Real-time locating with SIMATIC RTLS

SIMATIC RTLS is used to track and document materials, components, tools, people and vehicles with precision. It’s a complete scalable solution that includes:

• Gateways that provide fixed reference points that record signals from assets fitted with transponders
• Transponders that can be equipped with data interfaces to transmit location details
• Locating Manager software that calculates the real-time position of individual transponders and passes data to higher-level systems

Real-time positioning data creates opportunities to optimize workflows and create value, including:

• Shorten throughput times: Optimize processes by monitoring the entire material flow from the warehouse, the travel routes of your transportation systems, the movements of tools, workpieces and components within the process. This allows you to identify bottlenecks, analyze material flow and shorten throughput times.
• Automate and accelerate workflows: Automate production steps based on the progress of preceding steps. You can also control your mobile production and tools, identify optimal transportation routes, avoid hazards and implement self-controlling production and logistics concepts.
• Conserve resources: ePaper transponders automatically detect processing statuses and give your employees direct access to information like order numbers or the next processing step without printed documents.

Location Intelligence expands SIMATIC RTLS to include a Digital Twin of performance. This web-based software analyses and displays motion data, processes events and can be activated directly from local ERP or MES systems. The result is a seamless solution linking software and IT and OT, hardware and shop floor and top floor.

There is a range of potential applications for SIMATIC RTLS, including:

• Verify material and reduce lead times to improve utilization of equipment
• Easily document the entire process chain with clear labeling of products throughout the production process
• Monitor freely moving material to implement flexible production plans
• Directly locate transferred or stored workpieces without time-consuming searching processes
• Monitor and control your forklifts in all warehouse and production locations
• Dynamically utilize, efficiently locate and control Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems and tugger trains
• Control your tools and monitor power tools, to avoid errors and optimize product quality