Founded on the Expertise of 100+ RTLS Projects Since 2008
RTLS & Digital Twins
in
Manufacturing
LocaXion delivers vendor-agnostic RTLS Solutions for Manufacturing
that connect assets, people, and processes in real time.
The LocaXion Multi-Tech Advantage
Integrating UWB, BLE, Vision, WiFi, and RFID to deliver the right technology
mix for every manufacturing workflow.
Why vendor-agnostic matters in manufacturing: RTLS for Manufacturing transforms productivity and visibility across production floors by unifying UWB, BLE, Vision, WiFi, and RFID within a single system. Each technology operates where it delivers the highest value, from real-time machine tracking and automated material movement to workforce efficiency and quality control, helping manufacturers reduce downtime and improve asset utilization.
This multi-tech approach drives measurable returns, typically 35 to 50 percent higher ROI than single-technology systems. By combining precise UWB accuracy for equipment, long-lasting BLE tracking for workforce safety, Vision-based insights for faster inspections, and RFID for seamless material flow, manufacturers gain faster throughput, lower operating costs, and data-driven decision-making that keeps production continuous and efficient.
Key Performance Metrics
Core Applications
Explore RTLS in Manufacturing to improve workflows and deliver
measurable results
WIP and Real-time Inventory Tracking
Track real-time location of work orders, parts, or pallets to view live production flow.
Learn more
Worker Safety and Lone Worker Monitoring System
Track worker locations and get instant alerts when someone needs help in hazardous areas.
Learn moreIndustrial Asset Tracking for Tools and Equipment
Locate tools and machines instantly while tracking usage for smarter maintenance.
Learn moreTrack and Find is just the beginning. Discover how RTLS in Manufacturing goes beyond
location tracking to measure, analyze, and optimize every stage of your production workflow through real-time data and
process intelligence.
The Core Applications above provide visibility. The Advanced Applications below deliver intelligence by helping manufacturers predict bottlenecks, reduce downtime, enforce quality, and achieve continuous operational improvement.
By integrating UWB, BLE, Vision, WiFi, and RFID within a single system, manufacturers gain higher throughput, lower operating costs, and measurable ROI, typically 35 to 50 percent better than single-technology systems.
Advanced Applications
We extend core applications into real-time intelligence
Line Balancing
Visualize production flow to detect and correct shifting bottlenecks. Validate master schedules in real time
Deep Dive →Productive Utilization
Measure in-cycle vs. idle time to reveal true machine efficiency and reduce unnecessary capital spending
Deep Dive →Tool Traceability
Track tool usage and calibration history to ensure quality and compliance. Maintain a verified digital record
Deep Dive →Automated Process Verification
Ensure every step follows the right sequence with smart tool-part validation
Deep Dive →Smart Workflow Automation
Automate machine setups, material flow, and task assignments in real time
Deep Dive →Digital Twin Simulation
Use live RTLS data to simulate, test, and optimize workflows before deployment
Deep Dive →Manage Time-Sensitive Materials
Track perishable materials with automated alerts for shelf-life and usage
Deep Dive →Optimize Shared Fleet Operations
Use data-driven dispatch to manage forklifts and tugs efficiently in real time
Deep Dive →Enhance Emergency Response
Get live visibility to locate every worker and guide responders instantly
Deep Dive →Line Balancing
Uneven workloads and shifting bottlenecks reduce throughput and increase overtime costs. RTLS-powered digital twins visualize production flow in real time, helping teams identify imbalances, validate master schedules, and maintain continuous flow across workstations.
What You Can Measure
- Actual cycle time vs. planned time at each workstation
- Idle and waiting time across production lines
- Upstream and downstream bottlenecks
- Task distribution and labor utilization per line
Measurable Outcomes
- 10–20% increase in line efficiency
- 15–25% reduction in unplanned downtime
- Faster production schedule validation and execution
Productive Utilization
RTLS analytics capture every second of machine activity, differentiating between productive “in-cycle” time and idle or waiting periods. This real-time visibility reveals true utilization rates, helping teams validate performance assumptions and prevent unnecessary equipment purchases.
