RFID Technology in distribution of products - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the RFID Technology in distribution of products. Answer: RFID: Technologys blessings Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in distribution and warehouse operation is used for wireless tracking of the trucks and products of the organisation. Of late, the process of using RFID is getting high as RFID tags have unique information and this can be attached to the objects. These objects can be tracked wirelessly through network and information can be matched with a computer database. Moreover, as stated by Fan et al. (2014), RFID is most helpful when one single organisation controls the entire distribution process. In recent time, Amazon, Walmart and Apple have been using this technology that simplifies the distribution process and hastens the distributions to customers. Nowadays, RFID tags are used in warehouses and it consists of tag with electronic circuits. These electronic circuits send information to a particular reader and this reader sends that information to radio signal query. Benefits of RFID in distribution process In fashion clothing, FMCG and in the retail sector, the utilization of RFID will be very helpful. RFID technology provides the benefits to tag the products from distance and it can be worked in a harsh environment. The information that is imprinted through Bar Code cannot be altered, however, RFID can store the information and the information can be updated from time to time like inventory equipment (Perez and Gutierrez 2016). In distribution process, RFID provides the benefits of long range read the information and it provides the benefits of a portable database. The processing speed of RFID is high and high-value assets can be protected. RFID provides the advantages of multiple read/write of tags. Most importantly, RFID provides the benefits of tracking of items, people, truck and equipment. A large business can have the benefits of reading through multiple sources and the organisation can know where the items are. Working process of RFID: In expensive RFID technology can send signals to a large distance. All the products ID are unique and that helps to segregate the products and it is unlike the Bar Code (Fan et al. 2015). The products can be tagged in the warehouse and it can be tagged as they move through truck also. Figure: Working Process of RFID in distribution (Source: Google image) Tags: Data is transferred between readers and tags using radio waves, most importantly, no direct line of sight is seen. The database of computer records the reading and in case of further action, the computer searches for the actual ID. Moreover, RFID allows the users to identify a dozen of products at a time (Monezka et al. 2015). Costly tags can be used as large capacity of storage. Tags can provide information to robotic operation also. Updated status can come when one task is ended and these tags have the lifetime of 6 to 10 years. Frequency: Frequency is related to the transmission range that must be suited to speed and performance needs. However, in all countries, not all networks are available for frequencies and bandwidth availability is necessary. In the planning of supply chain and distribution, this compatibility of frequency and network availability should take into consideration (Wong and Guo 2014). RFID technology uses the frequency of 13.55MHZ as the high frequency in accessing the control of vehicle identification. Read/Write capabilities Read-only tags in RFID technology have fixed the data securely in the time of manufacture. However, in the post-manufacture process, the system of Write Once, Read Many (WORM) may have their data written and it is the popular kind of tags. In case of rewritable tags, it has memory within them and it is costly. It provides updated data and it is flexible, however rewritable memory has shorter reading and writing range (Monezka et al. 2015). Figure: RFID technology (Source: Google image) Use of RFID technology by Walmart In the previous time, cross-docking distribution resulted to shipping the distribution took almost 48 hours. Nonetheless, Walmart invested in ICT systems and merchandise the inventory systems. In the year 1983, Walmart set up their satellite communication. However, Walmart lost $3 billion in the year 2013 and it was because of poor distribution and merchandise policy (Forbes.com 2017). Distribution process of Walmart takes effective use of logistics management, effective inventory control and global expansion for market opportunity. In case of Walmart, readers take the signal and it has dual responses, the first one provides power to tag and the second one creates an interrogation signal. Then, the tag returns to signal that contains the unique ID to look for the database as manufacturer, names, SKU and cost. Walmart has recently taken the initiatives to require 100 largest suppliers to have shipments tag with RFID. ePC specification of Walmart has been using the UHF (Ultrasound High Frequency) band. Figure: Use of RFID technology by Walmart (Source: Google image) Standards ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) undertakes to check most of the RFID standards projects and they focus mainly on technical standards. Automatic identification with data capture technique is the standards related to RFID. References Fan, T., Tao, F., Deng, S. and Li, S., 2015. Impact of RFID technology on supply chain decisions with inventory inaccuracies.International Journal of Production Economics,159, pp.117-125. Fan, T.J., Chang, X.Y., Gu, C.H., Yi, J.J. and Deng, S., 2014. Benefits of RFID technology for reducing inventory shrinkage.International Journal of Production Economics,147, pp.659-665. Forbes.com. 2017. Forbes Welcome. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/paularosenblum/2014/05/22/walmart-could-solve-its-inventory-problem-and-improve-earnings/#656de4365db1 [Accessed on 12 Sep. 2017]. Monczka, R.M., Handfield, R.B., Giunipero, L.C. and Patterson, J.L., 2015.Purchasing and supply chain management. London: Cengage Learning. Prez, H. and Gutirrez, J.J., 2016. Enabling data-centric distribution technology for partitioned embedded systems.IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems,27(11), pp.3186-3198. Roberti, M., 2016. Case Study: Wal-Marts Race for RFIDi.online], eweek, https://www. eweek. eom/article2/0,1492297(00). Wong, C. and Guo, Z.X. eds., 2014.Fashion supply chain management using radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies. Berlin: Elsevier.