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mininginnovationnews.com 2014 00002.txt

#Technology improves tool store security and efficiency Tool and equipment management systems using radio-frequency identification (RFID), provided by Toolhound Inc, . is improving efficiency, security and productivity at a Canadian diamond mine. According to a company statement, the unnamed mining operation was facing a security challenge as its tools are utilised 24/7, which required constant access to the store housing valuable equipment and it had been determined that having a full time staffing of the room was impractical. The solution provided was an installation of a kiosk with a fully automated inventory system with which mining operatives can checkout and return tools or equipment using a radio scanning technology, with each individual responsible for the equipment they take. racking metal tools that are covered typically in dirt requires quick and reliable RFID technology, particularly when there is no tool attendant on site to verify the checkout process, said Dean Perry, president of Toolhound. He continued to say that the technology rovides real-time tool tracking and management for convenient access without sacrificing security, reducing tool loss and increasing productivity. All tools and handheld equipment are tagged with both RFID-on-metal tags and standard RFID tags which the inventory system can scan. The kiosk has an inventory scanner and a touch screen monitor to allow miners to interact with the system; according to the company worker simply scans their badge and chooses whether they are checking out or returning inventorythe worker confirms that the list of scanned items matches their inventory to ensure accountability. The implementation of the technology has improved security as tools can only be accessed using company ID badges, with each worker accountable for their inventories. The technology has increased efficiency as more tools are available, with no expenditure on full-time security staff to operate a tool store required

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