Executive Conference. Case Study: Tire Tagging and RFID Within the Auto Industry

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Priscilla Bradford
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1 Executive Conference Hilton Chicago March 29 to 31, 2004 Case Study: Tire Tagging and RFID Within the Auto Industry Larry Graham, Global Manager, Manufacturing Technology, General Motors Bill Hoffman, Chair, RFID Tire and Wheel Identification Workgroup, Automotive Industry Action Group 1

2 AIAG B-11: Label- and Radio Frequency (RF)-based Tire and Wheel Identification Standard. Real-Time Tracking and Traceability Presented by Bill Hoffman Intermec Technologies Corporation Business Development Manager - RFID Global RFID Tire Tag Marketing Manager Chair; AIAG RFID Tire and Wheel Committee AIAG and RFID The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) has dealt with RFID since 1987 Early AIAG RFID standards work (ARF1, Application Standard for RFID in the Automotive Industry published in October, 1991) did not lead to wide adoption, nor participation, due to; proprietary RF protocols / technologies AIAG s requirement for open standards. The ARF-1 has been surpassed by more recent standards work and by increased technological capabilities. 2

3 RECENT HISTORY: RFID Recent standards from international (ISO) and national (ANSI) committees are enabling the use of RFID - today. Benefits; technology adopters who use standards can utilize the latest in RFID technology, without the need to continually restructure their process(es). Three standards of importance to AIAG s RFID efforts; ISO 15434; Transfer Syntax for High Capacity ADC Media MH10.8.4; 2001: Section 3; Air-Interface Protocol ISO ; RFID Air interface MHz to 930MHz Emerging standard of importance to AIAG s RFID efforts; UCC/EAN: EPC; Retail RECENT HISTORY: RFID; Continued ANSI selected the air-interface protocol for the MH RFID standard based on an RFID technology shoot-out in October, Based on the ANSI success, the AIAG conducted an RFID Roundtable on 2/15/01 to show that there are benefits of RFID to the auto industry - today. o The goal was to have the automotive industry participate in RFID standardsdevelopment work within the AIAG to meet real-world needs. A Work Request was submitted to the AIAG, and the first meeting of the RFID Tire and Wheel Identification workgroup was held on 2/20/01. The workgroup met every Tuesday, and averaged 20 members at each meeting. Sitting members of the workgroup consisted of the major automakers, the global tire manufacturers and major RFID technology providers. 3

4 THE B-11: A Short History The original, label-only, Code 39 bar code-based, B-11 was published by the AIAG in As can be seen in the image below, the amount of data able to be encoded and placed on the label was only 6 characters. This label is 1.85 x 0.40, and is shown actual size (at least on my laptop!) Work on the New B-11; Label-Version The auto industry and it s supply chain wanted an RFIDbased Identification and Traceability solution as soon as possible. Because of time, the AIAG RFID Tire and Wheel Identification committee decided to modify the 1994-released Label-only B-11. Work started 2/20/01 on an updated label-version Completed by 3/27/01; issued as an Interim Report. Based on AIAG s B-4 Parts Marking and Identification standard, the 2D symbology Data Matrix was chosen to replace Code 39. The label is 1.0 x 1.25, and contains 23 characters. The label is shown actual size. (On my laptop!) 4

5 Using the B-11 Label A Hypothetical Scenario: Tracking Tires I. Tire manufacturers can place a 2D-based ID label on each tire before shipping. II. The identification process at the assembly plant could start by: Reading the labels on all 5 tires (4 road + spare); Then reading the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN); if it was desired to tie the tires to the vehicle. Storing all of this data in a database. Using the B-11 Label Hypothetical implementation: Tire Manufacturers make a tire. (Bear with me, I m not an artist!) Then they put a label on it. 5

6 Using the B-11 Label Then they send the tire and label off to the automakers. Using the B-11 Label The automakers mount the tire/wheel assemblies to the vehicle. 6

7 Using the B-11 Label Tire labels scanned; Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) scanned All of this data is then recorded in a database. TRACEABILITY! DATA STRUCTURE Label and RFID Tag 7

