Asset Tracking with RFID Technology

RFID technology adds a new chapter in asset tracking technology. Now a day when large amount of valuable data, asset and people are needed for big projects, basic need of effective and efficient tracking system is increasing day by day. In this situation RFID technical solutions are being so effective.

Forgetting the thing is the common nature of human being but some times, this nature brought a dreadful condition. But to remember each and every thing is not possible. Asset tracking system helps you to track your important and valuable assets. For this reason there are many products and tracking systems are in the market.

Radio Frequency Identification is a groundbreaking technology for this field. Now there is no need to store whole history and full description about them every time. RFID tags are the simpler way to track them. Every tagged asset can be tracked by interpreting the upcoming radio signals from each tag.

RFID software solutions are used to track the particular server down in a huge data center. To identify and locate the packages in warehouse, warehouse manager add video with the all time favorite RFID intelligent tags.

Supply chain management, manufacturing and retailing are major area where long- range RFID solutions will be available in near future. The Forrester Research, provocatively entitled ?BI Vendors Are Sleeping Through RFID?s Arrival,? by Keith Gile and Philip Russom which includes Cognos, SAS, Business objects (Profile, Product, Articles) and application vendors such as SAP- showed till now, there is no any application specific solution for interpreting RFID data and it may not be possible until 2010.

Asset tracking system with pioneering RFID technology is not so far away from you. At agilesense.com, you can find long range of RFID technical solutions for all kind of your asset tracking needs.

RFID technical solutions for all kind of your asset tracking needs ends at agilesense.com.

RFID Pharmaceutical Services

RFID Technology also enters in the world of Pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and hospitals to discourage drug counterfeiting. The report of The World Health Organization shows between 5 to 8 percent of global pharmaceuticals is counterfeit. In some countries, It is higher and between 25 to 40 percent.

In the fight against counterfeit drugs RFID have it?s own additional benefits. The pharmaceutical industry runs on the data information of throughout the process of drug trials, manufacturing, distribution and retail sale. RFID is known for it?s tremendous ability to uniquely identify each item and securely capture date without during whole supply chain. Pharmaceutical industry is blessed by RFID technology:

? Supply Chain: RFID has ability to deep insight, visibility and efficiency during the supply chain. RFID present a good chance to provide 100 percent visibility of inventory, making it easier and quicker to handle goods transaction to the right place in the right channel. The technology improves productivity in shipping and receiving, reduce touch labor, increase the assurance of shipping and providing accuracy, and expanding product availability at the retail store, thus reducing customer complaints and charge backs.

? Pharmaceutical responsibility and Brand Protection: Technology helps to reduce the responsibility at every point of supply chain, reduces the inventory losses. Every year 6-10 percent of retail inventory is stolen and diverted. Benefit of the new technology is presented when returns are properly shipped from right manufacturer, at proper price. RFID also helps to prevent "gray market" distribution, which costs companies and their customers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

? Pharmaceutical Product: RFID provides Safety, Recalls, and Regulatory Requirements. RFID take care about the expiration dates and improving expiration management. The technology can store preliminary information that satisfying regulatory requirement. RFID reduce the time spent to identifying products targeted for recall and reducing the likelihood of a mass-market recall of branded products by zeroing individual items and capturing manufacturing data.

RFID technology improves the drug usage tracking during whole clinical-phase testing. Technology Improve the reliability and speed of the United States Food and Drug Administration to drug approval process by improved tracking and accountability. So the use of RFID is going to be standard for pharmaceutical companies.

RFID solution implemented for many more different fields:

? Corporate Security

? Fraud Prevention

? Legal & Regulatory Affairs

? Loss Prevention

? RFID Technology

? Security Operations

? Supply Chain

? Transportation & Distribution

RFID made data maintenance easier. Data Capturing, managing, and reviewing data anywhere and anytime affect your business directly or indirectly. Dynamic maintenance of your huge data and any kind of asset provides you better flexibility.

find more- RFID solutions

RFID Pharmaceutical services:

RFID Technology also enters in the world of Pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and hospitals to discourage drug counterfeiting. The report of The World Health Organization shows between 5 to 8 percent of global pharmaceuticals is counterfeit. In some countries, It is higher and between 25 to 40 percent. In the fight against counterfeit drugs RFID have it's own additional benefits. The pharmaceutical industry runs on the data information of throughout the process of drug trials, manufacturing, distribution and retail sale. RFID is known for it's tremendous ability to uniquely identify each item and securely capture date without during whole supply chain. Pharmaceutical industry is blessed by RFID technology:

? Supply Chain: RFID has ability to deep insight, visibility and efficiency during the supply chain. RFID present a good chance to provide 100 percent visibility of inventory, making it easier and quicker to handle goods transaction to the right place in the right channel. The technology improves productivity in shipping and receiving, reduce touch labor, increase the assurance of shipping and providing accuracy, and expanding product availability at the retail store, thus reducing customer complaints and charge backs.