What You Can Measure
- Actual runtime vs. idle and waiting time for each machine
- Equipment usage trends across shifts and production lines
- Upstream delays causing idle periods
- Correlation between utilization and output quality
Measurable Outcomes
- 15–25% improvement in equipment utilization
- Significant reduction in idle hours across high-value assets
- Deferred capital purchases backed by verified performance data
Tool Traceability
RTLS-enabled traceability systems link every tool to its precise usage, calibration status, and location history. This ensures each tool is properly maintained, used within the correct process zone, and recorded in a verifiable digital audit trail that supports quality and compliance standards.
What You Can Measure
- Real-time tool location and active usage history
- Calibration status and maintenance compliance
- Tool-to-part verification to prevent misapplication
- Automatic logs of tool interactions by operator and workstation
Measurable Outcomes
- 20–30% reduction in quality-related rework and downtime
- Full traceability for AS9100, IATF, and ISO audit readiness
- Verified digital records for compliance and FOD prevention
Automated Process Verification
RTLS-powered process automation ensures every production step is completed in the correct sequence and verified in real time. Tool-part validation prevents errors, while automated checks remove manual sign-offs and ensure consistent quality across workstations.
What You Can Automate
- Step-by-step verification using geofenced process zones
- Tool and part validation before task execution
- Automatic recording of process data for traceability
- Sequence enforcement across multiple workstations
- Real-time alerts for skipped or incomplete steps
Measurable Outcomes
- Improved process compliance and consistency
- 20–30% reduction in process-related defects
- Faster audit readiness through digital verification records
Smart Workflow Automation
RTLS integration automates machine setups, material movement, and task coordination based on live production flow. Each process is synchronized in real time, reducing manual handoffs and eliminating bottlenecks on the floor.
What You Can Automate
- Automatic material movements and task assignments
- Machine setup triggers driven by live RTLS data
- Closed-loop material flow between warehouse and production
- Automated ingress/egress and staging lane management for internal logistics
- Real-time synchronization of workers, machines, and tools
Measurable Outcomes
- 30–40% faster workflow completion times
- 50–70% reduction in manual coordination tasks
- Reduced congestion and idle time across production areas
Digital Twin Simulation
Digital twin simulation links live RTLS data with your virtual factory model, allowing teams to visualize, test, and refine production workflows before implementation. This reduces risk, accelerates improvement, and supports continuous optimization.
What You Can Simulate
- Live 3D visualization of production lines and asset flow
- Virtual testing of layout or process changes before rollout
- Impact analysis of scheduling and routing adjustments
- Operator training in a realistic, data-driven virtual environment
- Predictive modeling for throughput and efficiency gains
Measurable Outcomes
- 25–35% faster implementation of process improvements
- 15–20% increase in operational efficiency
- Reduced downtime through proactive workflow testing
Manage Time-Sensitive Materials
RTLS ensures perishable or shelf-life-bound materials are tracked from storage to production in real time. Automated alerts notify teams before expiration, preventing waste and ensuring quality compliance in aerospace, pharma, and other regulated industries.
What You Can Measure
- Material age and shelf-life status in real time
- Storage condition compliance and location history
- Expiry alerts and movement tracking across zones
- Material utilization and turnover rates
- Time-to-consume across batches and work orders
Measurable Outcomes
- Reduced material waste and rework
- Improved compliance with handling standards
- Increased production reliability and traceability
Optimize Shared Fleet Operations
RTLS-powered dispatch systems move operations beyond "whoever is closest" to intelligent fleet coordination. Forklifts, tugs, and AMRs are automatically assigned based on real-time location, proximity, and load priority, minimizing idle time and travel distance.
What You Can Measure
- Real-time location and availability of all fleet assets
- Average idle, travel, and active work time per vehicle
- Utilization trends by shift and zone
- Fleet route efficiency and congestion areas
- Load completion time per dispatch cycle
Measurable Outcomes
- 15–25% increase in fleet productivity
- Lower fuel and maintenance costs
- Faster and safer material movement across the facility
Enhance Emergency Response
During emergencies, RTLS delivers instant visibility of every worker’s location, enabling faster, safer evacuations. The system automatically identifies who is in danger zones and guides responders directly to them with real-time positional accuracy.
