4, radio frequency technology in the supply chain Management
In the supply chain operation and management, RFID technology can give full play to their effectiveness, supply chain management will become a good helper to promote the further development of supply chain management. Currently, the supply chain has been achieved despite a number of automated and computerized automatic operation, and greatly increase the operating efficiency of operation, but there is much work to rely on human effort. For example, in the use of bar code technology to identify the supply chain of materials, components, WIP, finished goods and other objectives, it must be done manually, which requires advanced radio frequency technology information to strengthen these links automation . Information is to strengthen the supply chain operation and management capabilities is an important factor, in order to improve the effectiveness of supply chain management, the need to chain members in a timely manner by other members of the operational aspects of the operation information, and information sharing will occur less than supply strand breaks and inefficient.
Therefore, the accuracy and timeliness of supply chain management and operation of the key, RFID technology can satisfy the access to this information and processing requirements. Has developed a smart tag, and only 0.3mm large, it is small enough to be placed in one of the bills in, and low cost. Meanwhile, the passive tag has a unique permanent programming of the code, so to prevent forgery, outsiders can not be modified or deleted. Therefore, it can easily RFID tags into the supply chain on the target, the products in the packaging without opening the case, system will of the goods into the bag and box after box to identify accurately get the product ready related information, such as manufacturers, production sites, production time, type, color, size, quantity, arrival, the recipient of such. RFID systems can be realized from product design, procurement of raw materials, semi-finished and finished products production, transportation, warehousing, distribution, until the sale, or return processing and after-sales service supply chain links all the real-time monitoring, to improve business automation of operation significantly reduces errors and significantly improve supply chain transparency and management efficiency.
RFID in the supply chain, many links have played a major role in this, citing some of the applications are as follows:
(A) At the retail link
The U.S. retail industry average was 800 per minute by patronizing the thief, the thief average of about 25 U.S. dollars per theft of goods, then the value of 20,000 dollars stolen per minute; Also, according to the U.S. "consumer research" magazine, 60% There have been pilfering of consumer behavior, coupled with the internal staff of burglary, the U.S. retail losses each year in this area about 30 billion. For this huge loss, retailers have begun to use radio frequency technology, the use of commodities electronic anti-theft tag of this new technology to address the issue. This anti-theft technology is the RFID tags into products, by the computer system to store real-time monitoring of various commodities to achieve the label. After achieving label merchandise, retailers will be able to safely open-shelf sales. Help in RF technology, to promote sales of goods increased by 25%, loss rate has dropped by 50%. Sales made by manufacturers to improve sales up nearly 70-100%.
In addition, RFID can also improve the retailer's inventory management and replenishment to achieve timely, efficient transportation and inventory tracking, increase efficiency and reduce errors. Meanwhile, the smart tags to certain time-sensitive goods to monitor the validity of, for example, to track certain food or drugs, once they are over the period, the label will issue a warning; store can use RFID systems in the checkout automatic scanning and billing, to replace the manual collection methods. If the world's largest retailer Wal-Mart has about 50 live on its RFID technology was tested, and in recent years, extend the program to the world, the current supply for the first 100 major supply operators have been asked to participate in testing, and formally launched in 2005 to prepare the rest of the tens of thousands of suppliers have to follow up the plan this year. One of the major UK retailers J. Sainsbury, a RFID trial system for the retail market tracking and recording of goods, logistics departments will follow the regional distribution chain, each affixed with RFID tags for goods, the initial trial key concentrated in the frozen foods, these foods must be rapidly flow from suppliers to consumers, thus requiring the circulation process, especially on the shelves for sale in the shortest possible time. During the trial process, step by step with the trial, plans to trial the system expanded to track each item, and finally extended to all commodities.
In the next few years, smart labels will be used extensively for the supply chain end of the sales process, especially yes in the supermarket, RFID Biaoqian the tracking process to remove artificial Gan Yu, and can Shengcheng 100% Zhunque of business data Juyoujuda appeal.
(B) storage areas
In the warehouse, the most widely used RF technology is access to goods and stock inventory, it can be used to automate operations such as inventory and pick up. For example, the forklift driver and order selection for real-time communications staff, RF system allows forklift drivers get real-time instruction, paperless pick up operation. Members of the election goods pass through the terminal equipment will be instructions to the operator, and accept the return of the information operator, the reaction time of only 3 for 6 seconds. In the warehouse management, through the supply chain planning systems to develop plans of receipt, pick up plans, shipping plans combined with RFID technology, can efficiently complete a variety of business operations, such as the stowage area, shelves / check such goods and replenishment system to provide a batch or direct connection mode and the external host system to exchange data. Because the complete data interface, to avoid unnecessary duplication of data input and the consequent errors. This enhanced the accuracy and speed operation (up to 99%), improving service quality, reduce costs, saving the provincial labor force (8% -35%) and inventory space, while reducing the logistics because of misplacement of goods, delivery mistake, theft, damage and inventory losses caused by shipping errors.
Another advantage of RF technology is in stock inventory to reduce labor time. RFID design automation is to make the registration of goods, inventory does not require manual inspection or scanning barcode more quickly and accurately, and reduce the loss. RFID solutions can provide accurate information about inventory, managers can thus quickly identify and correct operation of low efficiency, enabling rapid delivery and minimize storage costs.
(C), the transport link
RFID applications in the main transport links include: automatic toll collection and highway traffic management, rail and freight container identification, security and so on. Recently, portable data terminals and radio frequency communications PDT is frequently used for transport operations, scanning through the PDT location labels, product number and other information, and through RF technology to transmit the data to the computer management system that can grasp and real-time tracking in-transit goods means of transport. RF technology allows companies to track inventory in the supply chain specific unit, until a particular transmission chain of a tray container products. Currently, UPS has been using radio frequency technology to read the information on the delivery of parcels, improved operational efficiency. RFID is currently used on the pallet and container identification and tracking, the main objective of the next stage is applied to single-items.
With the rapid growth of our vehicles and urban traffic congestion tends to not stop automatic toll collection has become increasingly concerned about the goal. Our existing charging methods are: ① artificial recognition models and charges. This charging method without supervision, the holes, the average charge time is about 10 ~ 15 seconds, the vehicle movement is restricted; ② vehicle identification equipment, labor costs. This subscription model depends critically on the accuracy of identification devices, it does not recognize free vehicles (such as military vehicles, police cars, etc.), and low efficiency; ③ card automatically charged. As long as the reader of this charging method is stable and reliable quality, it is a good way for a fee. The disadvantage is that vehicles can not be checked, the consistency of card, the card is serious physical injury; ④ non-contact IC card fees. The charge was achieved by the non-contact transmission of data to improve the card's service life, is an ideal charging methods. But not a real non-stop automatic toll collection, transmission distance is generally about 10cm ~ 50cm, small range.
Inefficient traditional charging, charges no supervision, the holes, cars, cards inconsistent; some of the vehicles of illegal escape charges. In order to understand these issues, must be implemented Automatic Vehicle fees, the current does not stop electronic payment system is the full use of radio technology, mobile vehicles and toll data transfer between to complete the charging process.
Automatic Vehicle rates are for vehicles passing through toll stations, through automatic vehicle recognition, will automatically move the vehicle and the toll station to achieve information transfer between the complete vehicle fees, registration and filing process. When the vehicle through the toll station without drivers and charge those who contact the label on board is triggered, can emit a unique identification code that is the passing of information (such as license plate number, vehicle model, vehicle color, bank account , unit name and user name, etc.), toll reader, after receiving signals transmitted to the computer system by processing, data management and archive, and transmit the information to the appropriate bank for Stock Arrives treatment. RF applications in China has also started a number of highway toll station exit, use the RF can be achieved without parking.
(D) delivery / distribution links
In the distribution areas, using radio frequency technology can greatly accelerate the speed of delivery and distribution process and improve the selection efficiency and accuracy, and reduce labor, reduce distribution costs. To the food industry food distribution center, for example, because the downstream supermarket and restaurant / fast food industry, the working environment of high tension and the need for tight control of costs, thus demanding distribution management, RFID technology can meet these requirements a strong power.
To reach the Central Distribution Center (CDC), all food labels are affixed with RFID, sales in the Central Distribution Center, the tray through a gate reader, read all the containers on tray labels. Information and delivery system will check the records to detect possible errors, and then updated to the latest RFID tag location and status of food storage. This ensures accurate inventory control, or even know exactly how many containers are currently en route transit, transshipment of origin and destination, and the expected time of arrival and other information.
Supermarkets and restaurants to meet downstream requirements such as order, need to pick with food distribution center, according to order information and food label information match, quickly select the required food, and placed on pallets for shipment. Before sending food to be stacked on pallets for temporary storage. In the past, need to manually on the same tray of food for many different types of treatment, which is very tedious work. With the RFID system can easily identify any of a food tray, fast and accurate delivery.