8 Data Content Standards ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 31/WG 2 & WG 4/SG 1 ISO Data Carrier/Symbology Identifiers ISO EAN.UCC Application Identifiers and FACT Data Identifiers and Maintenance ISO Syntax for High Capacity ADC Media ISO Unique ID for Transport Units; Part 1: Technical Standard; Part 2: Procedural Standard ISO Host Interrogator-Tag Functional Commands & Other Syntax Features ISO Transfer Syntax ISO Unique ID of RF Tag AIAG Managed DI s Due to the high number of optional data that might go into the RFID tag, additional Data Identifiers were needed. AIAG submitted a request to the ANSI / MH10 Data Identifier Maintenance Committee (DIMC) in May, The DIMC approved the request in June, Nxx has been assigned to the AIAG DI s are available under 5Nxx 110 are currently defined. 8

9 WHY HAVE RFID STANDARDS? Or any application standards, for that matter? (This is where you get to speak!) Charts of Relevant Standards 9

10 The Layers of Logistic Units (Optically Readable Media - Bar Codes ) Layer 5 ISO TC 204 (None) AIAG B-15 Layer 4 ISO TC 104 (None) Container (e.g., 40 foot Sea Container) Movement Vehicle (truck, airplane, ship, train) Layer 3 ISO TC 122 / WG 4 (15394) ANSI MH AIAG B-10 / 14 EIA 556-B UCC 6 Unit Load Pallet Unit Load Pallet Layer 2 ISO TC 122 / WG 4 (15394) ANSI MH AIAG B-10 / 14 EIA 556-B UCC 6 / EAN Genl Spec Transport Unit Transport Unit Transport Unit Transport Unit Layer 1 ISO TC 122/WG 7 (22742) ANSI MH AIAG B-4 (TBD) EIA 621/624 & IEC TC 91 UCC 1 / EAN Genl Spec Layer 0 ISO TC 122 (TBD) ANSI MH AIAG B-4 EIA SP-3497 UCC 1 / EAN Genl Spec Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Data courtesy Craig Harmon, QED Systems. Layers_of_Logistics_Units.ppt. From Promise to Data Reality courtesy Craig Harmon, QED Systems. The Layers of Logistic Units (Radio Frequency Identification - RFID) Layer 5 ( GHz) ISO TC 204 ISO Data Link Layer ISO Application Layer ISO DSRC Res Mgr ISO TC 104 (ISO 14816) Layer 4 (UHF) ISO TC 104 (ISO 10374) ISO TC 104 (ISO 18185) ISO TC 104 (ISO 23389) ISO TC 104 (ISO 14816) Container (e.g., 40 foot Sea Container) Movement Vehicle (truck, airplane, ship, train) Layer 3 (UHF) ISO TC 122 (TBD) ANSI MH AIAG (TBD) EIA (TBD) EAN.UCC GTAG Unit Load Pallet Unit Load Pallet Layer 2 (UHF) ISO TC 122 (TBD) ANSI MH AIAG (TBD) EIA (TBD) Transport Unit Transport Unit Transport Unit Transport Unit Layer 1 ISO TC 122 (TBD) ANSI MH Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Pkg Layer 0 ISO TC 122 (TBD) B-11 Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Item Data courtesy Craig Harmon, QED Systems. Layers_of_Logistics_Units.ppt. Modified by Author 10

11 B-11: It s Unique The B-11 RFID Tire and Wheel Identification standard is the first tracking and traceability standard in the world for ITEMS! B-11: Members Below is a list of some of the AIAG member companies that attended / contributed to the weekly B-11 RFID meetings: Accuride Avery Dennison Bridgestone/Firestone Business Solutions LLC Computype Continental Tire N.A. DaimlerChrysler Dominion Ford General Motors Goodyear Hankook Hayes-Lemmerz Honda Intermec Michelin Pirelli Superior Industries Symbol Technologies Toyota VIA Information Tools 11

