You Can't Automate What You Can't Find: RTLS and the Data Foundation for Lights-Out | Ep. 47

Lights Out · 14 Aug 2026 · 49m · Episode 47

What this episode covers

Mitch Tucker of HID explains how Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) provide the data foundation necessary for lights-out manufacturing and Industry 5.0. He argues that shops must first standardize processes through Gemba walks and 5S before implementing RTLS to solve the costly problem of 'tribal knowledge' and search time. The discussion covers scaling from simple RFID to ultra-wideband, using location data for safety and digital twins, and the ethical considerations of worker tracking.

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 30m

    Challenges Implementing RTLS for Asset Tracking | WISER Systems, Inc.'s Logan Maxwell

    Logan Maxwell, an early employee and Director of Solutions Engineering at WISER Systems, discusses the company's evolution from a research grant to a commercial Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) provider using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. He details specific deployments, including tracking city buses in Columbus, Ohio, and managing truck yard logistics for distribution centers, highlighting the shift from COVID-era social distancing use cases to permanent asset tracking. Maxwell also addresses the challenges of implementing RTLS in metallic environments, the disconnect between IoT marketing hype and practical ROI, and the critical importance of integrating location data with operational workflows.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 27m

    RTLS and the future of IoT in the Healthcare Space | Centrak’s David Minning

    David Minning, President and CEO of Centrak, discusses the evolution of Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) in healthcare, highlighting how the pandemic shifted focus from asset tracking to infection prevention and patient safety. He explains Centrak's 'clinical grade' multi-mode architecture using technologies like Gen 2 IR, Bluetooth, and RFID to achieve precise location data in complex hospital environments. Minning also outlines the company's strategic pivot toward providing integrated software, analytics, and managed services to help hospitals realize ROI and navigate the challenges of adoption and staff engagement.

  • IoT For All Podcast · 19m

    RTLS and Modern IT in Healthcare | CenTrak's Scott Hondros & Caryn Hewitt | Internet of Things Podcast

    Scott Hondros, Vice President of Professional Services, and Caryn Hewitt, Senior Director of Consulting Services at CenTrak, discuss implementing Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) in healthcare. They explain how CenTrak’s indoor GPS technology helps hospitals track assets, ensure staff safety through duress badges, and monitor environmental conditions like pharmaceutical storage. The conversation highlights the importance of governance, integrating with legacy IT systems like EHRs, and using a 'crawl, walk, run' strategy to achieve predictive ROI and operational efficiency.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 51m

    250: How to Uncover Your "Hidden Factory" and Extract More Value from the Plant Floor featuring Tri Tech Automation

    Luke Manier, Adam Ruebsam, and Ryan Williams of Tri Tech Automation discuss how manufacturers can uncover their 'hidden factory'—untapped potential and invisible inefficiencies within existing resources. They explain that unlocking this value requires focusing on business outcomes first, empowering the workforce with data and guided instructions, and integrating OT data with ERP systems. The panel shares Tri Tech's own digital transformation journey, detailing how they used EPLAN and automated fabrication tools to shift from serial to parallel panel manufacturing, thereby increasing velocity and consistency across their St. Louis and Tulsa locations.

  • Over the Air · 33m

    The Connected Factory Floor: L2L and Data Management

    Eric Whitley, Director of Industrial Transformation at L2L, explains how their connected workforce platform bridges the gap between enterprise ERP systems and shop-floor PLC data to provide real-time visibility into manufacturing operations. He details how L2L captures five key metrics—demand, build, scrap, labor, and downtime—to calculate Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and other critical KPIs for discrete manufacturers in automotive, food and beverage, and packaging. Whitley highlights the severe labor shortage in manufacturing, noting that 80% of surveyed firms report it impacts throughput, and describes how L2L’s AI tools and digital workflows help upskill workers by providing immediate, context-aware guidance on the shop floor. He also discusses the company's evolution from an in-house Excel tool at Autoleave to a global software provider, emphasizing the importance of practical AI applications that reduce wasted time and motion for mechanics and operators.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Lights Out. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.