Integrating ZigBee-based mesh network with embedded passive and active RFID for production management automation

Increasing sales and demand in the electronics industry involve increases in products and output in production lines. This phenomenon suggests complexity as well as lack of control and poor management of production lines. An unmanageable system in the production line leads to problems in production management. An example of this problem relates to the quantity of output in each production line. Output level is an important consideration in production management for monitoring, controlling, and updating information on the condition and the location of the production floor. This study introduces several engineering management system for real-time monitoring, controlling, and updating information by integrating radio frequency identification (RFID) systems with wireless network. In this study, a combination of passive and active RFIDs with an embedded controller board was designed according to specific functions and operation modules under Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) platform. Ease in implementing the system provides companies an ideal solution for fast and convenient monitoring of manufacturing and distribution activities. These integrated modules are used in automated, wireless-readable, sensory-based identification techniques and Web-based monitoring, thereby enhancing reliability and providing more functionalities.