RFID-based assistant systems on MES level

Abstract

Modern production networks are characterized by a synchronization of material supply and demand with largely reduced time and stock. Consequently, production sequences are extremely exposed to disturbances that result in costly rework activities. Through the utilization of real-time monitoring systems (e.g. RFID-based), assistant systems can identify disturbances early and use the resulting timeframe prior to the delivery for mitigating their effects through preventive measures. The following paper describes such a Production Assistant System (PAS). The PAS has been developed based on the Siemens MES solution SIMATIC IT as part of the RAN (RFID-based Automotive Network) research project. Two main topics are addressed: i) the integration of standardized RFID data from objects tracked along the supply chain into the MES level and ii) the utilization of this data in conjunction with plan data from MES and ERP systems to generate an optimized sequence of production orders. The goal is to ensure a stable production execution in highly efficient but volatile supply networks.