patients at home or in permanent residential structures through multiple therapeutic or diagnostic services of the highest quality and reliability.
They are playing a vital part in the effort to save lives in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, recently distributing thousands of new liquid oxygen containers in all the Medigas Italia medicinal workshops to meet the growing demand on the national territory. In record time, they have set up a crisis committee to guarantee home delivery to over nine hundred of the most vulnerable patients.
Challenge
Home care is a form of care that allows the patient to live at home without giving up their habits and the tranquility of their home environment. It is an increasingly widespread solution that brings advantages but also presents complex needs requiring specific skills. Medigas Italia have a huge distribution network and require absolute accuracy in asset management and inventory movement. Tracking and managing the equipment used in hundreds of homes across the country poses a unique challenge that requires highly accurate data about movement of inventory and assets. The company desiderd to implement the RFID technology to track and trace the gas cylinders and other assets (trolleys..) along the distribution network and to manage the returns. It was very tough because of the metal surfaces of the cylinders, the peaks's temperature and the tags durability. For this reason Medigas called IdeaPura (Ideapura.ch), a Swiss based Consulting boutique focused on RFID Feasibility studies and Project Management, to perform the RFID feasibility study, design the processes and bring the project live. To implement such a challenge, Ideapura involved Cisper to this project.
New “on metal” RFID tags printed and written with the Zebra printer can be read by the TSL® UHF RFID Reader
Medigas carriers are equipped with an iPad Mini tablet, portable printer and TSL® 1128 UHF RFID Reader. The devices communicate via Bluetooth® wireless technology.
“Mount on Metal” UHF RFID tags applied on all models of LOX and cylinders
“Mount on Metal” UHF RFID tags applied on all models of cryogenic cylinders
Solution
The RFID technology is applied using three elements:
- Label/RFID Tag
- RFID Reader
- Data management system.
Among the challenges:
- Tags do not have to be visible.
- Tags can be read many meters away.
- Possibility to read even hundreds of tags in a few seconds.
- You can add information on the tags (which can be Read-Only, Write Once or Read and Write).
- Communication can be in the clear or encrypted.
The company opted to deploy a system that leverages TSL’s handheld barcode scanner and UHF RFID reader, a Zebra printer, Confidex Silverline on-metal labels, and an integrated data management solution. With the technology, Medigas is uniquely identifying each one of its respiratory therapy assets as they are delivered to patients, returned to its own facility, as well as maintained inspected and serviced.
Medigas carriers are equipped with an iPad Mini tablet, portable printer and TSL® 1128 UHF RFID Reader. The devices communicate via Bluetooth® wireless technology.
“Mount on Metal” UHF RFID tags applied on all models of LOX and cylinders
“Mount on Metal” UHF RFID tags applied on all models of cryogenic cylinders
Result
- Van loading and mass load reading with the new UHF RFID technology has saved 20 minutes per van
- It now takes just a few seconds to verify and save data
- Serial number typing errors have been reduced to zero.
- Fast and immediate traceability on the conveyor devices
- Improved quality of service to the user
- Displaying documents in real time with the possibility of immediate access to various information by the customer
- Total compliance with patient therapy
About
Since 2005 Confidex has become the trusted partner for system integrators and end-users of high performing short-range wireless products to enable Industrial IoT technologies throughout the world. Together with their technology partners Confidex builds value-adding and sustainability driven solutions for asset management, traceability, authentication and real-time location services – applicable in manufacturing, supply chain and automotive.
Used Cisper products: