The
RFID hardware and software infrastructure installed allowed the automation of a number of processes. For receiving, for instance, an operator utilized a handheld
reader to interrogate the tags on individual items in a cardboard shipping container. The employee moved the
interrogator around the box multiple times, and the computer system informed him if all items expected in the shipment were present. RFID technology used in the RFID Fashion Store also allowed the ability to automate inventory taking at the store. This increased the accuracy of the process and reduced the time required for its completion, thereby ensuring a timely and accurate replenishment of store shelves and, thus, reducing stock-outs and increasing sales volume. (Click
here to see a video of the RFID-based processes.)
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Antonio Rizzi
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"The important thing is that the system already knows what's in the box," Rizzi says. "It can cross-check the RFID reads with what is expected, based on information gathered from the previous process."
The test of the various processes includes the use of the
EPC network. Data is available on the DC's EPC server. When the store receives the box, an EPC network query is made to receive relevant data regarding the shipping or manufacturing process.
The third
phase of the project involved creating a calculation model for assessing the economic feasibility of the RFID-based processes. Using the model, the researchers evaluated what they considered to be a representative supply chain, with one DC and 20 retail stores and an annual product flow of approximately 7.8 million items.
The test assumed that the manufacturer tagged individual items at the end of the production line. A best-case scenario resulted in an investment of €1.37 million ($1.81 million) in RFID hardware and software, and yielded a positive ROI within three years. A worst-case scenario required an investment of €1.59 million ($2.11 million), necessary to outfit a supply chain that had little existing technology in use, and yielded a positive ROI within three years. In both scenarios, approximately 20 to 25 percent of the investments were needed for the DC, while the rest was required for the retail stores. A major component of these calculations was the cost of tags needed for one year—roughly €656,000 ($869,000), using an average of .08 cents per tag.
READERS' COMMENTS
Tag type
For the ROI as mentioned above the tag cost taken is 0.08 US$. I would like to understand the type of tag being used.. An dry/wet inlay, smart label or high GSM paper tag. As that would also add to the cost and ROI calculations. As I read though, the points mentioned are fine for a new deployment where newer processes / infrastructure can be deployed and established, what is the opinion on getting same accuracies in the existing processes (minor modifications) and infrastructure.
Posted By: R. Ratra 5/04/2009 at 2:24:12 AM
Haulage Manager
I would like to know how RFID can be used against unt-theft specially for trucks tyers? what types of tages used for this if exist? What cost per tag per tyer? Who much the scaning system cost? Do you have any system in place or you can develope using RFID to track trip round? i.e. travlling time, resting time , loading and off-loading time? Kind regards Hashim Elkanary
Posted By: H. Elkanary 5/05/2009 at 9:28:35 PM