RFID Tracking Glossary

Machine maintenance refers to the planned inspection, care and servicing of machines in order to ensure their functionality, availability and service life. In an industrial environment, it includes technical measures, documented maintenance intervals and the elimination of wear or faults. In digitally supported processes, it helps to keep the condition of equipment traceable and to plan maintenance activities in a structured way. Reliable process reliability in production also depends on machines being maintained regularly and failures being avoided at an early stage.

Make to Order refers to a production principle in which products are only manufactured after a specific customer order has been received. The aim is to manage variants and quantities according to demand instead of producing for stock. This reduces inventory levels, while increasing the need for transparency, scheduling and clean process control. In industrial environments, Make to Order  supports the clear assignment of orders, materials and processing statuses. The close coordination of order management and material flow enables the precise manufacture of customised products without unnecessary pre-production.

Material flow refers to the controlled movement of materials, components or goods within operational processes. It describes how objects are moved from goods receipt through storage, provision and production to dispatch. The aim is to make the right quantity available at the right place and at the right time. Well-managed material flow improves processes in intralogistics and reduces downtime, search effort and unnecessary transport routes in ongoing operations.

Material tracking refers to the systematic capture and monitoring of materials, components or goods across defined stages within a process. For this purpose, identification data is linked automatically with movement or status information so that material movements can be represented transparently and clearly in the system. The aim is to create greater transparency across the material flow and to enable reliable object tracking without manual intermediate steps. This allows locations, processing statuses and handovers to be traced consistently. Material tracking improves the control of inventory, transport operations and process steps in production and logistics.