The emergence of smart manufacturing facilities – what some term the
fourth industrial revolution, or Industrial 4.0 – is creating a new
level of automation in the factory, with intelligent object networking,
independent process manufacturing and frequent use of interactions between
the real and virtual worlds. These trends are changing how manufacturers
manage their production networks, and making it possible to operate in what is
almost real time. Near Field Communication has an important role to play in
this new environment, because NFC helps reduce the time it takes to process
items, can enable customization at any point in the production process and
simplifies logistics.
Smart objects
NFC creates smart, autonomous objects that can interact with machinery and
contribute to the decision-making process. In a typical setup, NFC ICs are
integrated into the manufacturing equipment and products running along the
assembly lines are outfitted with NFC tags, either as part of their onboard
circuitry or as a sticker placed somewhere on the item. The tag can instruct
each piece of equipment which steps to use at a given point, telling the
machine, in essence, “this is what you should do with me.”
More flexibility
NFC tags give the product a smart memory, and can contain all the relevant
information as the product passes through the factory, the warehouse and
beyond, throughout the supply chain. A single tag can be configured for
different purposes at different points in the process, so the instructions can
change as needed. Using NFC tags enables late customization, with
manufacturers setting the language for the user interface or configuring other
settings before shipping the product to a particular region. NFC tags can also
be used to verify the authenticity of individual components or tools, to
ensure that robots use the right item for a given task.
Any environment
Adding NFC functionality to just about any kind of tool, machine or motor
– whether it’s in a state-of-the-art facility or in a more
traditional manufacturing environment – makes it possible to add a
display for enhanced interactions. The display on a worker’s tablet or
on a piece of equipment can be used as the man- machine interface, so
it’s easier to verify or change parameters, check calibrations, refine
settings or simply monitor activity.
Cloud access
NFC connectivity also enables tap-and-go cloud access from the manufacturing
floor, for quick referrals to operating manuals, automatic firmware downloads
and other kinds of assistance.
Get the details
To see how NFC can be integrated into manufacturing machinery and products,
check out our short article on
NFC-enabled manufacturing.
For an online overview of what NFC is and what it can do for you, visit our
NFC Everywhere website.
