DC Velocity - April 2020

AERONAUTICS INDUSTRY SUPPLIER LAUAK GROUPis reaping big rewards in its warehousing operations thanksto a new asset-tracking system from technology companiesIneo-Sense and Semtech. The French manufacturer, whichsupplies components and assemblies to some of the world’slargest airplane manufacturers, has cut leadtimes, reduceddowntime, and improved workflow at its assembly plant inSouthwest France thanks to 14,000asset-tracking sensors that monitor product movement acrossmultiple buildings and warehouses. The results are so good, Lauakand its technology partners arepreparing to roll out the solutionto other facilities across Europeand in Canada, India, and Mexicowithin the next year, companyleaders say.

COLLABORATIVE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES RESULTS

France-based Ineo-Sense and California-based Semtechwork together to develop cloud-based wireless technologysolutions for a wide range of applications. Ineo-Sense specializes in intelligent and autonomous sensors for Internetof Things (Io T) applications, and Semtech supplies semiconductors and advanced algorithms for use in IoT, datacenter, and mobility applications. Together, they havedeveloped a set of solutions called Clover-Core that combine Ineo-Sense sensors with Semtech’s “LoRa” technology, a long-range, low-power wireless platform, to track andmonitor assets in real time. Clover-Core was developed forsmart asset-tracking in industrial plants but is also findingits way into manufacturing, including in the aviation andautomotive sectors.

Working with customers like Lauak that deal with expensive parts that are hard to track in a large facility makesperfect sense, the companies explain.

“Clover-Core sensors in manufacturing help deliver real-
time zone-based inventory by locating and tracking tooling
racks and packages,” Ineo-Sense and Semtech wrote in a
statement describing the project. “Often, these assets are
expensive to replace and difficult to find in a large ware-
house, especially when they are out of the process flow or
in the wrong part of the building.”
In Lauak’s case, tooling and packages make their way
through the facility via containers that are outfitted with
Clover-Core sensors. The sensors monitor the products
throughout their journey, wirelessly communicating data to
the cloud, where managers can access and track the assets in
real time. One of the system’s key differentiators is its long-
range, wide-area network (LoRa WAN) technology, which
allows for easy tracking of items
both indoors and out. This stands
in contrast to indoor, short-range
networking technologies that offer
limited tracking capabilities, the
companies explain.

GOING HIGHER-TECH YIELDS
BIG SAVINGS

Integrating sensors and the Io T forasset tracking marks a huge stepforward for Lauak Group. Priorto implementing the Clover-Core solution, the companyused a less efficient asset-tracking system that utilized bar-code scanning and radio-frequency identification (RFID)technology.

“Part of the problem with this system was that it requireda significant amount of manual intervention, bringing anadditional risk of human error and forgetfulness,” Ineo-Sense and Semtech officials explain.

In contrast, the LoRaWAN system saves time with itsautomated inventory and geolocation services, allowingremote data collection and a less “hands-on” approach.

“With automated inventory and synchronization betweensites, divisions, and even countries, savings add up substantially,” Ineo-Sense and Semtech also point out.

Benefits of the new system are already adding up. LauakGroup says it has reduced production leadtimes by up to20% and downtime by at least 10% since implementingClover-Core. Workflow has been optimized, and access toreliable real-time data is helping the company more quicklyaddress any inventory issues or problems that arise. Indoorlocalization by zone immediately flags misplaced items, andon-demand tracking instantly locates a piece of equipment,in both large buildings and outdoors.