Cambridge Auto ID Lab

Overview

Professor Duncan McFarlane [Research Director]

& Dr Mark Harrison [Director]

University of Cambridge

Department of Engineering

April 2012

Cambridge Auto ID Lab

•! Formed 2000 [Auto ID Centre]

•! Linked to Distributed Information and

Automation Lab

•! Based in Institute for Manufacturing

in Engineering

•! Focussed on networking, integration,

enhancing, valuing auto id systems

•! Comprehensive automation / RFID

laboratory

•! Spun Out RedBite Solutions in 2008

7 Global Auto ID Labs – 3 Areas of Focus

MIT

Cambridge

Switzerland Japan

China

Korea

Australia

Hardware

tags, readers,

integration, wireless

systems, sensors …

Software

Networking, data

management, discovery,

track and trace, decision

support …

Business Integration &

Business value

case studies, process

mapping, information

flows, ROI …

Recent Industrial Collaborators

Construction/Infra

Laing O’Rourke, Arup, IBM,

Halcrow, Skanska, Atkins,

Costain, Crossrail

Services/Supply Chain

BAE Systems, Boeing,

Caterpillar, Hitachi,

Carrefour, Embraer

Airports/Aviation

BAA, Manchester Airport,

IATA, Luton Airport, Easy

Jet, FlyBe, KL Airport

Manufacturing

Nestle, Fanuc, Marshalls,

Boeing, Bespak, Exxon

Mobil, Sony, Mazak

Recent Industrial Collaborators

Construction/Infra

Laing O’Rourke, Arup, IBM,

Halcrow, Skanska,

Services/Supply Chain

BAE Systems, Boeing,

Caterpillar, Hitachi,

Carrefour,

Airports/Aviation

BAA, Manchester Airport,

IATA, Luton Airport, Easy

Jet, FlyBe, KL Airport

Manufacturing

Nestle, Fanuc, Marshalls,

Boeing, Bespak, Exxon

Mobil, Sony, Mazak

Systems Providers

BT, IBM, T Mobile, Omron,

RedBite, SAP, GS1/EPC

Global, SITA

•! Cambridge Auto ID Lab

•! Lab Partners/Sponsors

•! Lab Activities

–! Discovery Services

–! Locate, Track and Trace

–! Smarter Operations

–! Value of RFID/Information

•! Going Forward

RFID & Data Discovery Services

What is the challenge?

Given an ID how to determine where

information related to the item is held

[Data may be commercially sensitive].

How do we tackle the challenge?

•! Discovery Service: missing piece of

EPC Network architecture

•! Link ID to other item data on network

•! Federated approach to data sharing

•! Enables cross organisational data

sharing

What have we done?

•! Developed software prototypes

•! Led development of DS standard

•! Co Chair DS Working Group Manufacturer

Store Distributor

Data Data Data

Discovery

DS DS DS

Publish

Query Pointers

RFID for Tracking/Location/Tracing

What is the challenge?

Using ID tagging to detect item level

movements in industrial supply chains to

answer operational T&T issues.

How do we tackle the challenge?

•! Real time ID data from RFID etc

•! Link ID to other item data on network

•! Integrate ID data & tracking model

•! Learning of flow patterns - predictive

tracking, anticipation of delays, etc

What have we done?

•! Factory tool location system [Marshall]

•! Airport tracking [KL, MAG]

•! Drug pedigree Management [Drug

Security Network]

•! TV component tracking [Sony]

RFID in Smarter Operations

What is the challenge?

Can parts /products /orders influence their

own make /move /maintain functions?

How do we tackle the challenge?

•! Object linked to software across

network

•! Software (agent) can represent objects needs

•! Communication with machines /

devices to specifying need

What have we done?

•! Aircraft intelligent spare part management [Boeing]

•! Automotive automated service

inspection system [Fiat]

•! Dynamic Production Order [Gillette++]

Value of [RFID derived] Information

How do we tackle the challenge?

•! Objective measurement of

information quality

•! Linking information availability to operational decision outcomes

What have we done?

•! RFID impact & pilot studies in

manufacturing, retail, aerospace,

recycling [Tesco, Xerox, Bombardier, Crossrail]

•! Impact of asset sensed/ID

information on industrial maintenance practices [Exxon, Hitachi]

What is the challenge?

How do you calculate the value add

provided by improved information

availability/quality/timeliness?

decision sensing

100% OSA

Going Forward

•! Technology: Beyond RFID – next generation ID

technologies

•! Operations: RFID to make manufacturing &

logistics smarter

•! Business: Data and Information valuing

•! Sectors: currently strong pull in construction,

aviation, food/drug traceability.