More RFID Journal Sites: RFID Journal Espanol RFID Journal Brasil RFID Journal Events RFID Journal Awards
RFID JOURNAL
Text size:
T
T
T
How to RFID-Enable a Forklift
3. Analyze the Site
It's important to consider where the RFID-enabled forklifts will be used, and how they can fit into existing processes. Mobile RFID is useful in five different settings:
4. Evaluate the Equipment
It would be nice if you could take an off-the-shelf RFID interrogator and simply attach it to a forklift—maybe with the help of some duct tape. But it's just not that easy. Transforming an ordinary forklift into one incorporating RFID technology requires specialized knowledge and a considerable amount of hands-on work.
Vendors such as Intermec, Motorola (through its Symbol Technologies acquisition) and LXE all offer forklift-oriented RFID systems, as well as the hardware and service support required to mount the technology. While the vendors strive to make their systems as adaptable as possible, it's important to consider that a large number of forklifts currently in service cannot become RFID-enabled without extensive retro-fitting. As such, when shopping for RFID forklift technology, it's necessary to judge each system not only on the basis of its capabilities but also on how easily it can be incorporated into existing forklifts.
Durability is another concern. RFID devices mounted on forklifts lead rough-and-tumble lives. "It's a harsher environment than you would get with a fixed reader that's mounted at a dock door," White says. With this in mind, be sure to check and compare vendors' specifications for shock, vibration, dust, heat and humidity limits.
5. Prepare for the Rollout
After studying the technology, building a business case, surveying locations and analyzing equipment, it's time to start preparing for the actual deployment. Since few businesses have any experience RFID-enabling their forklifts, most will seek help from an outside service provider—either a vendor-authorized business partner or an independent consultant.
"There are a lot of small players and a lot of various players with niche products," White says. Since RFID forklift technology is still emerging, businesses need to look for a service provider that has a track record in the field. "There's no reason," he adds, "why customers should be learning at the expense of inexperienced partners."
It's important to consider where the RFID-enabled forklifts will be used, and how they can fit into existing processes. Mobile RFID is useful in five different settings:
- Receiving: Eliminating the need to install a dedicated dock-door interrogator, RFID-enabled forklifts can unload, identify and move delivered items in a unified, seamless process.
- Putaway: A forklift reader can automatically record an object's exact location without requiring the operator to enter a location code or scan a bar code, translating into enhanced putaway accuracy and efficiency.
- Picking: An RFID-enabled forklift can quickly read case and pallet tags as an object is picked, leading to fewer errors and eliminating the need for a separate validation step.
- Shipping: As cases and pallets head out the dock door, RFID-enabled forklifts can be used to confirm an order's accuracy and integrity without the need to rely on a dedicated dock-door interrogator.
- Cross-docking: RFID-enabled forklifts allow objects to be identified, unloaded and reloaded in yards and other areas not covered by fixed interrogators.
4. Evaluate the Equipment
It would be nice if you could take an off-the-shelf RFID interrogator and simply attach it to a forklift—maybe with the help of some duct tape. But it's just not that easy. Transforming an ordinary forklift into one incorporating RFID technology requires specialized knowledge and a considerable amount of hands-on work.
Vendors such as Intermec, Motorola (through its Symbol Technologies acquisition) and LXE all offer forklift-oriented RFID systems, as well as the hardware and service support required to mount the technology. While the vendors strive to make their systems as adaptable as possible, it's important to consider that a large number of forklifts currently in service cannot become RFID-enabled without extensive retro-fitting. As such, when shopping for RFID forklift technology, it's necessary to judge each system not only on the basis of its capabilities but also on how easily it can be incorporated into existing forklifts.
Durability is another concern. RFID devices mounted on forklifts lead rough-and-tumble lives. "It's a harsher environment than you would get with a fixed reader that's mounted at a dock door," White says. With this in mind, be sure to check and compare vendors' specifications for shock, vibration, dust, heat and humidity limits.
5. Prepare for the Rollout
After studying the technology, building a business case, surveying locations and analyzing equipment, it's time to start preparing for the actual deployment. Since few businesses have any experience RFID-enabling their forklifts, most will seek help from an outside service provider—either a vendor-authorized business partner or an independent consultant.
"There are a lot of small players and a lot of various players with niche products," White says. Since RFID forklift technology is still emerging, businesses need to look for a service provider that has a track record in the field. "There's no reason," he adds, "why customers should be learning at the expense of inexperienced partners."