? <b.Pharmaceutical responsibility and Brand Protection: Technology helps to reduce the responsibility at every point of supply chain, reduces the inventory losses. Every year 6-10 percent of retail inventory is stolen and diverted. Benefit of the new technology is presented when returns are properly shipped from right manufacturer, at proper price. RFID also helps to prevent "gray market" distribution, which costs companies and their customers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

? Pharmaceutical Product: RFID provides Safety, Recalls, and Regulatory Requirements. RFID take care about the expiration dates and improving expiration management. The technology can store preliminary information that satisfying regulatory requirement. RFID reduce the time spent to identifying products targeted for recall and reducing the likelihood of a mass-market recall of branded products by zeroing individual items and capturing manufacturing data.

RFID technology improves the drug usage tracking during whole clinical-phase testing. Technology Improve the reliability and speed of the United States Food and Drug Administration to drug approval process by improved tracking and accountability. So the use of RFID is going to be standard for pharmaceutical companies.

RFID solution implemented for many more different fields: ? Corporate Security ? Fraud Prevention ? Legal & Regulatory Affairs ? Loss Prevention ? RFID Technology ? Security Operations ? Supply Chain ? Transportation & Distribution

RFID made data maintenance easier. Data Capturing, managing, and reviewing data anywhere and anytime affect your business directly or indirectly. Dynamic maintenance of your huge data and any kind of asset provides you better flexibility.

Diana

RFID In Retail Industry

RFID in retail industry has solved major problems related to customer services. Improved customer service would ultimately lead to increased sales. With the help of RFID, it becomes easy for the sales staff to locate a particular item in the store and check its availability in less time. It gives accessibility to the products from store to store and also to the entire database.

Improves the level of customer service

The overall time spent by the customer in shopping is reduced as the desired item is found in less time making shopping a better experience. Also while scanning of a particular product is done this technology provides access to the information about the product. It calculates the prices of the products kept in the shopping bag simultaneously, so the shopper is aware of how much he/she is spending. As the total of the shopping done is already calculated the customer has to just pay, thus waiting time for billing is reduced.

Increases customer's loyalty

The RFID tags attached to the items has the ability to provide feeling of a 'virtual personalized shopper' to the customer. It also facilitates in tracking down the shopping preferences and habit of the customers and thus helps in introducing right rewards connected to it. The information about customer's shopping style, their shopping history, past purchases, etc can be tracked down, thus value added services could be provided to them giving the customer the feel of personalized treatment. Even decision regarding purchase of a product could be made in fitting room, as the RFID readers in fitting rooms that are connected to the computer, provides all information regarding the garment. Also the information related to the item is confidential and not to be unveiled to the customer, can be protected by your IT department. Thus security is also ensured from seller point of view also. These added benefits lead to better shopping experience for the customer which ultimately leads to customer loyalty towards your shopping hub.

Better inventory management

Scanning of bar code has become mandatory in inventory processing, but it has certain drawbacks compared to RFID technology. The bar code stickers show human errors as it has the capacity to encode limited and stagnant information. Bar code is unable to read or write multiple codes. RFID's capacity to track the items efficiently and encode multiple codes, resulting improved inventory management. It provides better safety in terms of fast recall of the stock and minimizes the theft also. It helps the supplier in maintaining the stock of goods and keeping the shelf filled with goods whenever needed. So the customers would never face storage of a product thus avoiding loss of sales and profit. The key element in today's market is to maintain appropriate in-stocks and not having too much additional inventory.

To manage inventory is a costly affair for the retailer. The information accessed through RFID helps in keeping a check on the inventory and its supply. Thus, maintaining the right percentage of inventory. The ratio of demand and supply can be well maintained as the items which has increased sales is tracked down and the stock is uploaded likewise.

Item level tracking

Item level tracking is the most important objective of RFID system. This tracking gives a personalized ID to every unit of inventory. This results in better tracking of the items. As it saves time, the re-ordering of the items becomes easy and can be done in lesser time. The percentage of shrinkage is reduced due to proper and timely shipments of the items.

Futuristic view

Advanced technologies are being developed in the field of RFID tags that are more advanced technologically and are of reduced costs. Generally the cost of RFID tags range from twenty cents to one dollar which is not so reasonable cost. Therefore in order to make it cheaper, the prices are required to fall to five cents instead of twenty cents. RFID tags are a part of RFID system so in order to increase its usage, and required to be cost effective. The future of RFID is very bright in retail sector as right from inventory management to product manufacturing, this system provides more efficient and advanced retail experience to both customer and the seller.

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RFID and 1984

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." ~ William Pitt

Introduction:
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is a newer technology that is already being used for a number of purposes. Those of you that swipe a card on a magnetic reader to enter your work building, may be using RFID. Other common uses include package tracking by UPS, inventory control, targeting advertising to consumers, tracking pets and livestock, and the replacement of credit cards. Next will be the tracking of Americans by a big-brother government. While RFID does offer many attractive uses that can save time and money, the technology is already being widely abused and has serious security and privacy concerns.

