Russian Mining Plant Automates Inventory with RFID

At a lead-zinc processing plant in Siberia, RFID tags have slashed inventory time by a factor of 15, replacing outdated barcode tracking with a fully automated system.

The Novoangarsk enrichment plant has rolled out a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system to automate product tracking at its warehouses. Unlike barcodes, which require line-of-sight scanning, RFID tags can be read at various distances and even through obstacles.

The company mines and processes lead-zinc ore, shipping finished products in soft containers, while lab samples are handled in specialized vessels. With RFID identification, inventory checks are now 15 times faster, and serial tracking with quality control has become fully automated.

Every item and its movements are tracked online, and all data—including lab test results—can be accessed via a mobile device by scanning an RFID tag. Operations run through the Chainway C61 software, eliminating manual entry errors and significantly accelerating all logistics and accounting tasks.

The digital system took three months to implement. In its first phase, 35 workstations were automated. Serial inventory tracking is now applied across other facilities at the enrichment complex as well.