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

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2026-08-14
- Length: 49m
- Episode: 47
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out-ep-47

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [5:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out#t=300) The Problem of Tribal Knowledge and Search Time
- [13:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out#t=834) RTLS Applications: Security and Digital Twins
- [27:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out#t=1633) Adoption Trajectory: From RFID to Ultra-Wideband
- [39:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out#t=2352) Worker Tracking, Safety, and Ethics
- [44:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out#t=2676) Preparation for RTLS: Gemba and 5S

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- HID (company)
- Kennametal (company)
- IMTS 2026 (other)
- Zolar Technology Days (other)
- AutoDesk (company)
- Fusion (tool)
- Module Works (tool)
- Higher MFG Leaders (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Challenges Implementing RTLS for Asset Tracking  | WISER Systems, Inc.'s Logan Maxwell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-07-12-challenges-implementing-rtls-for-asset-tracking-wiser-systems-inc-s-logan-maxwel) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [RTLS and the future of IoT in the Healthcare Space | Centrak’s David Minning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-02-23-rtls-and-the-future-of-iot-in-the-healthcare-space-centraks-david-minning) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [RTLS and Modern IT in Healthcare | CenTrak's Scott Hondros & Caryn Hewitt | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-09-19-rtls-and-modern-it-in-healthcare-centraks-scott-hondros-caryn-hewitt-internet-of) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [250: How to Uncover Your "Hidden Factory" and Extract More Value from the Plant Floor featuring Tri Tech Automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-08-26-250-how-to-uncover-your-hidden-factory-and-extract-more-value-from-the-plant-flo) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [The Connected Factory Floor: L2L and Data Management](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-01-09-the-connected-factory-floor-l2l-and-data-management) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-08-14-you-cant-automate-what-you-cant-find-rtls-and-the-data-foundation-for-lights-out. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Lights Out.