The Broekman Group is deploying WhereNet's RFID real-time locating system technology at its large automotive logistics terminal at the Port of Rotterdam. Spanning the Rotterdam Car Terminal and Rotterdam Car Center, both part of the Broekman Group's automotive division, the WhereNet wireless system reportedly can locate any one of 40,000 vehicles parked in the facility at a given time.
The Broekman Group has used time-intensive manual data collection processes to handle more than 250,000 new vehicles each year at its Rotterdam terminal. The company selected the WhereNet system to automate these data collection processes to increase throughput and expedite delivery of vehicles to dealerships across Europe while cutting costs, improving customer service, and accommodating growth.
"We view WhereNet as a leapfrog technology that will make a major impact on our ability to increase throughput while reducing costs," says Wim Milder, general manager of information and communication technologies for the Broekman Group. "The most powerful tool for any manager is accurate, real-time information about the location and status of work-in-process inventory. Without any human intervention, the WhereNet system automatically records accurate location data about every vehicle across our expansive facility, allowing us to dramatically reduce our call-for-delivery cycle time and expedite vehicle delivery to dealers to keep up with consumer demand."
When new vehicles arrive at Broekman's Rotterdam Car Terminal, each vehicle is assigned a RFID WhereTag transmitter that is "married" to the vehicle identification number. The WhereTag remains on the vehicle until it has been processed and is ready to ship to one of several hundred European dealerships. The Rotterdam Car Terminal installation also includes 125 WhereLAN locating access points and 400 WherePort devices that trigger each WhereTag to emit a signal when entering or leaving a specific zone; this design enables the system to automatically record such information as arrival, dwell and departure time.
Visit www.broekman-group.nl for more on the Broekman Group and www.wherenet.com for additional information on Santa Clara, Calif.-based WhereNet.