Security Concerns:
RFID works by emitting a radio signal that is read by a reader. I have read a wide variety of numbers as to how far a chip can currently be read - 33ft and 100ft are 2 of the common maximum distances that I have seen. The distance currently depends mostly on the strength of the reader, however, chipmaker VeriChip is currently working on GPS versions that can be read from much greater distances and also provide the additional benefit of tracking the location of an object or a person. Obviously, as time moves forward more advances will be made to this technology that will make it more powerful and more dangerous.

The security concerns stem from the fact that a hacker with the right equipment can easily scan an RFID chip and either acquire the information stored on it, or, if used for gaining entry, they can replicate it in order to access secure areas.

In August of 2006, the United States will begin including RFID chips in passports. In addition to the privacy concerns, there are massive security concerns as a hacker can easily gain access to your personal information. Our government has been presented this information by thousands of security experts and their only response was to include very minimal security measures that will inevitably be overcome. The Netherlands has been using RFID chips in their passports for just a short time and the security has already been cracked. In 2008, the US government will introduce a national ID card that will also contain an RFID chip with your personal information. The federal government has told the state governments that the new ID is voluntary. They also said that if the states do not embrace the new ID, their citizens will not be able to fly on a plane, take a train, get a bank account, get a job, and a number of other "priveledges". That is the federal government's version of voluntary.

Privacy Issues:
The fundamental privacy issue with RFID is that it can and will be used to track Americans and their actions. President Bush already proposed the idea of forcing illegal immigrants to get RFID implants in order to track their movement and activities and many corporations are embedding RFID tags in their products which will still be functional even after the item is removed from the store.

While currently, the concept of RFID implants under the skin frightens 90% of Americans, corporations and the government are going to sell it to you. The are going to show you that you will no longer have to carry any keys around and can start your car and open your front door by waving your arm in front of them. They are going to sell you on the fact that 98,000 people could be saved in emergency rooms every year if their medical records were implanted on a chip. They are going to tell you that RFID implants will make this country safer because we will be able to tell who isn't chipped and find out why they are here. They will sell you on the benefits of being able to shop without going through a checkout line. They will tell you that a chip can monitor your vital functions and alert you if a problem is detected. They will tell you that they can find your kids if they are lost or kidnapped. They will tell you that an implant will make your life better, easier, and longer. The list will go on and on and the propoganda machine is already in full swing.

What they won't tell you is that once you are implanted, your decendency into slavery is complete. They won't tell you that your boss will use the chip to track your activities during the work day. They won't tell you that the government will be able to track your every movement. They won't tell you that they can take the cash right out of your implanted electronic wallet. They won't tell you that corporations can track your purchases (they already do with membership cards) and target advertising to you. They won't tell you that they will flag you and limit your movement if you are a criminal, dissident, protester, Mexican, Arab, homeless, or any other group that the government doesn't like. They won't tell you that they will track who you meet with and how you spend your time. They won't tell you that your chip might be used by the government to induce a heart attack or stroke and kill you for non-compliance with their fascist government (a little extreme, but definitely possible).

They will tell you that it is a voluntary choice to get the implant, but it will be as voluntary as the National ID card. It is estimated that 2,500 people have already been chipped and when enough ignorant and apathetic Americans get the chip, stores will begin phasing out credit card machines, the government will begin requiring the implants to fly, drive a car, or get a job. It will be as voluntary as taxes.

As a side note, I would like to say that I am not at all religious, however, I do find it ominous and unnerving that the bible basically said this would happen. Chapter 13 of the Book of Revelations states, "He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." No matter what you believe, that is quite a prediction from 2000 years ago.

Recent Abuses:
The widespread use of RFID technology is fairly recent, and yet, it is already being abused. Wal-Mart in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, used RFID tags and readers to track the Max Factor Lipfinity lipstick containers stacked on them. Webcam images of the shelves were viewed 750 miles (1200 km) away by Procter & Gamble researchers in Cincinnati, Ohio, who could tell when lipsticks were removed from the shelves and observe the shoppers in action. A pilot program by the Gillette Company conducted a "smart shelf" test at a Tesco in Cambridge, England. They automatically photographed shoppers taking RFID-tagged safety razors off the shelf to see if the technology could be used to deter shoplifting. Levi Strauss is test-marketing the use of embedded RFID tags in their clothing. In January 2004 privacy advocates from CASPIAN and the German privacy group FoeBuD were invited to the METRO Future Store in Germany, where an RFID pilot project was implemented. It was uncovered by accident that METRO "Payback" customer loyalty cards contained RFID tags with customer IDs, a fact that was disclosed neither to customers receiving the cards, nor to this group of privacy advocates. This happened despite assurances by METRO that no customer identification data was tracked and all RFID usage was clearly disclosed.

