Flow optimization in industrial laundries

Optimizing linen flows is a crucial element in guaranteeing the quality of service offered to customers and reducing operational costs.

RFID, or radio frequency identification, is a powerful tool that allows for real-time visibility of circulating and non-circulating laundry flows.

Thanks to this traceability system, laundries have real-time visibility of the linen in stock on their premises, the linen in stock at the customer's premises and the customer's clean linen requirements. This allows them to optimize flows and improve their operational performance.

RFID, an indispensable technology for optimizing industrial laundry flows

What is RFID?

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. RFID technology is a wireless communication system that allows remote data collection using RFID tags equipped with a microchip and an antenna. RFID readers communicate with the identifiers through radio waves to retrieve information about the items they are attached to.

How does it work in the laundry?

In the industrial laundry sector, the RFID traceability system is used to track laundry items throughout the various stages of the treatment process.

1- Fast, reliable and automated tracking

RFID tags are affixed to the textiles and RFID readers are used at various points in the laundry process. The information collected by the RFID readers is stored in a central database, allowing for efficient management of incoming and outgoing laundry.

2- Traceability at all stages of the laundry process

The identification system provides real-time access to information such as location, status and history of laundry items.

When the dirty linen is collected from the customer or arrives in the laundry, it is scanned for identification. Then, when the laundry is processed, it is scanned at each key stage, such as :

• • sorting,
  • washing,
  • drying,
  • ironing
  • folding,
  • packaging,
  • and delivery.

This system makes it possible to monitor and optimize each step of the washing process.

Figure 1: RFID intervention in laundry processes

How does RFID help optimize laundry flows?

The RFID system provides full visibility of the laundry's inventory, the customer's inventory and the customer's clean linen needs.

This makes it possible to know exactly how much clean linen is available at any given time and to give priority to linen requested by the customer or missing from the stock, rather than washing the linen as soon as it arrives.

This system not only tracks laundry, but also equipment such as carts. Laundries can now locate carts in real time on their premises and at customers' premises.

With RFID, laundries can :

• Schedule washes according to demand,
• Optimize the quality of customer services: clean linen is always ready to be sent to the customer,
• Optimize the rotation of the carts,
• Reduce energy costs: control of storage times, avoidance of incomplete load cycles.

Figure 2: identification of linen and carts via a mobile RFID mobile terminal

We can see that the optimization of industrial laundry flows is a major challenge to remain competitive in a constantly changing market. Identification technologies, such as RFID, have enabled a revolution in the laundry industry, offering efficient and effective traceability solutions.

However, to take full advantage of these technological advances, laundries must adopt these technologies to optimize their workflows and gain productivity.

AXEM Technology offers a traceability solution dedicated to industrial laundries to accompany them in this transition. Consult our offer now and discover all the possibilities that RFID offers for your company.

Do not hesitate to contact us at Know more and benefit from our teams' expertise to carry out your traceability project.

Bibliography:

"RFID in Textile and Clothing Manufacturing: Technology and Challenges," International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, https://fashionandtextiles.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40691-015-0034-9

https://www.lavandys.fr/comment-optimiser-vos-co-ts-en-blanchisserie-partie-4-b8.php

http://www.electronique-mag.com/article1301.html