TrackCon® Success Stories


State-of-the-Art Product Identification System for
Steel Structures.

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification is a data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. The tag is made up of an RFID chip attached to an antenna. Passive tags have no power source but use the electromagnetic waves from the reader to energize the chip and transmit back data.

Like bar codes, RFID tags identify items. However, unlike bar codes, which must be in close proximity and line of sight to the scanner for reading, RFID tags do not require line of sight and can be embedded within an item.

RFID tags hold more data than bar codes, but a major differentiator is the unique serial number in the RFID’s Electronic Product Code (EPC) because it allows tracking of individual items. While a UPC bar code might identify a category of product like a 12” manhole connector, an EPC RFID tag can identify a specific, individual connector.

ICT Customer Success Interview

Austin Prestress : a subsidiary division of J.D. Abrams L.P.

 

TrackCon® System

 

This is Caleb Powers, Director of Business Development, with ICT and I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Dean Clapper, IT Manager at J.D. Abrams L.P. in Austin, Texas to discuss the results they are getting with ICT's precast data collection and product tracking system.  Enjoy! wireless RFID tag designed for concrete and steel that will track inventory from production to job site

CP: Tell me where you are seeing the most benefits of the system.

DC: I can think of several areas where we are getting great results with TrackCon®.  First, is in how we are using the production data we collect.  Second, is in how it's changed the way our people do their jobs. Finally, and this is where we continue to see new things, is in all the random little ways that the system adds value to we do.

CP: How, specifically, are you using the data you collect and what has the benefit been for JD Abrams?

DC: Now that our quality control and production data is collected electronically, the reports we produce, for say TxDOT, or some of our other customers, take much less time.  Prior to implementing TrackCon® our production manager, Nick Lujan, was spending about 30% of his time gathering production data, updating and managing 5 or so Excel spreadsheets, and preparing and submitting those reports.  Some of these reports, ultimately, allow us to get paid on the work we do.  Errors or problems with a report only added to Nick's burden and, like I said earlier, impacts our invoicing and AP.  Having these reports generated in a few mouse clicks and knowing that they are accurate has been a huge win for us.  While we are on the topic of reports, I need to quickly share with you a recent and relevant situation.  TxDOT came to us and wanted some defect tracking reports.  I can honestly say to you that, had this happened prior to the ICT implementation, this would have taken me, personally, weeks to pull together.  Luckily, all I had to do was spend a couple of hours formatting the report and it was ready for them.  Now that the report is in the system, it is available in seconds going forward.  I can definitely see this aspect of ICT's system continuing to benefit us and our customers down the road.

CP: Now you can tell me about how, people like Nick, are doing their jobs differently as a result of the system. 

DC: Sure.  Here's a couple of examples.  The day after we were up and running on TrackCon®, Nick was able to catch and resolve 3 production related issues before they became problems for us simply because he was not preoccupied with report preparation.  What we are finding is that people are able to do more high value activities that benefit the business.  A job function of quality control is making sure that our TxDOT reports are accurate and submitted timely.  Now that Nick no longer has to spend hours editing the reports and all the QC data is captured in real time, quality control data gathering is very streamlined and efficient.  Nick, for example, is better able to plan, schedule, and run production and we are certainly more efficient as a result.  Another example is in how we identify our structures.  Today, Ricardo spends half as much time marking our pieces.  This allows the loading crews to move product faster and this drives our shipping efficiency.  I would have to say that he has gotten back 2-3 hours a day using the system.   

CP: What were some of those random benefits you mentioned?

DC: It's the kind of stuff that you don't really think about on a daily basis until it changes.  For example, going back to marking structures.  Job numbers on pieces are much easier to see and as a result we don't need to spend that extra couple of minutes making sure it's the right piece. Now they are all marked the same, and that consistency is something that makes everybody's life a little easier.  Also, now that quality control, inventory, production, and shipping are stored electronically production and job forecasting are much less time consuming and can be figured out with a couple of simple reports.

CP: Tell me a little about your experience working with the team at ICT.

DC: The ICT team has been great to work with.  They are professional and they are very good at what they do.  What has been a big plus for us, in working with ICT, is their willingness to grow and evolve TrackCon® as we, as a company, learn to push the envelope on improving our business process through software and technology.

CP: Lastly, would you recommend the system to other manufactured concrete companies and why?

DC: Yes.  Being able to have each aspect of the production process work on the same data vastly improves accuracy in inventory and ultimately in cost by producing what is needed.  With the integrity of data as the foundation in check, the advanced features in TrackCon® for reporting, shipping and quality control become increasingly more reliable and meaningful.  

About International Coding Technologies, Inc

International Coding Technologies, Inc. (ICT) was established to design, develop and implement tracking solutions for the concrete industry world wide. Headquartered in the United States, this privately held Massachusetts Company has built systems based on its own Intellectual property; TrackCon® and Cast-A-Code®. These systems are used in the identification of concrete structures and to automatically track their movement from cradle to grave. This allows the business owner to electronically track information throughout the structures lifecycle, a significant issue with powerful return on investment for the business owner.

 

 


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