Posts Tagged ‘RFID’

« Older Entries

Supply Chain Technology Trends – Digital, Value-Focused, RFID, A/P

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Supply chain technology trends in the news include: the emergence of digital and value-focused supply chains, innovation trends in supply chain technology, and automating accounts payable (A/P). See links below for details on SCM technology trends in the news.

  • Emergence of Digital and Value-Focused Supply Chains. IndustryWeek provides and analysis of AMR Reseach’s annual list of top supply chain highlighting Apple leadership in digital supply chains. News Item: The Changing Face of the Supply Chain – more digital, complex promotions, value chain focus #SCM #realtime http://bit.ly/dkriMG
  • Innovation Trends in Supply Chain Technology. In SupplyChain Management Review, Bob Trebilcock shares his discussions with industry analysts about what they’re seeing in the supply chain technology markets they cover to include RFID, voice and warehouse management (WMS) and transportation management (TMS) systems. News Item: SCM technology: What’s happening in the innovation economy – great summary of trends – #RFID #TMS #WMS #Voice http://bit.ly/aXEdOV
  • Savings Opportunities By Automating Your Accounts Payable. Aberdeen Group shares their analysis on how automation in accounts payable can really drive home appreciable cost savings. News Item: Why Accounts Payable Automation Matters – Revisited – the incentives are there, just need discipline #A/P http://bit.ly/9Arhii

More SCM Technology Trends in the News:

  • Demand Driven is not Sufficient – great write-up on value-based outcomes by industry #SCM #Data #Marketing http://bit.ly/c88Tlm
  • Supply Chain Disruptions Escalate Challenges for U.S. Military in Afghanistan #SCM #Risk #Afghanistan #DoD http://bit.ly/cPB7kr
  • 2010 State of Logistics Report – interesting stats – U.S. Logistics costs, driver shortage #SCM #Trans http://bit.ly/cW0iT9




More SCM Technology Trends.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Electronic Cash News | Comments

SCM Trends in the News – RFID Visibility, SCP, Chinese SCM Software

Friday, June 4th, 2010

Supply chain technology trends in the news include: 1) Wal-Mart’s use of their private fleet and RFID to extend inbound shipment visibility; 2) the state of Supply Chain Planning (SCP); 3) expansion of Chinese enterprise software provider CDC with new SCM offering; 4) more SCM technology trends news. See links below for details on SCM technology trends in the news.

  • Wal-Mart Extending Inbound Shipment Visibility With Private Fleet and RFID Tags. StorefrontBacktalk reports that by Wal-Mart using its private fleet and RFID tags, the retailer is now picking up and tagging shipments from suppliers. This lets Wal-Mart’s inventory systems reach all the way to its suppliers both physically and for shipment visibility. News Item: Wal-Mart Takes Back Its Supply Chain – stretching visibility to suppliers #RFID #SCM #TMS http://bit.ly/acz0nl
  • Supply Chain Planning (SCP) Technology Industry is Stagnant. The SupplyChainShaman provides her analysis of the SCP technology market from the JDA’s Focus 2010 event. News Item: The Verdict: a Hung Jury – analysis of JDA and the state of SCP software #SCM #SCP #JDA http://bit.ly/9GxjCM
  • Chinese Enterprise Company Expands SCM Offering. Spend Matters reports on Chinese software maker CDC expansion of their supply chain management offering. Their market differential is their insight into Chinese suppliers and the types of activities necessary to better manage global suppliers. News Items: Spend Matters: Chinese Enterprise Software: CDC Software Acquires its Way Into the Supply Chain http://bit.ly/bahf6q

More SCM Technology Trends in the News:

  • Automated Case Picking Solution Drivers – nice graphical reference #SCM #WMS http://bit.ly/briVdc
  • National Gateway – a needed initiative – increase rail capacity on US east coast #green #scm #rail http://bit.ly/ag9czy
  • Wincanton uses Microlise Transport Management solution on Marks & Spencer home delivery contracts http://bit.ly/bWp8B2
  • Afghanistan – The Central Asian Express – supply chain challenges for a country w/ no railroad #SCM http://bit.ly/dcpJ3G
  • Everyone Prospers With Free Trade – the reason both the customer & clerk say, “Thank you.” #value http://bit.ly/aIr8Uf
  • @DCVelocity Most of the U.S. freight now traveling by truck would consume more energy if transported rail-only. http://bit.ly/8o84DW
  • Dancing with a White Elephant – ERP efficiency does not mean supply chain excellence #ERP #SCM #Integration http://bit.ly/9AnbQN




More SCM Technology Trends.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Electronic Cash News | Comments

How Does RFID Technology Work?

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is a technology used to identify stuff and track things that move. This can include anything from an ocean container to an individual product. RFID technology consists of a RFID tag and a RFID reader. The RFID tag is secured to the item that is being tracked, and RFID readers (fix-site or hand-helds) read and interact with RFID tags.



RFID Technology is More Than a Replacement for Bar Codes. RFID technology goes a lot further than just replacing bar codes. RFID technology as a minimum allows for fully automated, non-line-of-sight tracking. RFID tag technology can also have a full range of functions to support any type of tracking as well as being fully integrated with sensor technologies and computer applications. See, RFID Tracking Networks 101, for more on the full range of RFID applications.

RFID Tags. At the basic level, a RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit that stores and process information, and an RF antenna that receives and transmits signals with an RF interrogator. Depending on functionality, RFID tags can be as small as a bar code label or as big as a brick. Passive RFID tags have no battery with limited capabilities and transmission ranges from a couple of inches to a couple of feet. An active RFID tag has a battery with the capability of advance computing functions as well as a RF range of up to 1,000 feet.

RFID Interrogators. RFID interrogators (also called RFID readers) connect via wireless with RFID tags and in turn can interact real-time with various computer software programs to perform such functions as item and shipment visibility. RFID interrogators can come in many forms to include RFID reader tunnels to handheld devices to long-range interrogators that look like saucer-shaped hatboxes. RFID readers also have the capability to communicate in “real-time” with multiple RFID tags.

RFID Communications Protocols. When RFID first started (and continues today in many closed RFID networks) there were a lot of different communications protocols. Many of them only worked in certain environments or were proprietary in nature. Now RFID communications is being standardized with RFID standards such as DASH7 for active RFID tags and ISO 18000-6 for passive RFID tags.

RFID Data Standards RFID tags have data standards similar to bar codes, but more robust. A key RFID tag data standard is the Electronic Product Code (EPC). The EPC standard is a family of coding schemes that are similar to the standards used for bar codes, but are used for RFID tags. The EPC was created as a low-cost method of tracking goods using RFID technology. EPC tags are designed to identify each item manufactured, as opposed to just the manufacturer and class of products, as bar codes do today. Find out more about the EPC standards for RFID tags.

See Managing RFID Data for a detail technical design overview on RFID systems.


Back to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology.

Tags:
Posted in Electronic Cash News | Comments

« Older Entries