I believe RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is the next big wave of technology to impact the way we do business.
RFID tags (like bar codes) consists of a microchip attached to a radio antenna which is then mounted on to a substrate. Chips can store up to 2KB of data which can be read by RFID readers.
RFID reader is a device with one or more antennae that emits radio signals and receives feedback from the RFID tags. Once data is read from the tags, the reader then passes this information in the digital format to other systems. Since the radio frequency is used to read the tags, there is no need for the stock to be in a dedicated area such as when scanning bar codes.
The advantages of using RFID applies to many industries. Supply chain management is one of the areas that can benefit immensely. When transporting large stock piles, use of RFID tags eliminates the need of scanning (bar codes) which involves human intervention. For example Company ABC which manufactures clothing can attach RFID tags to its clothing items either individually or on to pallets. As the stock leaves the warehouse RFID tags are read and data captured in to the Supply Chain Management System, which automatically lets the Company XYZ that the stock has left the Company ABC. When ABC receives the shipment and as it enters the warehouse, its RFID readers will read the tags and confirm its validity, and send information back to Supply Chain Management System, which will notify Company ABC that the goods have arrived.
During the entire process of tag identification and updates to Supply Chain Management System, there is no human intervention required.
In my personal experience, my Company together with a partner organisation and Victorian Racing Club (VRC) embarked on RFID tagging on horses. Tiny RFID tags were attached to horses and the VRC were able to instantly identify the location of the horse which includes it breed, age, owners, trainers, VET records and many more information. This information has enhanced VRC's horse handling work much efficient, especially during race meets.
However, my interest in RFID spans beyond these projects. IBM retail systems together with some smaller players are introducing RFID tagging in to supermarkets. Just imagine a situation where a 'would be' thief enters in to a supermarket and stuffs his jacket with some smaller items such as razors, perfume, shampoo and couple of bottles of beer. The unsuspecting thief, decides to leave the shop, walks through the checkout counters. At the exit door, a security guard stops the 'would be' thief and gives him a shopping docket and asks him to pay at the counter saying 'sir/madam..you forgot to pay for these items..'
Even though it's controversial, I also believe RFID tagging could be used to monitor human movement in a myriad of scenarios. For example fire fighters fighting blazes across wide terrain could be supplied with RFID tagged clothing. In scenarios such as recent bush fires, the fire department will be able to locate its members and if in extreme threat areas they can be evacuated.
Therefore applications and their benefits of RFID tags are 'enormous'. Costs have come down to 20 -40c per tag depending on features, however the aim is to produce them at a 5c or less per tag. To achieve this, the World should consume 30 Billion tags each year. The RFID tag industry believe this will be possible one day. However unless more companies use the technology the costs will remain high,and while the cost remain high, only a few companies would adopt it. This is a typical scenario of which come out first...the chicken or the egg!
To overcome the 'chicken or the egg' situation in someway, Walmart in USA made it compulsory for its top 100 suppliers to use RFID tagging in supplies. Today, increasing number of industries are rapidly adopting RFID technology.
The day we will be wearing a tagged clothing item at work, or driving a tagged vehicle or farms tagging their cattle or correctional departments tagging prisoners, weather controversial or not would not be too far away.
For further comprehensive reference, http://www.rfidjournal.com/.
RFID tags (like bar codes) consists of a microchip attached to a radio antenna which is then mounted on to a substrate. Chips can store up to 2KB of data which can be read by RFID readers.RFID reader is a device with one or more antennae that emits radio signals and receives feedback from the RFID tags. Once data is read from the tags, the reader then passes this information in the digital format to other systems. Since the radio frequency is used to read the tags, there is no need for the stock to be in a dedicated area such as when scanning bar codes.
The advantages of using RFID applies to many industries. Supply chain management is one of the areas that can benefit immensely. When transporting large stock piles, use of RFID tags eliminates the need of scanning (bar codes) which involves human intervention. For example Company ABC which manufactures clothing can attach RFID tags to its clothing items either individually or on to pallets. As the stock leaves the warehouse RFID tags are read and data captured in to the Supply Chain Management System, which automatically lets the Company XYZ that the stock has left the Company ABC. When ABC receives the shipment and as it enters the warehouse, its RFID readers will read the tags and confirm its validity, and send information back to Supply Chain Management System, which will notify Company ABC that the goods have arrived.
During the entire process of tag identification and updates to Supply Chain Management System, there is no human intervention required.
In my personal experience, my Company together with a partner organisation and Victorian Racing Club (VRC) embarked on RFID tagging on horses. Tiny RFID tags were attached to horses and the VRC were able to instantly identify the location of the horse which includes it breed, age, owners, trainers, VET records and many more information. This information has enhanced VRC's horse handling work much efficient, especially during race meets.
However, my interest in RFID spans beyond these projects. IBM retail systems together with some smaller players are introducing RFID tagging in to supermarkets. Just imagine a situation where a 'would be' thief enters in to a supermarket and stuffs his jacket with some smaller items such as razors, perfume, shampoo and couple of bottles of beer. The unsuspecting thief, decides to leave the shop, walks through the checkout counters. At the exit door, a security guard stops the 'would be' thief and gives him a shopping docket and asks him to pay at the counter saying 'sir/madam..you forgot to pay for these items..'
Even though it's controversial, I also believe RFID tagging could be used to monitor human movement in a myriad of scenarios. For example fire fighters fighting blazes across wide terrain could be supplied with RFID tagged clothing. In scenarios such as recent bush fires, the fire department will be able to locate its members and if in extreme threat areas they can be evacuated.
Therefore applications and their benefits of RFID tags are 'enormous'. Costs have come down to 20 -40c per tag depending on features, however the aim is to produce them at a 5c or less per tag. To achieve this, the World should consume 30 Billion tags each year. The RFID tag industry believe this will be possible one day. However unless more companies use the technology the costs will remain high,and while the cost remain high, only a few companies would adopt it. This is a typical scenario of which come out first...the chicken or the egg!
To overcome the 'chicken or the egg' situation in someway, Walmart in USA made it compulsory for its top 100 suppliers to use RFID tagging in supplies. Today, increasing number of industries are rapidly adopting RFID technology.
The day we will be wearing a tagged clothing item at work, or driving a tagged vehicle or farms tagging their cattle or correctional departments tagging prisoners, weather controversial or not would not be too far away.
For further comprehensive reference, http://www.rfidjournal.com/.
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