Question about proximity card readers

[daveinarmstrong]

i have implemented a manufacturing plant floor data system to track work flow through the plant. currently i have employees logging in to a PC by typing in their employee number. I would like to upgrade this and add a touch less proximity card reader so the employee can log in using a card. Has anyone had experience with prox card readers (good/bad) and can you recommend a brand that you've had success with that includes sample VB6 code and a dll for VB6.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[LaVolpe]

No idea regarding any VB6 code; though the card company themselves may have software for tracking/logging.

It's not clear, from your description, whether you are using proximity readers for entrance in/out of your doors. So, I'll post a bit of experience in that realm.

Where I work, they are in use all the time. Can't recommend any company though; we use only one & I have no comparison to others out there.

Downside to these things are the humans & specifically piggy-backing. Our local policy is that no one is allowed to let another to come thru the door without carding; otherwise, you'd have people coming thru the doors without being logged in. Security-wise, bad idea to allow piggy-backing because in an emergency, you can't use the system to locate individual nor determine how many individuals may be in a damaged room/area.

Another thing is that we do not use/need a card to exit a room, only for entry. So, there is no way to determine when someone leaves the room or the building. The cards are used for security only -- if badge isn't authorized for that room, you are not getting in (except for the piggy-backing issue).

Bottom line, could be used for showing when someone entered your building/room. But not a good system for determining when someone left. The proximity readers we have do not exist on both sides of the door. The exit was done via a motion detector (releases lock) but system abandoned due to security issues. People would have a small window of opportunity to piggy-back as the door closed and until the person entering the room walked far enough away from the door to re-engage the lock by not being in line of the motion detector. Now exiting can only be done by pushing a button/plunger.

If the reader is only used as a time card, then I'd see no reason why it can't be used for that reason. People will still cheat on occasion. For example: someone passes a card to someone else to so they can punch both into the system; sneaky way of getting payable hours without being at work -- until caught.

[daveinarmstrong]

If the reader is only used as a time card, then I'd see no reason why it can't be used for that reason. People will still cheat on occasion. For example: someone passes a card to someone else to so they can punch both into the system; sneaky way of getting payable hours without being at work -- until caught.

I'll be using the system so the employee will have to swipe their card at the machine they are using before the machine will start up and start logging time. (the machine will not automatically start up for safety). then when the machine has completed its batch it automatically adds a batch completed line to the batch table.

I can see how someone handing their card off to another to be used fraudulently could be a problem though.