Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) in the oil and gas industry presented several key challenges for the company:
- Complex Lifecycle Management: Tracking maintenance schedules, repair history and end-of-life status for a vast equipment inventory.
- Inspection and Repair Delays: Ensuring timely scheduling and status tracking for equipment inspections and damage repairs.
- Maintenance Assignment: Verifying personnel adherence to MRO procedures across global operations.
How is RFID Implemented in MRO Operations?
The company deployed RFID tags to optimize MRO workflows, improving maintenance efficiency. HID’s RFID tags were deployed across multiple facilities globally, offering consistent asset management and scalability for diverse MRO needs. Key features of the RFID tags include:
RFID Tagging Critical Assets
Durable HID® Adept™ RFID Tags and EXO Pro™ Tags are affixed to critical assets such as pumps, compressors and pipelines to monitor their condition and track maintenance histories.
- HID® SlimFlex™ RFID Tags: Used frequently for MROs as well as field operations.
- HID® IN Tag™ RFID Tags: Highly robust tag with LF and HF versions.
- Predictive Maintenance: These RFID tags store detailed data—enabling predictive maintenance strategies to identify potential issues before failures occur.
- Lifecycle Data: Tags store maintenance history, wear and tear records and predictive analytics, enabling timely interventions and reducing the risk of unexpected failures.
MRO operational integration steps
Handheld Readers: Maintenance teams use portable RFID readers to quickly locate and assess equipment and tracking of assets during inspections and repairs.
Predictive Maintenance: These RFID tags store detailed data—enabling predictive maintenance strategies to identify potential issues before failures occur.
Operations: The data integrates with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, streamlining workflows and ensuring data consistency.
Benefits of RFID for MRO Operations
By adopting RFID technology for its MRO operations, one of the world’s largest oil-field product manufacturers significantly improved its ability to track, maintain and utilize critical assets. The implementation of RFID not only enhances operational efficiency but also improves reliability through predictive maintenance and proactive asset tracking. Automated data collection reduced labor-intensive processes, freeing up personnel for higher-value tasks. Furthermore, the durability of RFID tags in extreme environments ensures long-term reliability, while the integration of RFID tags with existing digital tools maximizes asset visibility and utilization, driving profitability across the oil and gas sector.
“Oil and gas companies can enhance reliability, ensure operational continuity and maximize profitability by incorporating RFID into their MRO operations.”
Kathy Gannon, Strategic Sales Director, U.S.A.
