TRACKING APPARATUS

摘要

For tracking the WIP storage location of each of a plurality of articles (11) between successive steps of a plurality of process operations there is provided a tracking system (10) and a storage tray (12) wherein a central processing unit comprises a data store (20), a plurality of individually identified storage sites (12), a plurality of first communication links each for two-way communication between the central processing unit and a storage site, a user interface associated with the central processing unit to display storage location information, and each storage tray comprising a detector (15) to receive information related to the identity of an article temporarily stored at that storage site and transmit said information and identity of that storage site to the central processing unit (34). The first communication links may be POE connections, and the storage tray may comprise a visual display (21) of information related to the identity of the article temporarily stored at that tray and a visual indicator (24) which is actuable to indicate that an article is due to be removed.