Ohio-based supply-chain visibility company Surgere has built an RFID technology application for Hutchinson North America, a manufacturer of engineered sealing systems for the automotive industry.

To provide visibility within its warehouse, the IoT application is for use with an RFID Sled handheld unit that Surgere provided as part of its patented Interius system.

Interius is a software application developed and provided by Surgere to be used on an RFID handheld device that connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet. The programme performs cycle counting within a facility, and seeks and finds inventory and asset commissioning.

This is the first time Surgere has deployed an RFID handheld that uses a smart phone as the user interface. The client then equips any handheld device in its warehouse to the application to gather data.

The first phase of this project began in February and is used to tag and track Hutchinson-owned packaging and compliance for OEM returnable packaging management in its body sealing systems warehouse in Newfields, New Hampshire. The application will also tag and track other OEM containers upon arrival for verification.

The application allows Hutchinson to reduce its manual input process and provide real-time inventory visibility at the time of production through integration to Hutchinson’s existing production and inventory systems. It will also enhance the company’s finished goods and outbound shipment visibility and functionality to eliminate asset loss and associated costs.

“What we are doing with Hutchinson will be a game-changer in terms of warehouse management,” said Bill Wappler, CEO of Surgere. “With this new technology we can automate and enhance raw material, work-in-progress and finished goods inventory management and location processes, saving Hutchinson time and money.”

Bob Hanson, Hutchinson Body Sealing CEO, added: “We have been working closely with Surgere on implementing this new programme and have been amazed at how quickly Surgere brought everything together from concept to implementation. The utilisation of Surgere’s IoT technology will result in the overall reduction of manual input and interaction throughout the Hutchinson facility. We are pleased with the results we have seen and look forward to expanding this system throughout all our facilities.”

The Interius supply chain software suite encompasses the company’s expanding flexible IoT sensor-based technology to gather activity data accurately. Interius is comprised of specific modules that deliver insight from warehouse and yard, waste management, and container tracking.

Founded in 2004, Surgere is headquartered in Green, Ohio, with an office in Aguascalientes, Mexico.