Xplore’s Rugged Tablet PC’s Selected by DaimlerChrysler in Bremen, Germany

Xplore Technologies Corp. (TX, USA) an international rugged Tablet PC provider, has announced its iX104RD Tablet PC’s have been selected by DaimlerChrysler in Bremen, Germany to increase spare parts processing efficiency at their manufacturing plant. Xplore has received initial orders for over 150 systems for DaimlerChrysler from Xplore’s distributor, ID.SYS GmbH and its authorised German systems integrator, ID Biz Input Solutions GmbH. Approximately 50 systems have been deployed to date.

Xplore’s rugged iX104RD Dual Mode Tablet PC’s with integrated Cisco Aironet 350 wLAN card are wirelessly connected to DaimlerChrysler’s mobile spare part management system called MOBSY. The tablets, mounted on electric forklifts are used to locate and manage the logistics for the automobile parts used on the manufacturing lines.

ID Biz developed a communication tool called LogIn (Logistic Interface) to allow the manufacturing engineers to contact the warehouse staff via Xplore’s iX104 Tablet PC whenever a part is required at the production line. The manufacturing engineer simply selects the appropriate LogIn parts key on the line to request spare parts from the warehouse. The LogIn terminal sends the information through the wireless local area network to the Xplore tablet mounted on the forklift. The forklift driver using Xplore’s Tablet PC Dual Mode Touch and RF interface identifies the appropriate spare part location via a central database and collects the part. When the picker retrieves the part, the label is scanned by a barcode scanner connected to the Xplore Tablet PC and inventory counts are automatically adjusted in real-time.

The return on investment is immediate and evident: not only are the parts easier to locate in the warehouse when using the forklift-mounted Xplore Tablet PC, but accuracy and complete integrated inventory control delivers additional efficiencies. The iX104RD tablets together with the LogIn solution utilising RF-assured communication from the manufacturing to the picking has significantly improved parts processing.