This case study discusses Government agencies who operate in an engineering and assembly capacity.

Where Track & Traceability is paramount in every element of workflow to ensure transparency should an enquiry be raised.

The Challenge: Chain of Custody Records 

The problem that chain of custody solves is the issue of maintaining the integrity and reliability of record keeping for later auditing events. Ensuring activities can be traced back to reveal – who – where and what took place.

• Track & Trace Assets
• Cyber Physical Security
• Project Management

Every time an asset is touched, the action must be reported to the project management system.

Existing system: 

Detailed chain of custody data and record keeping is paramount for quality control and security, however without a supervisor in each room or staff maintaining and signing off on each task, it is very difficult to maintain records.

A barcode scanning process was once the only option to record every detail, it was not just time consuming; it was also a manual process and a potential source for human error.

Every process step in the chain must be reported and every wrong or missing activity record – leads to delays in the process flow.

In this case – the process includes manually scanning the ID of the staff member, then the asset at the beginning and the end of each job.

With scores of jobs complete per day, the compounding issue of time spent and record keeping errors were evident.

RTLS Solution

This complex task is made simple using RTLS. By having each staff member where a Bluetooth ID card, our system is able to track who is in the room which provides the ‘custody’ data.

Coupled with an Asset TAG on each item, provides the assets which are being worked on.

If an asset leaves the room at the same time as the asset, a relationship is formed and millisecond accurate data can present the action.

RTLS automates the tracking process and minimizes the need for manual labor, increasing productivity and minimizing errors.

By tracking the movement of assets in real-time, RTLS can help identify and eliminate bottlenecks, optimize workflows, and improve overall efficiency.

Here are some additional benefits that real-time tracking provided for the customer.

• Improved accuracy: the system provided a more accurate and reliable record of the movement of assets. This reduces the risk of errors and discrepancies own the line.

• Increased efficiency: the system automated the tracking process, reducing the need for manual tracking and documentation. This can save time and resources and increase the efficiency of the production process.

• Enhanced security: the system provided greater security for manufacturing operations, as it can alert personnel if assets are moved or tampered with. This can help to prevent misplacement and downtime.

• Improved transparency: the system provided a clear and transparent record of the movements of assets and personnel, making it easier to approve the integrity and reliability of the data available.

Take away

Overall, the new asset tracking system provided significant benefits for their chain of custody reporting, improving accuracy, efficiency, security, and transparency in the process.

Further enhancements of this customers system includes integrations with Power BI, unlocking big data analytics allows teams to map exceptions based on highly specific rules, this provides the relevant teams with non compliance information in real-time allowing on-site teams to resolve issues before they escalate.