BMW's Munich subsidiary is the largest
worldwide. 250 people work in the main
enterprise at Frankfurt or ring alone,
including 130 mechanics, allowing 300 to
400 cars to pass through the garage per
day. If we add to this the number of
newly registered new cars which are
delivered to their proud owners here
that is an incredible number of customer
cars every day. How can anyone keep track
of which car is where on site at any
given point in time? How can the
transparency of the processes be
improved?
Using electronic waves, RFID transponders
make it possible to identify cars even
through thick concrete walls. An
innovative RFID system is proving itself
in use every day at the BMW subsidiary in
Munich. Being able to determine the
location and processing status of a
vehicle in real time gives us a level of
transparency never seen before in our
internal processes. This wouldn't have
been possible with conventional methods.
In that sense, the decision to use an
RFID-based solution was definitely the
right one. Anika Lushna has an
inspection appointment for her 3 Series
Convertible today. Ideally she'd like to
wait until it's finished since she has
an urgent business meeting in Vienna
later today. Camera recognition is used
to scan the number plate of each
customer car as it enters the site. The
employee assigns a guide number to Miss
Lushna's car, which is 1072. An RFID
transponder is integrated into the guide
number. Miss Lushna attaches the guide
number to her car's rear view mirror. The
employee allocates the guide number to
the number plate which has already been
scanned.
From now on the car can be promptly located
by the system on the entire campus.
Sensors and web horns from Zebra
Enterprise Solutions are installed all
over the BMW unique branch site in the
parking areas and workshops. These
devices allow pinpoint for aerial
tracking as required. A total of seventy
location sensors and web laws are
installed. Together
with the BMW subsidiary in Munich, dimension
data has implemented an RFID location
solution, which provides optimum support
for the customer in the service process
and meets the particular requirements of
a BMW subsidiary. The real factor in our
success here was its integration into
the existing IT architecture. BMW service
consultancy, a service consultant
discusses the assignment with Miss Lushna.
At the same time he checks the
vehicle visually for any leaks or damage
on the underbody or exhaust. All work to
be done is recorded using an iPad. As he
finishes the order entry, the service
consultant notices the worn-out
windscreen wipers and advises his
customer to have these replaced at the
same time.
After the service consultant has pressed
the green call button, he accompanies
Miss Lushna to the customer waiting
area pressing the call button, also known
as the where call button, signals for a
member of staff from the driver pool to
drive the 3 series BMW from the service
lift into the parking area. The
convertible spends the few minutes
before it's repaired on a short-term
parking lot. Miss Lushna can follow the
progress of work on her car, guide number
1072, step-by-step on a monitor in the
customer waiting room. She can prepare
for her important meeting in Vienna
restfully.
RFID vehicle tracking
keeps customers informed about the
status of the vehicles at all times. The
visualization of the service process
creates enormous transparency. In the
workshop, work on another customer
vehicle is now complete. The assembler lets the
workshop schedulers know by pressing a
button. The colleague of the Central
Services reacts straightaway. Miss
Lushna's white 3 series is up next. A
scheduler immediately sends an order to
drive a scheduling. The convertible is
quickly driven from the Shan State car
park to the free service lift. Thanks to
RFID tracking the car can be located
quickly and driven to the free space in
the garage without any loss of
efficiency. Miss Lushna now wants to
know if it looks like she'll be able to
leave for Vienna in good time. A quick
look at the monitor reassures her and
she can devote her attention once again
to her work and a delicious cappuccino.
Not a moment is wasted in the workshop.
The inspection is carried out carefully
and as planned. As well as the small
inspection, the front windscreen wipers
are replaced at the same time. A push of
the green button signals to the central
services that the car with guide number
1072 is ready and can be picked up by
the driver pool. Miss Lushna's 3-series is
already on the way to its next port of
call. A BMW professional carries out
quality control .Needless to say this
also includes testing the brakes.
The professional is happy. As expected, all maintenance
work has been carried out with care. In
the customer center Miss Lushna looks
at the monitor from time to time and can
see how the work is progressing in real
time. Next stop, the sensors reliably
capture the transponder on the rearview
mirror once again. Know that the 3 series
has left the car wash. In just a few
minutes Miss Lushna will be on her
way to Vienna in a nice clean car.
The system has proved itself superbly
in operation. Its users made us even
more efficient, which certainly benefits
our customers too. The driver from the
driver pool has now made the convertible
ready for collection, brings the key and
the order sheet to the tell. In the
customer waiting room Miss Lushna sees
the promising using the line with her
guide number. The waiting is over. Earlier
than expected she goes to the tell. The
bill has already been prepared and is
explained to the customer in detail.
After settlement, a staff member releases
the gateway. Less than an hour between
arrival and completion.
Here at the BMW
Munich subsidiary at Frankfurt aring we
put the new location system to
productive use. After the planning,
implementation, and test phases we've
seen very positive results for the
benefit of our customers. Our system partner
dimension data has provided us with
outstanding support in this endeavor.
Just clean. the customer car is ready to
go.
Anika Lushna is happy. She's well
prepared and can enjoy her drive to
Vienna with the roof down, no rush.