These are all blatant infringements on our privacy rights which is why there are over 40 civil liberties groups world-wide trying to stop the proliferation of RFID until appropriate standards for use can be set. All of the companies listed above are on my boycott list for failure to comply with the wishes of the American people and civil liberties groups.

Call to Action:
If this sounds like science fiction, you need to realize that people are already getting implanted, including the recent chipping of 160 Mexican Officials. There is a good chance that you will eventually be implanted too, unless we resist. You must resist the National ID card. Tell your representatives that you don't want it and refuse to accept it, even if it means that you can't fly or take a train. Tell others about RFID before it is too late. Many people will have no idea what RFID even is until they get chipped. Wake up and realize that voting for republicans or democrats will end with the same result. Neither one is going to protect you from this. As long as we suffer from corporatism in this country, our fascist government may not even have to be involved in forcing people into getting chipped. They will simply only accept RFID implants as a form of payment and you will not have a choice if you wish to eat and carry out the normal functions of your life.

Further Reading
SpyChips
FDA Approves Computer Chip for Humans
Big Brother Gets Under Your Skin
Bio-chip Implant Arrives for Cashless Transactions
Company Requires RFID Injection
Company Defends RFID Implant Product
A Chip in Your Shoulder
Home for Seniors Trades Privacy for Security

Jason is a concerned citizen hoping to stir questions in people's minds about the state of our nation and the direction we are heading.

New Product Simplifies Implementation of RFID Technology

Manchester, NH (ContentDesk) April 19, 2006 -- As radio frequency identification (RFID) is becoming increasing prevalent in the government and private sectors, many are struggling with the complexities of integrating this technology with existing back end information systems and dealing with the vast amount of information being produced. Recognizing this emerging problem, Lockwood has developed an extremely simple and effective solution to this problem entitled QuickTrac?.The usefulness of RFID lies in the innate ability to automatically capture vast amounts of information using radio frequency technology. Specialized equipment is required and offered by many well-known manufacturers. Yet, to use this technology with existing legacy applications poses a new set of problems. To begin, software commonly referred to as middleware is required.

Middleware must be integrated with back end system(s) to enable those applications to interact with RFID tools. Middleware typically requires modification to the back end system in order to implement and is only a part of the equation. Users also need flexible software for facilitating data capture and event processing. Event processing is a technique that allows transformation of raw data into actionable data. This is particularly important in light of, the amount of data that RFID is able to generate.

QuickTrac features all three characteristics; integration, data collection and event processing.QuickTrac adapts proprietary back end systems to interact with RFID data capture without modification to the software. QuickTrac simplifies integration between its embedded RFID middleware and any back end system, using an intuitive point-and-click wizard. The QuickTrac kit also includes user-defined data collection scripts whereby the user determines what the application will do during collection activities. QuickTracs built-in event processing (EventMgr?) represents a sense and respond tool that empowers the user to predefine a set of rules for monitoring and reacting to emerging incidents or events. The EventMgr continually evaluates the flow of raw data, while compiling and reacting to actionable situations, such as movement into or out of restriction environments.

Our vision with QuickTrac was a turn-key solution that could be used immediately right out of the box says Brad Vinecombe, CEO of Lockwood Technology, we wanted to design a product that was easy to use as well as quick to implement, regardless of need or back end system. And, we wanted it to be turn-key where the purchaser was provided with everything necessary to begin to immediately use the product within minutes from opening the box. The QuickTrac kit, which is configurable to meet specific needs, includes; portable and fixed RFID detection hardware, a pre-configured laptop computer and a supply of smart tracking tags. The Operator simply unpacks the kit from the rugged, weatherproof case, turns it on, adjusts the system characteristics to align with their specific objective and begins using it in minutes.QuickTrac can be found on the World Wide Web athttp://lockwoodtechnology.com.

Chinese Government Pushing RFID Market To Bring Down Logistic Cost

February 1, 2006

The Ministry of Commerce declared that the external logistics in China had jumped by 30% annually to reach a high of 38.4 trillion RMB in 2004. The conclusion, that the growth of the national economy is progressively reliant on logistics is evident from the logistics demand coefficient (the ratio between the GDP and the logistic amount), which has touched 2.8. In order to be at par with other developed countries, the Chinese logistics manufacturing has to go a long way.

Chinese manufacturers are of the opinion that the retailers should bear the cost of the RFID tags as it benefits them. They firmly believe that they should be exempted from paying for these tags, as these tags help the retailers and suppliers to keep a track of their products. These wireless tags also help the retailers to manage their inventories more competently.

China is the largest supplier of source products to manufacturers worldwide. Out of the $ 200billion worth of goods imported by the US annually, nearly 70% are from China. The United States imported goods valued at over $ 120 billion from China in the first half of 2004, which constitutes a 23% rise from the previous year.

There are two important factors instrumental in the implementation of RFID in China. To begin with, the Chinese government is laying special stress on the country?s underdeveloped logistics infrastructure, which is lagging behind, unable to keep pace with the development in the field of manufacturing over the decade. Secondly, the abundance of cheap labor has attracted manufacturers from all over the world.

