RFID-based smart Kanbans for Just-In-Time manufacturing

This paper proposes a Just-In-Time (JIT) Wireless Manufacturing (WM) framework that is based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, RFID) technology and wireless information and communication networks. One of the basic components of this resulting WM solution is the RFID-based smart Kanbans. They are RFID tags and readers attached to shop-floor manufacturing objects such as operators, workstations, containers and inventories. Smart manufacturing objects are traceable to provide real-time information visibility needed for realising JIT manufacturing strategy. Smart Kanbans offer automatic data collection and thus close the manufacturing open loop. Copyright © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.