Digital Manufacturing Solutions with RFID: Automation and Transparency for Industry

The digital transformation in manufacturing opens up new opportunities for companies to make their production processes more efficient, flexible and transparent. A key role is played by digital manufacturing solutions that integrate technologies such as RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification). They enable intelligent networking between machines, products and people – fully in line with modern Industry 4.0Fourth industrial revolution through digitalization and intelligent networking of production facilities. concepts.
In this article, we highlight the advantages of RFID-based manufacturing solutions, present concrete practical examples, and provide insight into how companies are successfully implementing these technologies – including through the Clouver platform by ProCom Automation.

RFID Technology as the Backbone of Automated Identification

RFID systems enable the automatic identification of objects via radio signals – without line of sight and without manual scanning. In industrial practice, this means that products and production orders can be automatically identified, tracked and analysed.

Practical Example: RFID in the Production of Protective Equipment

At a factory of a major protective equipment manufacturer in Lithuania, an RFID-based system was implemented to automatically identify different product variants – for example, protective gloves in various sizes. RFID readers were integrated into the machines for this purpose.

During an initial learning phase, the platform captured the characteristic control signal patterns of each product. Once a glove type was produced, the system automatically recognised the product type using the RFID information and compared the signal patterns with the reference data.

The produced parts were counted with complete accuracy – fully automatically and without any additional input from the machine operator. At the same time, the system detected deviations and notified the operating personnel in real time.

Paperless Production: Digital Process Control Instead of Manual Data Entry

Digital manufacturing solutions make it possible to completely replace paper-based processes – from order management to quantity recording. Modern platforms offer intuitive user interfaces that display all relevant information in real time.

Case Study: Intelligent Data Collection in Glove Production

In the same project, the entire production process was digitalised. RFID data was used to automatically identify production batches, store patterns for each product type (e.g. glove size M), and accurately record quantities based on incoming machine signals.

Key Feature: As soon as the system detected a significant deviation from the learned signal pattern, it issued an automatic warning – a feature that significantly reduced human error.

Modern Hardware for Greater Flexibility

Traditionally, the use of digital manufacturing solutions was tied to specific industrial PCs. Today, however, more and more companies are turning to flexible hardware options such as industrial tablets or BYOD (“Bring Your Own Device”) concepts.

In several customer projects, standard tablets with robust housings, existing in-house equipment and wireless communication via Wi-Fi have been successfully implemented. This not only reduces costs but also allows for faster integration into existing infrastructures.

User-Centred UI: Faster Access to the Relevant Dashboard

Another key success factor of digital systems is the user-friendliness of the interface. Ideally, employees should be able to work with the solution without extensive training – regardless of their role within the company.

Example: The Clouver platform was completely redesigned based on extensive customer feedback. The result is a modern interface featuring role-specific dashboards and context-based navigation elements. For instance, an operator gains direct access to real-time production counts, while the production manager can view an overview of all production lines – without any additional configuration effort.

Open Interfaces for Maximum Integration

Many legacy systems are tied to specific manufacturers or controllers. In contrast, modern digital manufacturing solutions rely on open communication interfaces and broad sensor compatibility.

Project: Wi-Fi-Based Integration of Entire Production Lines

In one customer project, an entire production environment was networked exclusively via Wi-Fi – without laying any new cables. Clouver was able to communicate seamlessly with existing machines, as it supports protocols such as OPC UAOPC Unified Architecture – platform-independent communication standard for secure and cross-manufacturer data exchange between industrial systems., MQTT and others. This reduced installation effort, lowered costs and enabled rapid scalability to additional production areas.

Custom KPIs Instead of Standard Metrics

Manufacturing companies differ greatly – not only in the products they produce but also in their performance indicators. For this reason, many systems allow the definition of customer-specific KPIs that are precisely aligned with the respective business model.

Example: Specific Metrics for Error Prevention

In a project with a medium-sized manufacturer of disposable protective products, individual metrics were developed for the detection and prevention of defective production. These KPIs were specifically tailored to the customer’s typical error patterns and production rates – enabling a significantly higher first-pass quality.

Decades of Experience Meet Modern Technology

Another key success factor in implementing digital manufacturing solutions is partnering with experts who understand the industry. Technology alone is not enough – what truly matters is a deep understanding of real-life production environments.

ProCom Automation brings over 40 years of experience in manufacturing technology – focusing on solutions that are both technically robust and practical for users. This expertise is evident in projects of all sizes – from small production lines to fully networked large-scale operations.

Conclusion: RFID-Based Digital Manufacturing Solutions as a Game Changer

Digital manufacturing solutions with RFID integration offer companies real added value: automation, data transparency, error reduction and improved controllability.

Whether through automatic part identification, paperless process management or open system architecture – modern platforms like Clouver demonstrate how Industry 4.0 works in practice.

Those who invest in digital manufacturing now are not only increasing efficiency but also laying the foundation for sustainable growth and technological leadership.