Case study
Toyota Canada
Global automotive titan mobilizes yard management with RFID to gain end-to-end visibility.
Results
- Created end-to-end visibility for processing
- Improved operational throughput
- Enhanced customer service for consumers and dealers
- Mobilized yard management with real-time automation
- RFID tracking with reusable, encapsulated tags
Challenge
Toyota was building a state-of-the-art 300,000-squarefoot facility for one of their Vehicle Processing Centers (VPC) in Canada as part of the company’s growth strategy. Cutting-edge technologies were needed to handle new vehicle processing procedures. One of these innovations required the development of a real-time yard management system (YMS) seamlessly integrated with reusable RFID tags and the company’s current processing software.
Results
- Created end-to-end visibility for processing
- Improved operational throughput
- Enhanced customer service for consumers and dealers
- Mobilized yard management with real-time automation
- RFID tracking with reusable, encapsulated tags
Solution
Toyota’s integration consultant brought in RFgen as part of the new YMS. The solution was intended to increase visibility and tracking for vehicles. Inbound vehicles are pre-loaded into the new software while in transit from the manufacturing plant, providing crucial operational data for capacity, sorting, and parts ordering before vehicles arrive. At the VPC, workers receive and inspect the vehicles with ruggedized mobile devices, then send each vehicle to its first point-of-rest (FPOR) in the yard. Next, RFgen assigns an RFID tag to the vehicle, which communicates with RFID readers at key points in the processing facility, directing the vehicle as it moves through parts allocation, installation work orders, and yard placement. When completed, carriers are notified that it’s ready for pickup and delivery.
Toyota’s new state-of-the-art processing facility wouldn’t be complete without a modern data collection solution to match. Now, Toyota enjoys fast, accurate tracking and greater efficiencies.
Sr. Consultant
RFgen SoftwareResults
Toyota’s new state-of-the-art VPC wouldn’t be complete without a modern data collection solution to match. With RFgen, Toyota’s VPC team now enjoys fast, accurate tracking for its operations.
Benefits include:
- Created end-to-end visibility for processing
- Improved operational throughput
- Enhanced customer service for consumers and dealers
- Mobilized yard management with real-time automation
- RFID tracking with reusable, encapsulated tags
Simplification with Automation
Combined with RFID, RFgen enabled Toyota’s YMS to simplify operational workflows. Previously, vehicles would be processed in batches during rail offloading. Thanks to live updates, vehicles can now be quickly and efficiently processed one by one, improving throughput and customer service.
Automation also equipped the Toyota team with additional optimizations, including on-demand printing, tracking by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and administrative consoles for planning and reporting.
From vehicles that communicate with each other, to vehicles that are powered by hydrogen and emit only water, Toyota Canada is transforming the very nature of transportation.