Westgate Logistics Focuses on RFID

Early on, Westgate Logistics realized it would need outside technical assistance to set up the RFID reader and antennas. It also learned that a vigorous quality-assurance process must be established for a successful RFID implementation to weed out dysfunctional or damaged tags and failed reads.

In addition, the logistics provider had to test multiple read distances before finding the most favorable range. "The fixed readers have an optimum distance of between 600 millimeters [23.6 inches] and 800 millimeters [31.5 inches]," Lerias says. "Any closer and the top and bottom pallets could be missed."

Westgate Logistics further determined that pallets must be kept at a specific distance from the floor—otherwise, the reads might fail. "There was a requirement for the pallets to be kept around 20 centimeters [7.9 inches] off the ground," Lerias explains, "as we found out that if the pallets were any lower, the radio frequency waves would reflect off the floor and prevent the pallets lower in the stack from being read."

What's more, the tiny amount of water content in the wood required that adhesive foam strips be used to affix the RFID tags, to provide a separation between the chip and the wood. Water can sometimes interfere with RF waves.

Westgate Logistics' was one of the first sites to participate in the pilot, which ran for approximately two months. During the first series of tests, read rates were between 92 and 95 percent successful, though a second round of testing showed an improved success rate at 98 percent. "As this was still not good enough," Lerias recalls, "the processes were then again reviewed and changed, and after many tests and hours of collaboration, the required outcome of a 100 percent read was achieved."

Armed with experience from the pilot, Lerias says, Westgate Logistics now wants to expand its RFID project from tracking just the physical assets, or pallets, to tracking customers' products. "In order to build a business case," he notes, "we will complete further testing to support further investment in the technology." Although Lerias declines to release specifics at this juncture, he states that Westgate Logistics has identified customers to further test RFID in the supply chain. Additionally, he adds, the company has identified key areas where it thinks RFID will improve information flow and business processes, while also eliminating waste and providing further value to customers.