12 B-11: RFID Specifications Configuration; Passive Read / Write; at a minimum of 24 inches from the tire. Memory; Minimum 128 bytes (1024 bits) of total memory. o Minimum 110 bytes (880 bits) of user-addressable memory Frequencies; UHF o Not specifically defined, but understood to mean 860 MHz to 950 MHz Protocols; MH10.8.4; 2001, Section 3: air-interface ISO 15434: data syntax (industrial) UCC/EAN: EPC (Data ONLY; retail) The B-11 supports BOTH industrial- and retail-based data on the same tag; as long as the relevant data-syntax is followed. B-11: Project Progression Referenced earlier was the need to develop an RFID standard ASAP! To test out the various technologies, AIAG sponsored an all-day RFID Technology Evaluation in its parking-lot. RFID technology providers were invited to run what ya brung to see just what was possible. Frequencies from 125 KHz (LF), to MHz (HF) to 915 MHz (UHF) were tested. Based on test data-supported overall performance, the committee determined to pursue UHF-based technologies. 12

13 B-11: Project Progression; continued In-plant testing was conducted. o Tests have been conducted at tire manufacturers, tire/wheel assemblers and auto assembly plants o The results met, or exceeded, requirements. Tests continue. o Many lessons have been - and continue to be - learned. Committee sent the Final Draft out for peer review 11/2001 AIAG published the Label and RFID Tire Identification Standard 2/2002 Work immediately started on developing the Wheel portion of the standard The complete Label and RFID Tire and Wheel Identification Standard was published 10/2002. B-11: Project Progression; continued Since the AIAG approved the B-11, refinements to, and extensive testing of, the technology has continued right on through to the present. Both outside-the-tire and inside-the-tire RFID tags are under development, and have shown very successful test results, far exceeding the B-11-required read / write distances. Pilot quantities of RFID-tagged tires is anticipated early

14 Using the B-11: Potential uses Using the B-11: Potential uses, continued The previous slide shows a complex manufacturing line. A B-11-compliant RFID system could work extremely well in this environment. At some point in the manufacturing process, an RFID tag with a unique-id is applied to the product. From this point on; o Data about that specific item can be read from, and written to, the RFID tag. o Manufacturing tracking and traceability can now be done real-time on an item-by-item basis - no longer lot -based. o Each workstation could interrogate the tag / product, and take specific action based on this information. o Flexible manufacturing is considerably enhanced. 14

15 Using the B-11: Potential uses, continued Example; Based on the data written to the tag; A workstation knows what tasks to perform; o it can determine whether the work done meets acceptable QC parameters; o and whether or not to pass it on to the next station; part-by-part. This process of determining; what specific work is to be performed station by station; was that work done - and to acceptable standards, can continue throughout the the manufacturing process; as long as the tag is on the product. As the RFID tag can be interrogated by each workstation, it is possible to know where any one piece of product is, and its status in real time. Radio Frequency Identification Theory of Operation 15

16 The Component Parts Tag Basic system: Host; RF Module/Reader; Antenna; Tag How They Work The Host manages the RFID system. 16

17 How They Work, continued The Reader interprets analog-based radio frequency energy (RF) from the antenna, into digital information that is sent to the Host. How They Work, continued The RF module creates radio frequency energy. It transmits and receives RF energy through the antenna. 17

18 How They Work, continued The Tag is interrogated by the antenna. The antenna captures the tag ID number as analog RF waves, then the Reader converts the number to digital information which is then sent to the Host. Lads, Dads, Grand- & Great-Grand Dads TRUE REAL TIME TRACKING and TRACEABILITY! Basic slide courtesy Craig Harmon, QED Systems. AIAG_RFIDWkshpRev_ ppt. Modifications by author. ; 18

19 Closing Thoughts on the B-11: It doesn t matter what you are tracking; baby seats, refrigerators, rear axles, engines, fur coats, etc. Other types of individual parts could be tracked - on a real-time basis. All it takes is developing a standard to enable it! Take Out Tires and Wheels in the Title of the B-11; What Would YOU Put in It s Place? Teamwork: It gets us where we want to go. (It s MUCH better then the alternative!) 19

20 Questions? This is NOT the End! Thank You! 20

This document is a preview generated by EVS

This document is a preview generated by EVS INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 17366 Second edition 2013-03-01 Supply chain applications of RFID Product packaging Applications de chaîne d approvisionnements de RFID Empaquetage de produit Reference number