Reconfigurable Manufacturing selects RAD software

A comprehensive manufacturing RFID solution for manufacturing industries enables real-time operational data to be integrated into ERP.

RFID Brooks Software, a division of Brooks Automation, and a leading provider of real-time applications for enterprises with collaborative, complex manufacturing operations, has announced the availability of its comprehensive manufacturing RFID solution for aerospace and defense, automotive, medical devices and other discrete manufacturing industries.

Leveraging more than 10 years experience providing RFID solutions to the semiconductor industry, an industry for which real-time data has been critical for years, Brooks has enhanced its RFID solution set to meet the needs of today's real-time enterprises in other discrete industries that are implementing RFID to better respond to regulatory requirements and competitive pressures.

Brooks' RFID solution set extends from tag readers to automation execution and enables real-time operational data to be integrated into ERP, supply chain management and other enterprise applications: * RFID Readers - Brooks offers readers that have been widely implemented in mission critical environments over the past ten years.

* Middleware - Brooks' middleware provides RFID reader and event management, tracking the physical location of material and mobile equipment, as well as the relationships between tagged and virtual objects.

Brooks' middleware also supports read/write capabilities for higher-capacity RFID tags.

* Temporal Performance - Event and state data from RFID readers, ERP, warehouse management systems and other enterprise software systems is collected and cross-referenced in Brooks' high speed temporal data repository.

Brooks provides a powerful and intuitive temporal reporting tool that shows a complete view of a manufacturer's operation at any instant in time.

* Automated Actions - Using temporal data and flexible intuitive tools for automation logic creation, Brooks enables intelligent automation of execution control, exception handling, workflow and other critical processes.

Additionally, Brooks offers RFID-ready manufacturing execution systems (MES) to complete the RFID loop on the factory floor.

"RFID is a business imperative that is enabling enterprises to fully leverage and benefit from real-time IT infrastructures," said Joe Bellini, senior vice-president of Brooks Software.

"Brooks has ten years of RFID deployments in mission critical manufacturing environments.

With regulatory and business needs driving the broader markets to adopt RFID technology to track and trace products and processes, Brooks has a compelling opportunity to provide RFID solutions that have already been proven in some of the world's most demanding applications.

We are committed to strengthening our position as a leading supplier of RFID systems and the manufacturing partner of choice to enterprises in complex manufacturing industries by continuing to deliver the industry's most advanced real-time solutions.

* Brooks and the University of Michigan - Brooks has implemented its RFID hardware and software technology in the University of Michigan's Engineering Research Center for Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (ERC-RMS), which will be used to model and demonstrate RFID-enabled manufacturing solutions for discrete manufacturers.

The ERC-RMS facility at the University of Michigan enables discrete manufacturers to model and create proof of concepts using RFID to ensure successful implementation and ROI prior to investment.

Sponsors of the ERC that contribute to its direction and will leverage these results include DaimlerChrysler, Delphi Automotive, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors.

"The University of Michigan's ERC-RMS tests, verifies and transfers cutting edge manufacturing technologies and concepts to leading discrete manufacturers," stated Dr John Cristiano, Assistant Director of Industry Relations and Technology Transfer of the ERC at the University of Michigan.

"With the growing interest in RFID technologies, we recently began modeling RFID-enabled manufacturing environments with the help of Brooks Software RFID technology.

We have successfully demonstrated the value RFID brings to manufacturing initiatives such as real-time enterprise and lean manufacturing, as well as compliance efforts toward product and process traceability.

* About Brooks Software - Brooks Software, a division of Brooks Automation provides real-time applications that support enterprise-wide initiatives for greater efficiency and productivity in collaborative, complex manufacturing.

Brooks' Sense Decide Respond manufacturing software solutions are the foundation for enterprise initiatives in supply chain execution, closed loop automation, lean manufacturing and enterprise performance management.

Installed in numerous Fortune 500 manufacturers, Brooks Software delivers competitive advantage to aerospace and defense, automotive, high tech, life sciences and semiconductor manufacturers worldwide.

* About Brooks Automation - Brooks Automation (NASDAQ: BRKS) delivers automation solutions to the global semiconductor and related industries.

The company provides hardware, software, and professional services to help manage every wafer, reticle, and data movement in the fab, improving throughput and yield while reducing cost and time to market.

Brooks' products and capabilities are used in virtually every semiconductor fab in the world.

Back to top