Track It. Trace It. Finish It Faster. RFID for Work-in-Progress in Manufacturing

You can’t optimize what you can’t see. In manufacturing, visibility into work-in-progress (WIP) is crucial for enhancing throughput, minimizing errors, and ensuring quality. With Zebra’s RFID hardware, powered by optional RedBeam tracking software and deployed by Strategic Systems, manufacturers gain real-time visibility into every part, process, and production zone.

From raw materials to finished goods, RFID transforms how manufacturers monitor and move jobs across the floor.

The WIP Visibility Problem

In traditional manufacturing environments, job status is often based on:

• Manual barcode scans
• Verbal updates between shifts
• Delayed entries into an ERP or MES
• Clipboards or spreadsheets

This creates blind spots, bottlenecks, and communication gaps that impact production velocity and on-time delivery.

RFID removes that friction by automating data capture at every stage.

RFID Solves for Real-Time WIP Tracking

Subassembly & Component Tracking
Apply RFID tags to totes, bins, or parts as they begin their production journey. As they pass through RFID-enabled zones, their movement is automatically logged, no manual scans needed.

Live Status Updates in Your System
Zebra fixed RFID readers communicate with your ERP or WIP software to update order status as items move. Know instantly whether a part is in welding, QA, or final packaging.

Production Bottleneck Insights
See where parts are waiting longest and where throughput lags—then adjust labor or schedules accordingly.

Traceability & Compliance
Need proof for audits, warranty claims, or quality certifications? RFID provides time-stamped movement records for every asset.

Zebra Hardware That Powers WIP Visibility

Fixed RFID Readers & Antennas
Install above doorways, at workstations, or production gates to log asset movement zone-by-zone.

Handheld RFID Readers (e.g., RFD40)
Give supervisors or floor managers mobile tools to verify status, check counts, or locate specific parts instantly.

Zebra RFID Printers
Encode durable RFID tags or labels at the point of entry for consistent tracking throughout the product lifecycle.

RedBeam RFID Software (Optional)
For operations not yet integrated with ERP or MES, RedBeam offers a turnkey platform to manage RFID tracking, reporting, and asset movement.

Why Strategic Systems?

Strategic Systems helps manufacturers modernize their operations with hands-on support, deep Zebra expertise, and seamless integration across production environments.

We offer:

• RFID site surveys and zone mapping
• Zebra hardware provisioning and staging
• Integration with ERP/MES or RedBeam RFID
• Deployment services and team training
• Long-term maintenance and scaling support

Whether you’re tagging subassemblies or tracking WIP through five zones, we’ll help you reduce waste and improve flow without disrupting production.

From First Scan to Final Assembly. Track It All.

RFID gives manufacturers the transparency to make real-time decisions, eliminate inefficiencies, and deliver more, faster. With Zebra’s RFID ecosystem and Strategic Systems by your side, your WIP process becomes smarter, faster, and future-ready.

Contact Strategic Systems for a WIP tracking consultation.