ABB Opts to Use RFID Technology to Avoid Shipment Errors

RFID technology provides significant benefits to ABB Oy in the management of outbound goods streams. An RFID-based system records movements of goods automatically in the stock control system and prevents loading errors of consignments.

Moreover, the RFID-system offers ABB a significant saving in floor space used. When outbound consignments are loaded, it is no longer necessary to assemble goods in a consolidation area. Instead, goods-vehicle trailers can be used for storage. The automation in question covers around two million transactions per year.

ABB’s system uses UPM Raflatac’s RFID tags that were implemented by Vilant Systems. All transport units belonging to a consignment are marked with adhesive RFID tags at parcel level. The trailer loading docks are equipped with RFID readers, which scan all loaded parcels. Vilant’s RFID software has been integrated with ABB’s own SAP system.

The registration number of the vehicle arriving for loading is recorded in the SAP-system and the progress of the delivery is automatically controlled. The system knows what the consignment should include and the gate issues an error warning if there is an attempt to load the wrong goods onto a vehicle. Furthermore, the gate will not close until all goods belonging to a consignment have been loaded onto a vehicle. All this makes it virtually impossible to make incorrect deliveries.

ABB has been using pioneering RFID solutions since 2004. Their first RFID application was designed to control the re-usable plywood boxes which were used in standard raw material deliveries. This system, which is still in use, is based on the fact that all boxes equipped with RFID tags travel through RFID gates both at the supplier and at the factory.

ABB Oy’s head of processes Julle Ala-Lahti has been pleased with the RFID applications.

“Vilant Systems took full responsibility of the implementation. Their consistent and rigorous approach revealed improvement potential in our material flow and offered prompt results,” said Ala-Lahti.

ABB’s systems are based on the Vilant Server 5 product family and Vilant Systems’ RFID hardware products. UPM Raflatac’s RFID tags are used as identifiers.