What You Can Measure
- Worker locations during evacuation events
- Time-to-locate and time-to-respond metrics
- Hazard zone occupancy in real time
- Safety drill performance and compliance rates
- Response team movement and proximity
Measurable Outcomes
- Faster incident response and rescue coordination
- Improved workforce safety and accountability
- Verified digital records for compliance audits
Real-time Monitoring & Optimization transforms your production floor today.
But what if you could predict and prevent line stops?
Let’s explore how we combine RTLS Digital Twin technology with AI-powered predictive maintenance to enable smart factory intelligence and proactive production management.
Knowing where production bottlenecks and equipment inefficiencies occur is powerful. Knowing why they happen and what will happen next is transformational.
Our Machine, Logistics, and Process Digital Twins analyze every cycle time, machine utilization metric, WIP flow pattern, and asset movement, turning data into forward-looking insights that anticipate line imbalances, material shortages, and equipment failures before they affect OEE or disrupt production.
The PRODUCTION INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS above optimize your shop floor in real time through continuous monitoring and visibility. The PREDICTIVE MANUFACTURING APPLICATIONS below enable Industry 4.0 capabilities, forecasting equipment failures through predictive maintenance, automating production scheduling with AI-driven insights, and enabling smart factory line balancing that prevents bottlenecks before they spread across your manufacturing process.
This is where manufacturing operations expertise meets advanced data science and Industrial IoT.
By combining digital twin for manufacturing with machine learning models that understand your facility’s unique production rhythm, we ensure optimal throughput, minimal changeover time, improved quality control, and predictive maintenance that keeps production lines running at peak efficiency.
Key Results:
Predictive Intelligence
We turn today’s manufacturing data into tomorrow’s optimized decisions.
Predictive Bottleneck Detection
Turn reactive manufacturing into proactive optimization with real-time analytics
Deep DiveAutomated Process & Quality Verification
Ensure process accuracy with automated quality and tool-to-part verification
Deep DiveUsage-Based Predictive Maintenance
Trigger maintenance based on actual runtime to reduce downtime and unnecessary servicing.
Deep DiveDynamic Facility Layout Optimization
Use real-time movement data to design, test, and validate the most efficient production floor layouts.
Deep DiveActivate Your Live Digital Twin
Feed live RTLS data into a 3D virtual model of your facility for simulation and scenario testing.
Deep DivePredictive Bottleneck Detection
Machine learning models analyze real-time WIP movement patterns and historical production data to identify where workflow stalls are forming or likely to occur. RTLS enables proactive resource allocation and dynamic rerouting before delays cascade through the production line, turning reactive line management into predictive optimization.
Strategic Benefits
- Reduce production delays by 25–35% with real-time stall detection
- Improve throughput predictability by 40–50% using historical flow analytics
- Enable proactive intervention before bottlenecks impact downstream stations
- Optimize resource and task allocation across work cells in real time
Automated Process & Quality Verification
RTLS enforces process integrity by using geofenced zones, smart tool tracking, and location intelligence to ensure every manufacturing step is performed in the correct sequence. The system automatically verifies that the right part, tool, and operator are in place, creating a complete digital audit trail of every product assembled.
Strategic Benefits
- Guarantee process compliance through geofenced workflow verification
- Prevent assembly errors with automated tool-part matching
- Maintain a secure, traceable digital record for every finished product
- Enable real-time quality enforcement without manual inspection
Usage-Based Predictive Maintenance
RTLS tracks actual machine runtime and usage hours to trigger maintenance only when it’s truly needed. By integrating real-time utilization data with maintenance systems, the solution eliminates unnecessary servicing, prevents unexpected breakdowns, and ensures every asset operates at peak efficiency.
Strategic Benefits
- Schedule maintenance based on real usage hours instead of fixed intervals
- Reduce unplanned downtime through data-driven service alerts
- Optimize maintenance spend by avoiding premature part replacements
- Extend equipment lifespan and improve overall asset reliability
Dynamic Facility Layout Optimization
RTLS captures real-time movement data across the production floor to visualize material flow, worker motion, and equipment usage. By analyzing spaghetti diagrams and motion patterns, manufacturers can identify wasted movement, validate new layouts, and continuously improve floor efficiency using real-world operational data.
