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The big buzz in packaging is called
RFID. You can define RFID as a radio frequency identification device. This
device can be about the size of a piece of rice (or smaller) and can emit a
signal that enables a package to be tracked as a single
item from the packager, to the shipping source, to the warehouse, to the
retailer, to the shelf, and eventually to the consumers shopping cart. RFID's are the future in
technology that retailers need and manufacturers want. From these tags,
retailers are able to determine how much of a particular product is on their
shelves and how many are in crates waiting to be displayed or where they are in
transit. Retailers and manufacturers would also actually have the potential to
research consumer shopping habits by using RFID tags, such as how long a
customer holds a product in his hand before placing it in the cart or
returning it to the shelf unpurchased.
Imagine going to a retail chain where you fill your cart with items
ranging from toothpaste to tool sets and not actually checking out at a counter.
All you do is roll your shopping cart past the scanner and all items are totaled and
your debit card automatically takes a direct hit. All you have to do from there
is load the car and drive home. No waiting, no hassle, no lines. In Rheinberg,
Germany people don't have to wonder about this concept. They have it now. It is
a prototype store where RFID's are being tested. People from all parts of the
world are going there just to see how the "wave of the future" is
working, and
it sounds as if retailers and manufacturers are more than pleased. See www.wiredmag.com
RFID's are a little more costly than bar code labels but they
will save money in the long run. With in-store theft being almost impossible and
never having to do an actual inventory, just to name a few advantages, financial
gains are obvious to the retailer. Eventually, all vendors will have to be using
these devices if they want their product available to the public in large chain
retailers that are strictly RFID compliant.
There are numerous web resources on RFID's. It would benefit any retail
packaging company to be on top of this coding frontier. Manufacturers are going
to want radio frequency identification devices on their packaging to help market their product to retailers.
Although radio frequency
technology has been around for decades in closed loop manufacturing
applications, it is relatively new and rapidly evolving for supply chain
applications. As a result, relatively few vendors possess hands-on
experience with operational systems. What resources do currently exist
will be spread very thinly as everyone scrambles to meet Wal-Mart's and the
Department of Defense's deadlines on requiring RFID technology for cases
and pallets on items from their major suppliers. There may not be enough
existing capacity for all the consulting and software help manufacturers
are going to need. As anyone involved with implementations in the real world can tell you, the processes affected are too many and the overall complexity too great for RFID to quickly transform the supply chain. The transformation will happen gradually.
If you are in need of Radio
Frequency ID
engineering or equipment, many consultants and manufacturers
are promoting themselves as RFID experts. Ask to see a working
installation before signing on with anyone.
According to USAToday, The Social Security Administration has cutting edge RFID plans. Within the next few months, the SSA will begin phasing out its existing bar code system for tracking paperwork moving towards a RFID system that is expected to really improve order fulfillment
accuracy. They have built special tunnels equipped with RFID readers to be used at both the shipping and receiving portals of the warehouse. Their idea is to have shipment data updated automatically and in real time. System Concepts of High Point, North Carolina, was contracted to design the new system.
Over the next five years, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is going to have a huge impact on any business or enterprise involved in the production, movement or sale of physical goods. RFID is already being adopted by international retailers, including Metro Group and Tesco in Europe and Wal-Mart, Target and Albertsons in the United States; by leading manufacturers, such as Gillette, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Kraft Foods, Nestle, Procter & Gamble and Unilever; and the US Department of Defense.
RFDI Suppliers
IDcardMarket.com is one of the largest smart card production lines in North America.
They offer multi-application smart cards, financial cards, photo ID cards, pet tags,
keyfobs, tokens, tickets, armbands/wristbands that can all be trackable using RFID
technology. Free Shipping in U.S. and Canada. www.IDcardMarket.com
Impinj, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company whose patented Self-Adaptive Silicon® technology enables its two synergistic business lines: high performance RFID products and cost-effective semiconductor intellectual property (SIP). Impinj's semiconductor chips power high performance, enhanced-functionality RFID systems that fulfill the global mandates promulgated by the consumer packaged goods and retailing industries. The company is a leading contributor to the emerging RFID standards for high volume supply-chain applications worldwide. Impinj’s innovative SIP products, core to the company’s RFID tags, are licensed to leading semiconductor companies worldwide, allowing them to cost-effectively integrate crucial nonvolatile memory (NVM) alongside analog and digital functionality on a single chip. Impinj’s SIP products include the popular AEON™ memory, the world's first rewritable NVM technology compatible with logic CMOS manufacturing. For more information, visit
www.impinj.com
Texas Instruments is the world’s largest integrated manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders and reader systems. Capitalizing on its competencies in high-volume semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics packaging, TI is at the forefront of establishing new markets and international standards for RFID applications. For more
information visit the Web site at www.ti-rfid.com
Texas Instruments also announced plans to deliver ISO/IEC 14443 compliant radio frequency identification (RFID) chips designed to meet the stringent security requirements for MasterCard International's PayPass(TM) line of RFID payment cards and tokens.This
system allows the card holder to pay for small ticket items like fast food,
or gasoline with just a swipe of the card. www.ti-rfid.com
RFID Training Opportunities
eSmart Source training division offers a classroom style one-day course that familiarizes participants with the hardware, middleware, software and other key elements necessary for successful RFID deployment. Currently the course is being offered in San Francisco, Bay area and Portland, Oregon and will be offered in Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix in the coming months. They
call it: RFID Made Easy
Singapore: two full-day eSmart Source workshop program (member EPC Global) brought to you in Singapore by RFID Focus Pvt. Ltd, is tailored to help understand exactly what RFID technology is, what are driving forces beyond the standards, and what the technology can do for
any business in Singapore. Singapore, as a key manufacturing center, world’s second busiest port and key logistics hub will be directly affected.
www.eSmartSource.com
eSmart Source also offers a two-day program at your location. The two-day curriculum is designed to bring you quickly all important aspects of RFID technology and to help you evaluate vendors, develop a business case, calculate ROI, and plan successful pilots and deployments. The first day's program is designed for management executives and functional experts while the second day would focus on technology, implementation and integration.
P.S. Who would ever think that you would never loose another golf ball? You guessed it. You can now buy golf balls that have a RFID inside the ball. You can hook and slice all you want to and go directly to your ball. Not cheap, but it's not like golf is just a game!
RFID
Suppliers, Consultants & Training |