Marshalls Aerospace - Precise tool tracking reduces search times by a factor of 5

Cambridge UK – 30th May 2008 Marshall Aerospace’s use of the Ubisense precise Real-time Location System (RTLS) has improved search times for tools and test equipment by a staggering factor of 5 over manual methods and more than 50% over traditional RFID-based methods. Independently verified by the IfM (Institute for Manufacturing) Auto-ID Centre, the search times for operational equipment and high value test devices have been dramatically reduced, thus proving the ROI for RTLS in the Aerospace Industry.

The Ubisense precise RTLS has been installed at Marshall’s principle site, which comprises 500,000 square feet of facilities, and asset tags have been attached to a whole series of different equipment, ranging from blowers, power supplies and pumps to multi-meters, leak detectors and individual tools. The system uses minimal infrastructure (just a single cable from reader to reader) and is much less dense than an equivalent WiFi network as the system range is considerably more than WiFi for the required accuracy. In fact the system is able to pinpoint the location of any piece of equipment to within 15cm in 3D.

Dr. T. Keleporis of the Auto-ID Labs says, “The quantification of savings from the Ubisense precise RTLS makes the investment decision simple and is very significant. A really demonstrable ROI exists for the tool tracking application and of course the same location infrastructure can be used for many more applications.”

“Additional applications such as real time fork-lift truck tracking can now be realised in a fraction of the time required compared to legacy technologies”, comments Daniel Monument, Solutions Manager for Marshalls Solutions. “The benefits to the Aerospace Industry of precise real-time location are clear and realisable”.

Link to full release