Strategic Benefits
- Visualize movement patterns with spaghetti diagrams to detect inefficiencies
- Quantify and eliminate wasted motion and travel paths
- Validate new facility layouts using live RTLS data before implementation
- Improve workflow efficiency and operator ergonomics through data-driven design
Activate Your Live Digital Twin
RTLS integrates live production data into a 3D virtual model of your facility, creating a continuously updated digital twin of your operations. This virtual environment allows manufacturers to visualize real-time workflows, simulate process changes, and train teams in an accurate digital replica of the factory floor.
Strategic Benefits
- Enable live 3D visualization of production flow and resource activity
- Test process changes through what-if simulations without disrupting operations
- Conduct virtual training in a realistic digital factory environment
- Improve planning accuracy and decision-making with real-time data integration
Regulatory Compliance
We turn manufacturing compliance from a manual checklist into an automated,
real-time verification system.
Production & Quality Compliance
Automate IATF 16949 and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance with digital traceability and real-time verification.
Deep DiveAerospace & Defense
Ensure AS9100 compliance with automated tool control and configuration management.
Deep DiveOSHA & Worker Safety
Enable proactive safety monitoring to prevent incidents and maintain compliance.
Deep DiveProduction & Quality Compliance
The IATF 16949 and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 standards require strict traceability, quality verification, and documentation across every stage of manufacturing. RTLS automates compliance by tracking materials, equipment, and operators in real time, creating continuous, verifiable digital records for audit readiness.
Compliance Capabilities
- Automated digital batch record (eBR) generation with time-stamped verification
- Real-time location tracking of parts, tools, and operators
- Quality gate enforcement to prevent non-conforming products
- Automated material genealogy linking lot codes to final assemblies
- Continuous traceability for PPAP and recall documentation
- Integration with MES, ERP, and QMS platforms for unified compliance
Risk Mitigation
Reduce quality escapes and documentation errors by up to 80%. Prevent costly recalls, ensure audit readiness, and maintain full traceability across the production lifecycle.
Aerospace & Defense Compliance
The AS9100 standard requires rigorous traceability, configuration management, and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) prevention across aerospace manufacturing. RTLS enables automated documentation by tracking tools, components, and operators with sub-meter precision, creating verifiable, real-time records for every assembly process.
Compliance Capabilities
- Real-time location tracking of tools, parts, and assemblies
- Automated tool control with digital FOD clearance verification
- Complete configuration management with serialized part history
- Operator, tool, and process logging for AS9100 traceability
- Integration with quality management and MES systems
- Continuous audit-ready documentation for production and maintenance
Risk Mitigation
Prevent FOD incidents and traceability gaps, reduce rework, and ensure complete audit readiness.
OSHA & Worker Safety Compliance
OSHA standards require continuous monitoring of workplace safety, personnel movement, and equipment interaction to prevent accidents and ensure compliance. RTLS provides real-time visibility of workers, safety zones, and machinery, enabling proactive safety management and automated incident documentation.
Compliance Capabilities
- Automated Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) verification through geofenced zones
- Real-time tracking of personnel in confined or restricted areas
- Live alerts for unauthorized access or unsafe proximity to machinery
- Continuous headcount and dwell-time monitoring for safety oversight
- Automated safety training and certification validation
- Integration with EHS and workforce management platforms
Risk Mitigation
Prevent workplace accidents, reduce compliance violations, and enable instant response during safety incidents.
Enterprise Integrations
Connect seamlessly with your existing logistics systems for unified operations and data flow across WMS, TMS, ERP, and more.
ERP Integration
SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics. Unified data across operations.
Deep DiveMES Integration
Supercharge production execution with real-time intelligence.
Deep DiveWMS Integration
Eliminate warehouse blind spots with intelligent automation.
Deep DiveCMMS Integration
Infor EAM, IBM Maximo. Automated maintenance and asset management.
