BMW has found the right RFID tool

At its assembly plant in Regensburg, Germany, BMW uses RFID based real-time positioning system (RTLS) to match the vehicles being assembled with the correct tools required for work, so as to realize system automation and provide customized assembly for each vehicle according to the vehicle identification number (VIN).

BMW customers usually order customized cars, so each car is assembled according to the customer's personal requirements. Each order has specific interior, seat and engine parts. The reality is that providing installation instructions to assembly line operators is very challenging.

For example, each station on the assembly line has about 50 seconds. The operator must quickly know which part is installed on each vehicle and apply the appropriate torque for the specific installation when tightening the bolts with a wrench.

The company has tested or tried a variety of solutions, including passive RFID and active RFID, infrared and bar code, to help operators quickly determine the required assembly type when each vehicle arrives at the assembly line.

The carmaker began UWB's RFID solution. "They are looking for a highly reliable system," he explained. The system combines IBS's tool control software with RTLS technology to help automobile manufacturers locate and identify production assets, vehicles and torque tools at 120 tool stations, usually assembling 1000 vehicles per day.

The system has been fully deployed to enable BMW to identify each vehicle as it passes through the assembly line, not only its location, but also all the tools used on the vehicle. Precise positioning is very important because each vehicle on the line is located about 1 meter behind the previous vehicle, and up to five tools are often used in the same vehicle at the same time.

For more RFID deployment cases, please contact with us fast and free of charge online.