Throughout the supply chain, tracking and updating of food labeling information is used to monitor the distribution network and automatically records the number of issued and storage of food. It ensures timely delivery and lower costs.
(E) in production
Manufacturing sectors in the application of radio frequency technology to complete the operation of automated production lines and realize the whole production line for raw materials, components, semi-finished and finished products identification and tracking, reduce cost and error rate of artificial recognition, improve efficiency and effectiveness. Particularly in the use of Just-in-Time JIT production pipeline, the raw materials and components must be sent to the station on time. After using the RFID technology, RFID tags can be identified quickly by the many kinds of stock from accurately identify the station the raw materials and spare parts. PFID technology can also help managers to issue timely replenishment according to the progress of production information, to achieve a balanced line, steady production, but also strengthened its quality control and tracking.
Auto manufacturing, for example, automobile production plant currently in welding, painting and assembly production line, have adopted RFID technology to monitor the production process. For example, by reading the electronic tag information, and then with production planning, scheduling order combining the production line to a body such as a separate identification number, to realize the vehicle tracking; in welding production line, using high temperature, Anti-dust / metal, anti-magnetic field, active packaging reusable RFID tags, through the automatic identification operation to monitor the welding work piece; the paint shop with waterproof paint RFID tags, on auto parts and vehicle monitoring, According to schedule on completion of painting operations, while reducing pollution; in the assembly line, according to a supply chain planner schedule out production plans, production scheduling and sequencing, by identifying the RFID tag information in the complete mixed production.
General Motors is the radio frequency technology for its production and material aspects, and will be within 3 to 5 years using this technology to monitor and track the entire supply chain operations; Toyota Motor Corporation has adopted this advanced technology only be used outside the production process, will be its vehicle sales and after-sales service for the area of the vehicle's arrival time to monitor and record customer and vehicle warranty information.
(Vi) food quality control link
In recent years a large number of food safety issues have emerged mainly in meat and meat products, due to livestock epidemics have occurred, such as mad cow disease, foot and mouth disease and the recent outbreak of avian flu, if prevention and control of properly, will people's health harm. After using the RFID system can provide the food chain in meat products of animal origin with a reliable connection between, from the sale of sectors such as supermarkets, restaurants in the meat products can be traced to their history and origin, and can keep track to the specific individual farms and animals. Identify the source of the meat in a solution, the RFID chips can be used to record each animal's veterinary history in the farms to establish an electronic identity for each animal, and all information stored in computer systems until they are slaughtered . Then, all data is stored in the sale of meat products in the RFID tag, with the sale of food sent to the downstream link. In this way, through the retail level in supermarkets, restaurants and other identification on food labels, people can know when to buy food source, time, circumstances and other intermediate processing of information, you can buy with confidence.
(7) in the library management
Modern library available to readers more than just books and magazines, but more modern, technology-based audio and video products, CDs, computer software and a series of non-print, on the protection of these collections also have more than ever the importance of protection methods and measures more difficult.
Anti-theft feature that has intelligent library management system, only a reader and a low-cost 13.56MHz RFID tags can be easy to read will read the collection of information to allow readers to find books and books to prevent loss. Detected by the RF antenna and multi-family, composed of a variety of anti-theft tag for the library system offers users a safe, effective, low-cost protective measures, according to U.S. security point of companies using radio frequency technology system library user survey show that the theft rate generally fell more than 95%.
In addition, in the healthcare industry, RFID has been used to manage patient records, patient medical records to bring with RFID tags doctor, the doctor will be able to without the need for more inspection, testing and questioning, to move quickly check out the details of the patient avoid too much exercise rash and waiting time for patients to be treated in time and rescue, to avoid the sudden illness of the delays and save time for medical treatment. For example, that blood loss can be rapid RFID's blood type, time for blood transfusion, wait. At present, the RF technique was also used in clinical treatment of cancer; Also, in case detection, the detection of personnel using a wireless terminal through a wireless network and database linked to real-time query of some information, such as criminal records, fingerprint information, and can will be sent to the front of the detection situation of back-end database for the commander to develop future action plans; RF technology is also available for identification, security, access control and security systems, as well as can be used to search and verification of the human body and objects, in recent years especially for the aviation industry, aviation anti-terrorism attacks. The obvious advantage is that it reads the way wireless identification greatly enhanced the effective distance, thus more efficiently handle the data, or to respond to special circumstances, to win more time.
In fact, RFID Technology Application of the real potential, can permeate into all walks of life, people need to be developed and vigorously applied it.