Deep DiveERP Integration
Integrating RTLS with Enterprise Resource Planning systems provides real-time operational data to financial, procurement, and planning teams, enabling data-driven decision-making across the enterprise.
Integration Capabilities
- Real-time inventory valuation and location tracking
- Automated goods receipt and shipment confirmation
- Asset tracking and depreciation management
- Labor cost allocation by activity and location
- Integration with procurement for receiving automation
Supported ERP Platforms
SAP S/4HANA, Oracle ERP Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, and other major platforms.
MES Integration
Integrating RTLS with Manufacturing Execution Systems bridges real-time shop-floor activities with production control, ensuring every work order, operator, and asset is tracked, verified, and optimized as it moves through the production cycle.
Integration Capabilities
- Automated work order updates based on live progress and location data
- Quality gate enforcement through real-time verification
- Production flow tracking for WIP visibility and bottleneck detection
- Equipment utilization and downtime monitoring for OEE optimization
- Material traceability and digital recordkeeping for compliance
Supported MES Platforms
Siemens Opcenter, Rockwell FactoryTalk, Dassault DELMIA, GE Proficy, Honeywell MES, and other major manufacturing systems.
WMS Integration
Integrating RTLS with Warehouse Management Systems provides a unified view of material movement, storage, and replenishment across the production floor. It eliminates data silos between warehouses and assembly areas, ensuring accurate inventory flow and real-time decision-making.
Integration Capabilities
- Real-time material and component tracking at pallet, bin, and part levels
- Automated task verification for receiving, put-away, and line-side replenishment
- Labor productivity and resource utilization analytics
- Continuous cycle counting and inventory accuracy improvement
- Exception handling and workflow optimization for production supply
Supported WMS Platforms
Manhattan SCALE, Blue Yonder (JDA), SAP EWM, Oracle WMS, Infor WMS, HighJump, Körber, and other major platforms.
CMMS Integration
Integrating RTLS with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems automates maintenance scheduling, work order creation, and equipment lifecycle management. Real-time visibility into asset location and usage ensures timely maintenance, reduces downtime, and extends machine reliability across the production floor.
Integration Capabilities
- Automatic maintenance work orders based on real-time equipment usage
- Location tracking for faster technician dispatch and service response
- Preventive maintenance and compliance tracking
- Equipment condition monitoring for early fault detection
- Asset lifecycle management and performance analytics
Supported CMMS Platforms
Infor EAM, IBM Maximo, eMaint, Hippo CMMS, Fiix, and other leading maintenance management systems.
Ready to Transform Your
Manufacturing Operations?
Discover how RTLS can optimize your manufacturing processes,
improve safety, and drive measurable results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn how RTLS for Manufacturing solutions enhance visibility, efficiency, and ROI.
RTLS for manufacturing uses a network of location tags, sensors, and anchors to track assets, equipment, and workers in real time. The collected data is processed through analytics to optimize production workflows, reduce downtime, and improve safety and efficiency across the factory floor.
The future of digital twin in manufacturing lies in its ability to combine AI, IoT, and real-time data for intelligent automation. As factories adopt smarter technologies, digital twins will enable predictive insights, autonomous operations, and continuous process improvement across industrial ecosystems.
A digital twin of a factory is created by mapping every physical process, machine, and asset into a virtual model that mirrors real-world operations. This involves collecting data from IoT sensors, control systems, and production equipment, then integrating it into simulation software. The result is a live digital environment where manufacturers can visualize workflows, test improvements, and make data-driven decisions without disrupting actual production.
RTLS systems in manufacturing commonly use Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and RFID technologies to deliver precise real-time tracking. When integrated with a Digital Twin platform, these technologies provide live visibility into asset movement, process efficiency, and safety across the factory floor.
Yes. Digital twin driven smart manufacturing helps accelerate production by simulating and optimizing workflows virtually before applying changes on the factory floor. This reduces setup times, minimizes downtime, and supports faster decision-making across all stages of manufacturing.
IoT manufacturing uses connected sensors, machines, and systems to collect and analyze operational data in real time. When integrated with RTLS for manufacturing, it enables complete visibility, predictive insights, and automated control that drive safer and more efficient production environments.