RFID tracks Jaguar car parts
Unipart uses tags to monitor progress of cargo from UK ports
Logistics firm Unipart is using radio frequency identification (RFID) to track Jaguar car parts following a successful trial in laboratory conditions.
Unipart manages Jaguar’s supply chain, providing warehousing, transportation and inventory management to ensure that car parts are delivered quickly and accurately.
Cargo containers are tracked from the UK to US. RFID is used to monitor the location, security and condition of shipments on arrival at destination ports.
Dubbed the Jaguar Tradelane Project, the initiative aims to boost real-time visibility of the supply chain, improve the accuracy of information to customers, reduce variance in delivery times, and cut the costs ensuing from air transportation made necessary by delays.
Unipart’s IT director Myron Hrycyk says a trial in laboratory conditions helped to ensure the rollout delivered the best possible tag read rates.
‘We saw real benefit in tracking high-value car parts through the various stages of customs,’ he said. ‘The rollout for Jaguar has delivered better visibility of the supply chain and allows us to tell customers where the delivery is at all times.’
RFID-tagged containers are tracked from Felixstowe to US ports in New York and Oakland. Data collected after each container passes a reader at the port is delivered to Jaguar’s SAP software for further analysis.
Hrycyk says Unipart will consider rolling out the RFID monitoring system, provided by Savi Networks, to other customers if the benefits continue.
AMR Research analyst Nigel Montgomery says Unipart’s business case is simple to make as the parts are high value.
‘So many containers come into a port at any time that it can be difficult to know where your own delivery is,’ he said.
‘RFID tracking increases visibility and will enable Unipart to keep custome rs informed of delivery status.
‘The cost justification is there as Jaguar cars are expensive and it is costly to have parts just sitting there. But Unipart could also offer RFID tracking services to other customers, so there is a business opportunity for the company as well.’
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Further Reading
Unipart tracks vehicles online