June 26, 2020
RFID solution is helping DePuy Orthopaedics to streamline inventory processing.
Background
US-based DePuy Orthopaedics, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, is a leading provider of orthopaedic implants to preeminent surgeons worldwide.
Challenge
Every day, DePuy Orthopaedics gets hundreds of calls from hospitals and clinics requesting same-day shipment. In addition, every day hundreds of loaned inventory sets return, requiring rapid replenishment and reshipment.
Solution
DePuy Orthopaedics used an end-to-end RFID solution which employs DogBone™ UHF tags from Smartrac.
Instead of scanning boxed items individually, workers now replenish Express Care sets and load completed sets onto a conveyor belt in an RFID-scanned tunnel.
Boxed items and completed sets are RFID-tagged, making it easy to verify orders prior to shipment.
Success
Processing time for each set was reduced from between 10 and 30 minutes to less than one minute, thanks to RFID.
Smartrac solution gives DePuy Orthopaedics reliability and scalability under challenging conditions.
RFID is allowing DePuy to get a jump on inventory management, improving its efficiency and customer service and monitor expiration dates for sterile products.
For COVID-19 control and reliable testing, authentic testing kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) are truly vital. Together with blockchain startup SUKU, Smartrac developed a digital verification solution to securely authenticate healthcare equipment and provide supply chain transparency.
Smartrac, an Avery Dennison company launched its NFC Pro series to empower brands and retailers to beat counterfeiting and deliver customer experiences at more secure levels - made possible through “one-time password” authentication. The new Circus™ Tamper Loop Pro inlays and tags combine these capabilities with “digital seal” tamper detection, and introduce a new IC option.
Surgical instruments are a challenge for today’s RFID technology: made of stainless steel, they are delicate, and are sterilized at extreme temperatures (up to 121°C/250°F). Tiny, super-high frequency tags (SHF, 5.8 GHz) are needed to create a digital copy of the sterile goods cycle.