The case for using RFID within logistics and for industry is often cited as compelling. Is this really the case?
Archive for the ‘Hardware’ Category
How useful is RFID for logistics and for inventory tracking?
Monday, October 11th, 2010Plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags
Friday, October 8th, 2010Intelligent Global Pooling Systems is a pallet rental company that supplies plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags. The claim is that “embedded RFID tags enable shippers and receivers to track shipments throughout the supply chain.”
Although the pallets are hired and you can expect them to come and go between warehouses, manufacturing centres and shipping points in open and closed loop environments, it is still possible to track pallet assets and stock using Juniper Innovations’ RFID and warehouse management system. Using a combination of RFID readers on dock doors and existing barcode readers for example, it is possible to track pallets and stock into and out of buildings. The warehouse management software is able to both track RFID tags on pallets plus link RFID tags to barcodes.
5 tips for better RFID use
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010Transport items, shipping units, distribution containers or whatever label you want to give them play an important role in logistics and manufacturing. Referring to items such as:
- Pallets
- Plastic boxes or tote containers
- Roll cages
- Wheeled trolleys
- Crates..
..they’re used to transport stock within a factory or warehouse, between buildings and to end markets and customers. Their significance is sometimes taken for granted however isn’t lost on Finance and Logistics Directors. They form a significant capital outlay and cause operational disruption when shortages occur. So picture the significance of a busy warehouse loading crates onto pallets, ready to be shipped onto a regional distribution centre before being distributed to a customer. As the pallets are loaded onto a truck the inventory is updated, recording which units are heading out, what units they precisely are, the truck they will be loaded to and where they are heading. There is no manual recording of information, no forms and no delay finding out the information as it is in real time. So can RFID really be used in this way today and what are the 5 tips for better RFID use?
Challenging the use of GPS tracking
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010GPS technology is becoming more common and widespread in use. In the last week for example Google have announced the real-time tracking of airplane flights on Google Earth (based on data collected by Flightwise from the Federal Aviation Administration), Casio have announced a geotagging capability on a camera linking pictures and movements to GPS positions and points of interest, while the US military wants GPS capabilities in their Ipads (which stands for Improved Position and Azimuth Determining Systems, not their Apple gadgets). So for organisational and business use is all this GPS stuff gimmicky or can we get more use from the technology?
Why use tamper proof seals and labels?
Friday, September 24th, 2010
Tamper proof seals are used by organisations to track their assets and deter property and stock theft. Tampering occurs when the contents of a package or container have been removed, damaged, contaminated, or otherwise manipulated so that they now constitute something other than what is represented by the label or shipping manifest. Tampering is a clear attack on an organisation’s integrity.
Tamper evident seals add value to any sealed item and also help prevent shrinkage and loss of goods in transit. The new Stealthmark® Security Label provides true brand protection from counterfeiting and diversion. Yet it maintains the easy to use product identification and tracking capabilities of bar coding. The label combines many features in a cost effective and easy to use label.
Announcing the Motorola ES400
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
The new Motorola Global ES400 EDA was launched in June 2010 and is now being released in the UK.
So what’s an EDA and why all the fuss?
In order to separate itself from a mobile phone and a PDA (personal digital assistant) an EDA, or enterprise digital assistant device is aimed at the business sector. Specifically it is for people working in for example warehouses, healthcare, retail, managing inventory or lone/mobile/field working. The EDA provides an alternative to a PDAs that is aimed at office and home users.
Tracking is not authentication
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010With the alarming and growing trend of fake goods and counterfeit items, manufacturers are becoming increasingly concerned about product authentication. This is particularly so for pharmaceutical manufacturers, food and drink producers, the tobacco industry, car and aircraft part suppliers. Authentication requires that products at unit level can be authenticated as genuine articles and not simply that they are tracked through a supply chain. So how can this be achieved?
Why are real time location systems a shot in the arm for your business?
Sunday, August 8th, 2010Real time location systems (RTLS) are used to track and identify the location of property, equipment, assets and people in real time. They are becoming more sophisticated. So much so that if your organisation works in manufacturing RTLS can be a real shot in the arm. Why is this the case? (more…)
2010 Joint Strategic Plan On Intellectual Property Enforcement
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010Last month the US government issued a 65 page document entitled “2010 Joint Strategic Plan On Intellectual Property Enforcement.” This plan is against counterfeiting and infringement. In it the Federal government lists a number of actions it will take including “We will secure supply chains to stem the flow of infringing products at our borders and through enhanced cooperation with the private sector.”
Does Software as a Service help you track more effectively?
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010Can your logistics operation or logistics business improve tracking processes more effectively and lower costs using Software as a Service (SaaS) or is SaaS simply an IT fad and fallacy? (more…)