Tesla: Automating PPE and Employee Lockers in the Plant
Four locker installations in the plant environment: some issue PPE to plant visitors, the others serve employees as a personal locker for a defined period. Access runs via RFID badge, and every opening is documented.
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Visitor Groups and Time-Limited Lockers
Anyone entering the plant needs personal protective equipment. On plant tours, visitor groups arrive within a short window, and every person has to be equipped with safety glasses, a high-visibility vest and further PPE before the walk begins. This previously ran through a staffed issue desk — with queues exactly when a group arrives together.
In parallel, employees need a secure place for personal belongings, but not permanently: fixed lockers sat empty whenever someone changed shift, was on site for a project only, or left the plant again.
What was needed was not another isolated solution, but a system that handles PPE issuing to visitors without staff, assigns lockers for a defined period and ties every opening to a person.
Two Use Cases on One Platform
Two use cases were implemented on one platform. Part of the installations sits at the visitor entrance and issues PPE to plant visitors: the person identifies themselves, the compartment holding the matching PPE set opens, and the handover is documented. After the tour, the equipment is returned through the same installation.
The remaining installations serve employees as a personal locker for a defined period. The assignment is time-limited — for a shift, a project assignment or a fixed period. Once the period ends, the compartment is released again instead of staying permanently occupied.
Identification runs via RFID badge at the terminal. The platform checks the permission, opens exactly the released compartment and logs time, person and occupancy. Through the platform interfaces, withdrawals can be reported to existing systems — for example to inventory management, so PPE is reordered before a compartment runs empty.
Visitors: issuing and return of PPE
Employees: personal locker for a defined period
Access: RFID badge, no extra app required
Four Installations, Distributed by Purpose
Four installations were realised and distributed by purpose: where visitor groups enter the plant, and where employees store their belongings — close to the work areas rather than centrally in the building. The systems went live one after another, so the experience from the first installation fed into the following ones.
From the first setup to full operation of all four locations, only a few months passed. Instruction came down to a single step: identify yourself, the compartment opens.
What Changed in Daily Operation
PPE for Visitors Without an Issue Desk
Plant visitors receive their protective equipment directly at the installation, even when a whole group arrives at once.
Lockers With an Expiry Date
Employees use their compartment for a defined period. Afterwards it is released again automatically instead of staying occupied for good.
Every Opening Documented per Person
Issuing, return and occupancy are logged. Questions about the whereabouts of a PPE item are resolved on screen instead of in conversation.
Available Around the Clock
Access works in marginal and night shifts too — without a staffed desk and with short distances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Automate PPE and Employee Lockers?
We look at your dispensing process and tell you which compartment sizes and which integration make sense.