Background
The progress of RFID technology made it become one of the technological reference points when implementing control and staff monitoring systems.
Today most modern buildings have access control systems with proximity technologies which, while satisfying other current market needs, shortfall on safety standards because of their need for short reading distances.
The long-range RFID systems supplement the unmet need for proximity systems.

The Challenge
Because Talecris Biotherapeutics moves within the health sector, and given its strong commitment to quality, their plants undergo rigorous maintenance processes.
Every 18 months, a number of buildings have their plants suspend production activities , a period in which all maintenance, repairs and outstanding tasks are carried out, which would have been difficult to perform during normal activity.
For that they employ their own staff, as well as a large number of contractors.

In their quest for continuous improvement of all production processes, Talecris Biotherapeutics found the need to implement a system track and record personnel on the ground that meets the highest standards of quality.

The system should meet two fundamental characteristics:

Reliability: With a  high level of reliability, information is obtained in real time to determine the final location of each employee that has access to controlled buildings. If there is an emergency, this technology facilitates the evacuation of all personnel.

Reading distance: The system must record the coming and going of personnel imperceptibly.

The solution

The system implemented is made of a class 1 Gen 2 35 RFID readers; identifiers with an integrated RFID Tag; data gathering information service that configures and manages the RFID readers; and lastly a software component that helps manage the system.

Site Survey

Before installing the 35 reading points, the team of engineers from Kimbaya RFID Solutions visited  the Talecris Biotherapeutics plant and conducted tests to determine the most appropriate location for the RFID readers.

During this phase, reading ranges, interference from the environment, and the final location of readers and antennas were determined.

Information Service data acquisition

A software component designed by Kimbaya RFID Solutions responsible for the efficient management of the 35 readers installed along the plant. It automatically configures the readers, receives information from the RFID tags when read, and stores the information in a database, Microsoft SQL Server.

Management Software

A software component designed by Kimbaya RFID Solutions that functions as the system user interface. It enables staff creation with basic information, it allows for picture taking through a webcam, user-friendly printing of plastic ID, and then later helps to record the RFID TAG.
Moreover, it helps register and associate the various points at which an RFID reader is located.

Reports

An important component of the manager are the reports with which they can efficiently check the information that the RFID hardware has detected.

Personnel: A report built on either the points an employee has had access to, or the points all those in the system have had access to.

Bookmark: A report displaying those employees with access to a specific point in a date range defined by the user.

Emergency: The most important report in the application, it displays real-time staff outside and inside the plant. The information helps you find staff members who have failed to exit after exceeding the time limit defined by the protocols for emergency care.

Results

A successful, reliable system that meets Talecris standards, implemented and functioning, geared towards helping the company’s Clayton plant be prepared for emergencies.

The successful outcome of the solution permits to program the system installation for other buildings at the same plant.