OATSystems' blog on RFID and RTLS best practices from 100s of implementations
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
5 Myths About Asset Tracking in Healthcare
In any new application area, it’s easy to run into misconceptions or just flat-out errors about the applicability or challenges associated with a technology such as asset tracking. Asset tracking has a long, impressive track record in a wide variety of industries with similar supply chains and workflows as healthcare – such as industrial manufacturing and even retailing. Here are a few common myths and the real-worth truths about the utility of asset tracking in healthcare, from an article in Healthcare Technology Online:
Monday, May 6, 2013
Redefining Tool Tracking for Equipment and Indirect Materials
Tools = Tooling = Indirect Materials = Conveyances = Equipment
Every industry and every business function needs to track capital equipment, whether it's used for service, manufacturing or distribution operations.
For service providers in Healthcare, Aviation, Utilities and Transportation, the cost of tracking equipment is not just related to the value of the asset, but how often it is needed. A missing wheelchair or infusion pump can compromise patient care. A missing towbar or test kit can result in flight delays.
For manufacturers - particularly for those with complex processes , production equipment and tooling is highly-specialized, single-sourced and difficult to replace. Misplaced or out-of-spec equipment can derail a production schedule.
For logistics providers - conveyances and reusable transport items (RTIs) must be carefully managed - missing conveyances make for missed shipments.
On the OATSystems website we have separate sections for equipment tracking and tool tracking based on how indirect materials are defined in different industries.
When building our "asset wall" and asset tracking for RFID Journal Live this year, we used sample assets from healthcare, manufacturing, aviation and transportation. In this case, we didn't need to define "tool tracking" in a thousand words - we had the pictures, (of surgical trays, medical supplies, infusion pumps, autoclaves, ventilators, conveyances, bearing pullers, digital calipers, roll cages, composite tooling...) instead.
Every industry and every business function needs to track capital equipment, whether it's used for service, manufacturing or distribution operations.
For service providers in Healthcare, Aviation, Utilities and Transportation, the cost of tracking equipment is not just related to the value of the asset, but how often it is needed. A missing wheelchair or infusion pump can compromise patient care. A missing towbar or test kit can result in flight delays.
For manufacturers - particularly for those with complex processes , production equipment and tooling is highly-specialized, single-sourced and difficult to replace. Misplaced or out-of-spec equipment can derail a production schedule.
For logistics providers - conveyances and reusable transport items (RTIs) must be carefully managed - missing conveyances make for missed shipments.
On the OATSystems website we have separate sections for equipment tracking and tool tracking based on how indirect materials are defined in different industries.
When building our "asset wall" and asset tracking for RFID Journal Live this year, we used sample assets from healthcare, manufacturing, aviation and transportation. In this case, we didn't need to define "tool tracking" in a thousand words - we had the pictures, (of surgical trays, medical supplies, infusion pumps, autoclaves, ventilators, conveyances, bearing pullers, digital calipers, roll cages, composite tooling...) instead.
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