Kumho fits RFID tags in half-finished tires

London – Kumho Tire has started applying radio-frequency identification (RFID) system on ‘half-finished’ tires since 16 June, announced the Korean tire-maker in a statement.

“We are now using an IoT-based (Internet-of-Things) production and distribution integrated management system to apply RFID system on our half-finished products,” said Kumho, claiming that this was a “world-first” in the industry.

Kumho said it had started fitting RFID tags on complete bus and truck tires manufactured in its Gwangju and Gokseong sites in Korea and for original equipment (OE) Tires in 2013. Also, the tags have been fitted on complete passenger tires since late last year.

“Because of the success we’re now putting them on half-finished tires too,” the tire maker added.

Kumho claims that the technology will enable it to manage products more efficiently than its competitors. RFID, it said, allows access to information about a product’s location, storage and release history, as well as its inventory management.

With the system, the tire maker said, “we expect to have more thorough quality control, such as first-in-first-out and real-time production management.”