Tutorials Supply ChainIn the past few years, much has been said about Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, and how it will revolutionize the supply chain process, both locally, nationally and globally. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is all about, you’re not alone. This article explains what RFID technology is, who’s using it, how they’re using it, and how it could (or not) help improve your supply chain.
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is a means of using electronic tags to store data. This electronic data is then transmitted to a scanning antenna to be so that it can be read. In this way, RFID technology is generally used for purposes of identification or tracking. An RFID tag can be made small enough to fit onto a package, container, or even an animal or human. Several people have already elected to have tiny RFID chips implanted under their skin, so that they can be located in the event that they are lost or kidnapped.
While the interest in RFID technology has undergone a tremendous resurgence in popularity in recent years, the technology itself is not new. In fact, some or another variant of RFID technology has been in existence since at least the 1940’s (though it may have been under a different name). Initially used by the military for purposes of aircraft navigation and espionage, the technology has begun to enjoy more diverse uses, such as product tracking, animal identification, and even the scanning of library books.
Among RFID devices, there are two types – passive and active. A passive RFID device is one that does not use an internal power supply to communicate with the scanning antenna. Instead, during the process of being scanned, the radio waves from the scanning antenna itself provide power and activate the RFID tag so that the information encoded on it can be transmitted.
An active RFID device has a power supply of its own. As such, these devices have a greater capacity and range than passive RFID tags. They can transmit their signals over greater distances and in more adverse conditions than passive RFID tags. For example, active RFID devices can transmit signals more easily through water and other liquids, as well as through metal containers. Active RFID devices are also able to store a larger amount of information than passive RFID tags and can even transmit data such as product temperature and humidity. However, active RFID tags tend to be more expensive than passive RFID tags.
There is also a third type of RFID device known as semi-active, or semi-passive. This type of tag receives power from the scanning antenna when scanned, but also has an internal power supply, like an active RFID tag. This additional on-board power supply grants the semi-passive/semi-active tag a greater scanning range than a normal passive RFID tag.
Companies can benefit from RFID technology in several ways. For one, the technology allows for increased supply chain visibility at all stages of the process. This increased visibility can lead to greater speed and efficiency in transporting products as well as reducing loss that leads to unnecessary costly expenditures and waste. For one, the technology provides a more precise assessment of the amount of product actually electronically inventoried, as opposed to the actual number of units in-store or onsite. The more accurately you can model your supply chain process, the more accurately you can respond with solutions that maximize your profits and your customer experience.
Another way that RFID technology can enhance your supply chain process is through the use of vehicle scanning. For instance, truck drivers can use RFID tags in their vehicles to pass through automated toll collection scanners that are used at transportation hubs, such as tunnels and bridges. This capability saves time and boosts the efficiency of your supply chain services.
RFID technology can be used to scan product pallets, identify product containers and other merchandise, as well as improve estimated delivery times. RFID tags can also be used in the case of a product recall, making it easier to identify points of origin for a defective or unsafe product, as well as product transportation paths and ultimate points of delivery.
RFID can be used in situations when other technological solutions would not be practical, due to reasons of prohibitive cost or difficulty in data collection. RFID works in types of environments that prohibit normal data-gathering, such as crowded warehouses where boxes or pallets of products are stacked too high to see with the eye. RFID also can also function well in environments that are physically dangerous for workers to try to collect data from, such as manufacturing locations where materials may be stored at very high temperatures or where noxious chemicals are being used.
RFID already has makes many day-to-day activities easier for people who use the technology. RFID can be used to open cars via the use of RFID tag enabled keycards. It also allows customers at gas stations to shorten their time at the pump by using an RFID tag to complete payments. Governments around the world have already begun using RFID-enabled smart cards in their transportation systems in order to expedite the travel process for millions of commuters each day.
As RFID is combined with other existing supply chain software applications, new uses for the technology become apparent. For example, because of RFID’s temperature-detection properties, and RFID tag that is installed in a pallet of perishable goods, for example, could be programmed to send out a warning signal the moment that the product had reached an unsafe temperature. This type of early warning system could minimize future instances of spoiled food being sold to the public, and even save lives.
At the very least, it would avoid the financial and branding disasters that can arise when a company is involved in a food contamination scare or outbreak. RFID tags could also be designed to issue a request for replacement of items when supplies run low by integrating RFID technology with facilities monitoring technology. This would help prevent situations such as product shortages and give companies a more accurate picture of product cycle times.
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