UNCLASSIFIED
Implementation
of the
Acutrax Cylinder Tracking System by
DataWeld Inc.
at
Los Alamos National Laboratory
(LANL)
Presented by
Joe Abeyta (OS-PT Engineering)
05/11/2010
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
What is Acutrax?
* AcuTrax
•
AcuTrax is a tested and proven software product designed specifically to track cylinders,
totes, containers and other moveable assets.
•
When coupled with the state of the art TROVEN Transponder
or the traditional
bar code, DataWeld's powerful AcuTrax software offers a complete solution for cylinder and
asset tracking needs.
•
AcuTrax gives the capabilities needed to reduce lost cylinders, minimize discrepancies
with vendors /customers and raise product stewardship to a new level.
Stand Alone or Interfaced
•
AcuTrax can be totally stand alone or interfaced into current business management
software such as Oracle.
Hardware
•
User friendly handheld scanners (e.g. PSION Workabout Pro-operates on Windows operating system)
•
Closed Loop System
* As quoted on: http://www.dataweld.com/cylindertracking.php
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
What is AcuTrax?
Capabilities
•
Transponder ID will correspond with the cylinder serial # and include all of its specific
information in the server database. (e.g. cylinder size, quantity, gas type, etc.)
•
AcuTrax provides the unique ability to carry a database of cylinders on the handheld
computer. This feature gives advanced error checking capabilities.
•
With this type of information in the drivers' hands, all he/she has to do is scan the cylinder.
AcuTrax already knows the contents of the cylinder and who is supposed to have the
cylinder. AcuTrax even prints out a receipt showing the serial number and contents of the
cylinder. This powerful feature saves time and eliminates data entry mistakes.
•
Another powerful feature of AcuTrax shows up when the cylinder is returned. If the
customer returns a cylinder that was not shipped to them, AcuTrax notifies the driver
immediately. With this type of immediate verification, the driver can notify the customer of
potential cylinder discrepancies before leaving the customer site.
•
Customer Audits are easy and quick with AcuTrax. Since AcuTrax has a database of
customer cylinders on the handheld, the operator simply scans every cylinder he sees at the
customer site and AcuTrax immediately points out any discrepancies.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Why is AcuTrax needed at LANL?
•
At any given time up to 200 + cylinders are unaccounted for with no method of tracking
where they are.
•
The Liquid Helium (LHe) Lifecycle Yellow belt project noted that there is 1.) no order
traceablility to end user. 2.) high associated costs with rental cost of dewars and
cylinders (10% of total He cost). $54 of the $540 total cost per single dewar.
•
The cylinder (equipment) and gas within (commodity) can be tracked separately if
necessary via the report process. This will automate the bi-weekly gas inventory
process at the LANL Gas Facility.
•
Once implemented, the AcuTrax system will aid in the avoidance of future orphaned
cylinders with unknown contents. An orphaned cylinder can cost in upwards of $2000 to
remediate.
•
Cylinder test dates can be tracked and managed.
•
Acutrax custom reports will aid GF personnel in maintaining real time cylinder control and
accountability.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Acutrax vs ChemLog
•
ChemLog (the current Institutional chemical inventory tracking system) is also interested in
capitalizing on AcuTrax’s automated information. Possible expansion to track chemicals.
Capability
AcuTrax
ChemLog
Full Use Cycle Tracking – receipt,
distribution, return to vendor / testing
Yes
No
ChemLog - Internal Tracking
Only
Permanently Affixed Transponders vs
ChemLog Barcodes
Yes
No
ChemLog Barcodes designed for
one-time use only
Correlation between Transponder’s
Unique ID and Cylinder Serial #
Yes
No
Serial # could be entered into
ChemLog system but not a
permanent correlation
System Specifically Used for GF Cylinders
Yes
No
ChemLog system used to track
all institutional gases, chemicals.
Custom Report Capabilities
Yes
No
Real Time Reports. Excellent
accountability tool
UNCLASSIFIED
Notes:
UNCLASSIFIED
LANL AcuTrax Implementation Plan
•
System Cost $42,325; Thereafter, a yearly software support maintenance cost = 18% of
licensed product. Note: Cost to implement a similar Oracle based module is $200K +
•
The contract to purchase the system has been awarded.
•
The initial plan was to recoup this cost through the recharge system by adjusting gas
commodity recharge rates.
•
Software License for 1-4 users to be managed by a GF administrator.
•
WiFi and all recording devices (e.g. microphone, camera, etc.) will be disabled to comply
with LANL cyber security requirements.
•
A DataWeld Training Associate will perform the initial 3-day system training next week
May 18 -20.
•
Gas Facility personnel and the institutional ChemLog administrator gathered inventory data
from Chemlog to attain a conservative estimate on the quantity of institutional cylinders. It
was estimated that there are approximately 12,000 cylinders.
•
This data will be used to estimate/determine the human resource hours and associated
labor budget needed to initiate the system i.e. prep and place transponders on cylinders,
enter cylinder information into standalone server, etc.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
LANL AcuTrax Implementation Plan
•
For example assuming 15 minutes / cylinder = 3,000 labor hours; based on a 6 hour
productive work day and a team of 4 dedicated employees = 125 work days or
approximately 6 months to fully implement. By or before December 2010.
•
LANL’s ENV-RRO: RISK REDUCTION OFFICE has available Pollution Prevention (P2)
institutional funding that was approved to be used to fund the initiation of the system.
•
Much of the administrative leg work, system setup at the GF and GF employee level training
can be completed this summer. Some, if not most, of the cylinders coming through the GF
can be captured (transponder applied, data entered into system, etc.) as a pilot program.
Afterwards, a working team of employees can be coordinated to aggressively go out
Institution wide and initiate the system.
•
Much of the work can be performed by summer students (in non-Q cleared areas) and /
with existing cleared, GF personnel with site level access.
UNCLASSIFIED