Radio frequency identification-based real-time data collecting and visual monitoring for discrete manufacturing workshop

To enhance the transparency of multiple varieties and small batch production and the real time of production decision making for Discrete Manufacturing Workshops (DMW), a data collecting and visual monitoring solution based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was proposed. The nature of RFID applications in DMW was revealed on the basis of proposing four typical RFID monitoring modes, which could provide technical supports for RFID configuration. Besides, an event driven RFID data capturing model unit was established, which could be used for collecting real-time data such as state, event, time and quality. Based on the model unit, the monitoring models for process, process flow, batch and division were built up successively, which facilitated the visual monitoring for DMW. A data processing method was present to provide logical business information. A software prototype system was developed and its functional framework was designed. Based on a simply case, the feasibility of the proposed models and methods were illustrated.