Troy Design & Manufacturing Company Improves Real-Time Visibility, Automation with RFID Technology

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Troy Design & Manufacturing Company (TDM), a Ford Motor Company subsidiary, turned to Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI when it needed an automated RFID tracking system to monitor and guide each step of its more than 150 daily vehicle conversions at its new Chicago Modification Center.

Using Motorola FX9500 fixed RFID readers and AN200 RFID antennas integrated with Lowry Solutions work-in-process (WIP) manufacturing software, TDM's “hands-off” RFID solution tracks vehicles from the moment they enter their cells. Plant floor operations are much more fluid with reliable automated data capture, which has provided further insights into the facility's conversion capabilities. As a result, TDM has set a higher standard for facility efficiency and benefitted from more precise real-time visibility, data collection and consistency.

KEY FACTS

• Using Motorola's FX9500 and AN200, TDM time studies showed RFID scans, when compared to bar code scans, shave five to seven seconds off each car's conversion, which adds up to time savings of almost three hours a day.
• Operators are more focused on performing their tasks, and workflow is streamlined with less paper-based documentations and manually dependent tracking duties.
• The complete RFID solution is able to generate RFID tags with complex work instructions, bill of materials and tracking numbers tied to vehicle identification numbers as they enter the facility.

SUPPORTING QUOTES

Chris Morgan, IT manager, Troy Design & Manufacturing Company

“With Motorola Solutions' RFID technologies, we are able to see where vehicles are during the modification process inside and outside of our facility, which provides us with a higher level of efficiency than anticipated. Based on data capture and the information in our system, traffic flow decisions are made automatically in real time. We'd like to add RFID to even more of our workstations to increase visibility across all of our vehicle conversions.”

Mike Lowry, president and CEO, Lowry Solutions

“TDM is on the cutting edge of innovation with its implementation of RFID. Lowry Solutions and Motorola worked closely with TDM to develop this custom RFID solution, where operators can direct vehicles through production cells with real-time guidance solely from automated RFID scans.”

Mike Wills, vice president, North America Manufacturing Sales, Motorola Solutions

“RFID solutions can help manufacturers increase asset visibility and operational efficiencies across their supply chains. With the Motorola-Lowry RFID solution, TDM can automatically track and verify every step of its vehicle conversions in real time, from receipt to completion, and has gained further insight into the Chicago facility's capabilities.”

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

Case Study: TDM: Real-Time RFID Tracking and Automation Spread Efficiency and Visibility

Website: Motorola manufacturing solutions

Website: FX9500 fixed RFID reader

Website: AN200 RFID antennas

Facebook: Motorola Solutions

Twitter: @MotoSolutions

About Motorola Solutions

Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communication solutions and services for enterprise and government customers. Through leading-edge innovation and communications technology, it is a global leader that enables its customers to be their best in the moments that matter. Motorola Solutions trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “MSI.” To learn more, visit www.motorolasolutions.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom or subscribe to our news feed.

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