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Hitachi recently unveiled a new RFID system that will be used with nuclear power plant construction

Forget about the paperless office, Hitachi is working to bring us the radio tagged office instead.

Hitachi announced yesterday that it has developed a radio frequency identification (RFID) system  that will be used during nuclear power plant construction.  Pieces of construction material will be tagged as they are delivered to the work site, which will lead to hopefully a more efficient distribution system.  Hitachi also has developed a system that will require RFID tags to be attached to cable cores and end terminals to help workers check for errors as they connect the cables.  Only time will tell if this will RFID system will have been a worthy investment for Hitachi.   

View the original article here.

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Useful?
By nineball9 on 1/22/2006 2:10:21 AM , Rating: 3
Sounds like a solution in search of a problem. The tags will add an additional level of compexity which will have to be checked in addition to the final wiring and plumbing. If the tags do not match as indicated in the production phase, is the problem with the tags or the wiring/plumbing?

Though I suppose if someone loses the entire power plant, it can be quickly located by scanning for the tag(s)...




RE: Useful?
By The Cheeba on 1/22/2006 3:15:30 AM , Rating: 2
But But... its RFID -- tech's hottest buzzword. If it has RFID, it must:

[ ] Offend my rights somehow
[ ] Be used to track me
[ ] Be the future
(check at least one)

Cheeb.


1st Post FTW!!!!
By Jedi2155 on 1/22/2006 1:55:16 AM , Rating: 2
Interesting, I dont' see exactly how it'll help all that much however. Unless they havea hard time trying to find replacment degraded materials.




RE: 1st Post FTW!!!!
By JonB on 1/22/2006 8:19:55 PM , Rating: 2
It isn't a problem with replacing materials, its a question of knowing absolutely that the correct parts were ordered, delivered and installed in the right system. Nuclear plants are not normal. They are held to a standard of construction that will drive normal engineers and bookkeepers absolutely crazy. I worked during the construction of the Comanche Peak nuclear plant in Texas. If the paperwork wasn't perfect, things got taken apart and redone until the paperwork and all the parts were the way they should be. RFID might help. I really hope it does.


gimmickry?
By android1st on 1/22/2006 10:15:58 AM , Rating: 2
Please, someone tell me that they have done their research and RFID will actually speed construction on this project by reducing error... Something tells me that this is idea belongs to someone in accounting (or maybe management)...




I'm not so skeptical
By Basilisk on 1/22/2006 12:31:37 PM , Rating: 2
Seems to me that these plants involve a -lot- of specially worked pieces, many of them not all that dissimilar. While proper labeling can reduce installation errors, RFID can help the workers sort out arriving pieces into their special assembly areas and probably even help locate individual pieces.

Anyway, the cost of the individual parts dwarfs the cost of RFID (once the tracking s/w is developed).




Actually Very Useful
By DrDisconnect on 1/23/2006 10:15:15 AM , Rating: 2
I currently work for a nuclear utility. A lot of components look very similar but are built to different standards. Even stuff as simple as pieces of metal rod. Also, the amount of material in storage is massive. This has great potential for preventing errors and rework!!!

As long as the tags are put on properly in the first place of course!!!!




"You can bet that Sony built a long-term business plan about being successful in Japan and that business plan is crumbling." -- Peter Moore, 24 hours before his Microsoft resignation









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