The findings of a recently conducted market research report by RNCOS ? a leading market research report company, on the RFID market in China, discloses that the RFID market is growing at a phenomenal speed having already crossed the 1.6Bn RMB mark last year.

According to the report by RNCOS ?RFID: Outlook China?, government support and promotion are the prime factors for rapid development of the RFID market in China. However, other factors could also become important driving forces for facilitating its development, e.g. formation of standards, lowering of prices, further maturing of technology, and further reinforcement of privacy protection.

The report recommends Venture Capitalists to keep a close watch on the RFID market due to the following reasons: there is enough space for new investors in the booming RFID market; RFID technology can easily be transferred into new products providing immense business opportunities.

The report published by RNCOS further states that though RFID technology has gained recognition globally, companies in South China are ignorant to the advantages of the technology and are reluctant to adopt RFID technology in the Pearl River delta area.

To purchase your copy: http://www.rncos.com/Report/COM27.htm
For more information about the report please visit www.rncos.com

The Advantages of RFID Credit Cards

With all of the wireless technology that is available these days, it's almost a question of how much farther can we go to make things easier? Even swiping a credit card has become too much for some and the invention of RFID credit cards is showing up at your local registers.

What is RFID?

RFID is a radio frequency device that allows information to be transmitted by radio waves. This is much like the FastTrak toll booth payments that allow you to wave a card at the reader to pay your tolls. And it's coming to a restaurant near you.

McDonald's is looking at implementing RFID credit cards so that people can fill their card with money and then wave their card at a register to transmit the payment. It's fast, it's easy, and it saves time in line. Plus it's safer than you might think.

What's great about RFID?

RFID is easy to use and easy to transport. And for those that are nervous about carrying all their information on an RFID credit card, you can rest easy because the information is encrypted and can only be decrypted by an RFID reader. Of course, who's to say that thieves won't come up with a way to get that information without your knowledge? But the general consensus is that RFID is much safer than traditional credit cards.

With traditional credit cards, you can simply enter the information into an online retailer or hand it to an employee who can then take down the information for their own use. This allows for plenty of opportunities for someone to use your information without your permission while on the Internet or by filling out new credit card applications.

With the RFID credit card that information never passes into the employee's hands it goes directly to the server that handles payments. This is much more secure and helps a user feel safer in each transaction. However, with this technology, a thief will just have to take possession of the RFID credit card in order to use it.

Overall, RFID credit cards are the wave of the future, being used widely in Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. They allow for simpler transactions and less worry. Even Chase credit cards are thinking about using RFID technology in their cards.

Yours credit cards could be next.

Beth Derkowitz recommends Find Credit Cards for finding the best Chase rewards credit card for you.

What is RFID and how will it help me?

RFID technolgy has been around for a few years but we are just hitting the tip of the iceberg when it comes to its many uses. Most people don't even know what RFID is but odds are they have already been affected by it.

You have or are about to own a RFID tag and you don't even know it. If you have an EZ pass in your car that automatically pays the toll when you go past then you have a RFID tag. Wow thats cool is what you are probably saying but that is just one of the uses.

They also use RFID to track cattle and soon they will be using it to track your luggage at the airport. As of this writing the airport in Las Vegas and Toyko Japan is experimenting with it.

You might have read about RFID in the newspaper lately and that is what lead you here. Major department stores are using RFID to track their inventory. You can read all about it on http://www.a1-rfid.com This works by placing a RFID tag on the pallet or the individual boxes and they are read as they are received at the stores from the warehouse.

This has many benefits as there can no longer be items that "fall off the truck" as they say which will help keep cost down. It also keeps less employees on the payroll which is a bad thing since items will be within a few clicks of the mouse to their location.

You may even have heard about people having their medical history placed on a RFID chip and having that chip inbedded in their arm so they will always have their medical history. That is some advanced stuff as the hospital will need a RFID reader to fetch the records.

The is also talk of RFID being used in cell phones. If your boss gives you a new cell phone be weary of it because he might have done it to track you.

You have seen the commercials for ONSTAR where they dispatch help to your car in an emergency. How do they know where you are hmmmm. Like I said there are many things that RFID can and will be used for.

This article can be reprinted and republished as long as it has a hyperlink to www.a1-rfid.com

Vince Ohare is a Free Lance writer featured on over 1000 technolgy websites. You can see more of his articles on http://www.a1-rfid.com

RFID: A Smart Tag Primer

Good things come in small packages. This familiar clich usually refers to precious stones, but today it's taken on new meaning, in that small things are now protecting items we deem valuable.

Good things come in small packages. This familiar clich usually refers to precious stones, but today it's taken on new meaning, in that small things are now protecting items we deem valuable.

