RFID leads to an efficient tool management

The ongoing development of the information and identification technology creates new possibilities to optimize manufacturing processes. An increasing number of companies tend to implement ERP-Systems and Tool-Management-Systems in order to support and optimize their manufacturing processes. Recently, the possibilities to implement RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems broadened to applications in manufacturing processes. By combining the abilities of the information systems with the abilities of the RFID technology optimization potentials can come up based on a transparent and efficient information and material flow. This can help to reduce information interfaces and to organize an efficient tool-management due to real time manufacturing information. This paper presents an approach to implement RFID on metal cutting tools. The approach covers aspects such as the identification of application potentials and the configuration of the technical solution. By providing data right on the tools and by transmitting data automatically, potentials arise, in order to optimize tool management activities and in order to reduce matching mistakes.