Thiesse and Fleisch (2008) studied a real-time location system (RTLS) in complex manufacturing processes.
They used a case example of an RFID-based RTLS implementation in a semiconductor fab, and investigated the value of RTLS information on the locations of physical objects in a production system.
Using a simulation model, they find that the use of RTLS technology provides the opportunity for new levels of process visibility and control in comparison to conventional material-tracking systems.
The benefits are an overall acceleration of the existing process and an additional efficiency gain through novel dispatching rules taking into account real-time information on the logistic processes on the shop floor.