Analysts estimate that the retail industry loses US $50B a year to theft and up to ten times that much to counterfeiting. High-end products such as cosmetics, fragrances and pharmaceuticals are most likely to be stolen or counterfeited. Many retailers and manufacturers believe that this big problem may have a tiny solution RFID smart tags.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is an automatic data capture technology that offers unparalleled accuracy in inventory control and supply chain management. Although RFID is a relative newcomer to the media spotlight, the technology has been quietly working its way into our culture and into our lives since it was drafted by the military 60 years ago.

The US Department of Defense first used RFID to track military aircraft during World War II. Since then, this compelling technology has been used extensively in highway toll collection, building security, library circulation, parcel delivery and airport luggage transportation.

What exactly is RFID and how does it affect the future of packaging?

RFID functions as a network of microchip smart tags and receivers. Each smart tag is embedded with a unique electronic product code (EPC) and a micro-antenna. Once assigned, the EPC becomes a DNA-like marker for the item, identifying it from every other item in the world. When a tagged item passes within range of a reader, the reader retrieves the EPC via radio waves, identifies the item and its exact location, and relays this real-time information to a central computer. Taken together, the series of transactions comprise a comprehensive record of the tagged items movement from point of origin to point of sale.

The greatest promise of RFID lies in its application versatility. Smart tags can be affixed to either individual products or to pallets containing multiple units, and can be read through most materials. RFID readers can scan multiple items at one time, making them functionally superior to traditional, uni-task bar code scanners.

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Auto-ID Center began to explore commercial applications of RFID in 1999. Wal-Mart, The Gillette Company and Proctor & Gamble were among the first to conduct pallet-level pilot tests. They quickly found that RFID offers improved supply chain visibility and more accurate inventory forecasting. Because RFID does not require line-of-sight operations (contrary to manual bar code scanning) the end users achieved improved inventory control with reduced labor costs.

Encouraged by their success, British retailers Marks & Spencer and Germanys Metro AG quickly adopted RFID applications in their production and distribution channels. The US Department of Defense, Benetton, CVS, Home Depot, Gap, Target, Kohls, Tesco, Coca Cola and Albertsons have all begun incorporating RFID into their supply chain operations. In 2004 Wal-Mart issued a mandate that their Top 100 suppliers become RFID compliant by 2005, and the FDA plans to convert to item-level RFID distribution tracking by 2007.

In spite of strong industry support for RFID, widespread adoption of the technology has been slow. One reason for the delay is the lack of uniform standards for network and data management. For example, smart tags are currently available in low, high or ultra-high frequency versions, with read ranges of as little as a few inches to as much as 30 feet. AIM Global is a consortium of RFID developers and suppliers who are working to establish global RFID standards. Their goal is to educate manufacturers and suppliers about the potential benefits of RFID, and to provide the education and resources necessary to realize ROI from the use of this technology.

Cost and quality concerns have further dampened enthusiasm for RFID. Tag failure rates are reported to be as high as 20% to 30%. At an average cost of $.30 per tag, many suppliers find the prospect of item-level tagging prohibitive.

So far, RFID compliance has been the responsibility of suppliers. Retailers have generally refused to accept any price increases resultant from RFID start-up expenses. As a result, suppliers have had to either absorb the cost of becoming RFID compliant or risk losing lucrative commercial contracts.

However, as RFID becomes the norm manufacturers will look for converters who can provide pre-tagged packaging that is market-standard compliant and ready for entry into the RFID regulated supply chain.

Technology is inherently evolutionary. The logistics of RFID are changing rapidly, with ongoing advancements in ink, labels and methods of smart tag attachment. In a future article I will explore specific developments in converting techniques and the impact of this compelling technology on the packaging industry.

 

Dennis Bacchetta is the Marketing Manager at Diamond Packaging. He frequently writes on industry topics and technical issues. You may contact him at dbacchetta@diamondpkg.com.

From the boardroom to reality: RFID in the fashion apparel / textile industry

From the boardroom to reality: RFID in the fashion apparel / textile industry

Many Fashion Apparel / Textile companies - particularly those with a large network of stores - are well underway in terms of streamlining their supply chain and optimizing sales forecasts and distribution. They are now looking for ways to enhance revenues and market share by adopting modern ways of managing stores and inventory. RFID has now become a centrepiece in their strategic thinking. Some companies are also stepping up the process into actual implementation.


A new business model for Fashion Apparel and Textile chains

Leading Fashion Apparel / Textile companies have significantly modified their business model.

Shifting away from manufacturing, Fashion Apparel & Textile companies have built competitive advantage, based on new ways of delivering value to their consumers.

A new business model has developed and stabilized based on a centralized approach to design and logistics. A typical business model now includes central design, hundreds of external suppliers, (most often in Asia), and one or two central warehouses that serve as a logistical hub for stocking a large networks of retail outlets.


The new frontier is in the retail store

The cost cutting side of supply chain management is to a large extent behind us. It has already yielded most of its benefits.

