Using RFID for Tool Control
This is a question about tool control and the capabilities of RFID tags on tools. If we tagged each tool that our mechanics own, could we scan their toolboxes at the end of each work shift to see if the required (number of) tools were present in their boxes?
The RFID tags are not expensive – only $1 each. I was thinking of buying handheld scanners to use at each of our seven work locations. These scanners cost $2500 - $7000 each.
However, I just learned that if the mechanics’ tools are jumbled up in their toolboxes, the RFID scanner cannot read the RFID tags. This means that each mechanic would need his own rollaway tool cabinet with cut-out foam places for each tool. Further, we may need to buy an RFID portal to pass through that can read these RFID tags in the box;. Those portals cost $24,000 each.
Does anyone have experience with using RFID for tool control? I’d surely appreciate any ideas about less expensive workarounds in using RFID for tool control. Thanks much.