The time is coming for additional revenue generation. Today, most large network Fashion Apparel & Textile companies focus on improving the "store side" of their supply chain and distribution operations.

Active Fashion Apparel & Textile chains are absolutely confident that the first benefits of RFID implementation will come from store-level applications such as real and/or near real time inventory linked to stock management systems and store re-stocking processes.

Typically, industries go through 5 steps in implementing a store-level RFID initiative:

Market Observation: Talking to business specialists, they gather information on technology accuracy and reliability, costs, and future trends.

Business Case: Metrics are designed and implemented on core store-level and DC-level processes. Consumer behavior is assessed.

The upper line of the business case is built upon additional sales related issues, improved inventory, stock management, and store re-stocking refinements.

Costs savings include staff time allocations, counting / checking, shrink reduction.

Costs include hardware and software technology (tags, readers, software & middleware), integration, training, roll-out and systems operation.

Technology Test / Adaptation: Companies implement a simulated store environment and test accuracy and reliability in boxes, on shelves, and on hangers. This step lasts for a period of a few months.

Real-size test: Companies implement a live test in one or several stores to prove the business case and check applicability of store-level processes in a live environment. Assessment metrics are those of the business case (additional sales and cost reduction). This step lasts about six months.

Deployment / Rollout: Rolling out to the network. It is envisioned that rollout should be as fast as possible in order to realize a quicker Return on Investment. A critical preoccupation is also to avoid the coexistence of several processes and to drop legacy processes as soon as possible.


Building the business case: Network size is the multiplier

A quasi consensus emerges in the Fashion Apparel & Textile Industry: With tag prices at about 10 cents per unit, and reading accuracy at 98-99%, RFID applications in the store offer a compelling business case.

Better inventory management and better re-stocking generates additional revenues, reduced % of missed sales, and lower shrinkage.

Cost savings are mainly generated in the Warehouses / Distribution Centers.

Initiative related costs include: Investment in hardware facilities, middleware, integration, RFID tags, and roll out costs (training, implementation, etc)

Obviously, the larger the network the higher the return. Proactive companies are considering rolling out to their whole network as quickly as possible.

Other potential benefits not covered in the analysis are: Better staff time allocation in the stores, reduction of transportation costs, and specific processes automation at the DC level (such as increased automatic picking).


Taking the RFID issue from the boardroom to reality

Moving from market observation to development of a business case is typically a Management Team initiative.

Typically, the role of the CEO is to initiate the business case, to assess the results with the Management Team in terms of competitive advantage and created value, and to decide whether or not to launch a pilot.

Senior Executives involved are most often the Chief Operating Officer, the Logistics Manager, the CTO or IT Manager, and the CFO. In the case where a Network Manager is in the organizational matrix (the person who manages the stores network) this individual is also involved.

Most often, Fashion Apparel and Textile industries have built lean organizations, based on an intimate knowledge and control of their processes and metrics. They therefore tend to develop their business cases internally, with limited or no help from external parties such as consultants.


Conclusions: RFID at the turning point

The Fashion Apparel / Textile Industry is at a crossroad in terms of RFID applications.

Obviously, in the short term, store-level applications are seen as the most promising ones mainly because of their direct impact on customer satisfaction and revenues.

RFID represents a new opportunity for delivering value to both customers and shareholders. They try to maximize value by adopting an end-to-end approach to RFID adoption.

TAGSYS ( http://www.tagsysrfid.com) is the global leader in item-level RFID infrastructure. TAGSYS provides RFID systems and tags for end-to-end item-level tracking that automates labor-intensive processes, authenticates and safeguards goods, and enables real-time inventory and asset visibility. The company is headquartered in France's Smart Valley with offices in the USA (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) and Asia (Hong Kong). More information on TAGSYS can be found at http://www.tagsysrfid.com

RFID: New Hampshire HB 203: Does it Have Teeth?

The New Hampshire House Commerce Committee has unanimously recommended passage of a consumer privacy protection bill, which has already been tagged as the model for future consumer privacy legislation.
 

It's encouraging to see the citizens of New Hampshire take an active role in crafting their own future. This bill's existence is a sign of increased consumer awareness of RFID and potential abuse of the technology.
 

I have listed the provisions of HB 203 in italics below, followed by my comments (non-italicized). If indeed future legislation will be modeled after HB 203, we must make sure that the bill truly protects and doesn't just pacify.
 

HB 203 includes the following provisions:
1. Stipulates that no consumer product or identification document (such as a credit card or ATM card) to which a tracking device has been affixed, may be sold without a label containing a universally accepted symbol. The requirement also applies to packaging of the product.
There are no stipulations about the location of the label on the product or package. Therefore, a label affixed to the product inside a package, or to an internal portion of the package itself would satisfy the labeling requirement, but be undetectable by the consumer. From the perspective of consumer notification, nothing would be accomplished.
 

2. Requires that identifying labels be affixed to the product or document or its packaging by the entity that implants the tracking device in the product or by the entity that imports products that contain tracking devices.
The earlier in the supply chain that a label is affixed, the easier it is to obscure the label from consumer view.
 

3. Prohibits anyone from implanting tracking devices into human beings without the informed consent of either the individual or a legal guardian.
Is this really the issue? I'm sure that some people are afraid of stealth implantation, but the larger issue is the potential curtailment-- of access, commerce, resources, transportation, and other freedoms-- for people who are unwilling to accept an implant. "The Such & Such Company is pleased to inform you that we are converting to RFID-based commerce for all of our consumer services. We regret that we will no longer be able to serve those of you techno-dinosaurs who elect not to receive an RFID implant, but we wish you good luck in finding a non-RFID-based gas & electric provider/ bank/ pharmacy/ grocery store/ hospital..." That's the real fear.
 

4. Prohibits the state or any of its political subdivisions from issuing any radio frequency devices to track individuals, with exceptions such as incarcerated prisoners or residents of nursing or assisted-living facilities.
'Exceptions such as'... what exactly does that mean? Is the tracking limited to incarcerated prisoners and residents of nursing or assisted-living facilities or not? If not, what are the other exceptions?
 

5. Establishes a commission on the use of tracking devices to study their usage in government and business and monitor their effect on the economy and society. That's broad and vague enough to ensure that not much of anything gets done. Study their usage and do what? Monitor their effect and do what? Who will conduct these studies and how will they be conducted? Who is going to oversee the commission? What are the limits of its authority? Etc.
 

Unflinching analysis of proposed legislation is necessary to ensure adequate and appropriate protection for all citizens

Sally Bacchetta - Freelance Writer/Sales Trainer

Sally Bacchetta is an award-winning sales trainer and freelance writer. She has published articles on a variety of topics, including selling skills, motivation, pharmaceutical sales, parenting and RFID.

You can contact her at sb14580@yahoo.com and visit her RFID blog for an exploration of the ethical and social considerations of RFID.

American Libraries and RFID Tags

 

RFID Tags seem to be perfectly suited for library inventory control. Many bookstores are planning on having them on every book to prevent theft and keep track of inventory, which makes sense.

Now with this new technology they are teaching the old world all it’s applications and bringing the most unexpected organization into the Modern Age:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/09/va...n_library_rfid/

We are seeing TI- Texas Instruments and other companies leading the charge. Even Microsoft is building a custom operating system especially designed to incorporate RFID tags for Small and Medium sized Businesses. With Wal-Mart, Gillette and the Department of Defense moving forward on projects, we are seeing huge increase in the venture capital and investment bank spending on the companies who will be leading the way in this new technology as well as large old companies spending on capital investments in research and development. What is so wonderful is that all this technology will be available to so many other important needs for instance Libraries, book mobiles and School Districts. This is an awesome advantage of transfer technologies and we should be thanking the US Military, Wal-Mart, The Free Market and the Financial Markets for this forward progression to make our lives run smoother and more efficient as we know that budgets are tight and every dollar counts in our libraries and schools.

One new technology being developed by Flash Scan, Corp.

http://www.flashscan.net/

Libraries are much easier to develop the technology for than let’s say Military Humvees, Wal-Mart Wooden Pallets, Gillette’s Fiber Board Pallets. One cannot but be impressed with the ingenuity of American entrepreneurs and the intensive capital being risked on up-coming innovations on nothing more than a chance to play. Anyone who thinks that American Business is down and out need to look no further than their local public library and the new hardware being installed which would make even Carnegie smile.

This white paper on Page: 6 has a couple of paragraphs of what some of these early adopters can expect for Video, Audio and Book Inventory Applications, which obviously lends itself to uses for libraries and school districts from: Zebra Technologies:

http://www.zebra.com/whitepapers/11315Lr2RFIDTechnology.pdf

Now then if we look at the Training Sessions for Homeland Security, FBI, Annapolis Naval Academy, West Point, etc. By allowing the military which is already heavy into the RFID game and is learning a lot and moving the ball forward and allowing some of this basic research and development to be used in their libraries, universities, academies and top notched training facilities, we can have a world class system ready for transferability into other public sectors which can assist streamline efficiencies in education to make good on America’s commitment to the “No Child Left Behind Act” possible by freeing up monies and re-investing those monies into books, educational material for the class rooms so teachers do not have to use their own money. Also by having a more efficient system in America’s libraries, they can afford to run the air conditioning more in the summer thus attracting more people to come and read and better heat in the winter to make it comfortable to stay and read.

RFID makes sense for library inventory control, simplicity and efficiency which will provide greater cost savings to re-allocate for those things they desperately need. RFID on Book Mobiles also makes sense as the entire control system could be run by a PDA Windows CE Program which when not in use can be charged by the cigarette lighter in the vehicle since smoking is not allowed in book mobiles because the paper holds such scents. Any ideas along this line are welcomed.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for < id="link_63" target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ourspokanemagazine.com/">Our Spokane