Verified Document

RFID Technology As Is The Thesis

In an earlier article, Michael Caton (2004), also mentions the standardization issue.

In order for RFID technology to be a viable replacement for the currently used bar code system, standardization is vital. EPCgloble Inc. provides the standards of universal product code information in both bar codes and RFID chips. According to Caton, this company will then also work towards establishing standards for the standardization of RFID use in terms of a variety of applications in the supply chain. This will simplify the interaction between shipping companies, as well as the way in which goods are stored and shipped within each company.

The company also addresses privacy concerns by dictating how RFID data can be erased. Erasing this data is however the retailer's responsibility. Mainly, concerns are that retailers may not take the responsibility of erasing individual item data after these are purchased by customers. This concern is legitimate and will have to be addressed fully by means of standardization.

Caton (2004) also describes the many potential uses and advantages of RFID technology for supply chain management. Indeed, he states that the technology can be useful not only for complex data organization systems, but also for simple tasks such as moving goods.

Specifically, Caton notes that RFID tags are either passive or active, with the former being lower in cost. Passive tags receive energy from the reader and transmit data to the reader again. Active tags have their own power supply, and simplifies the process considerably by transmitting data directly to the reader. These tags can also interact with other devices on the supply floor. Caton (2004) mentions that passive tags will probably be more commonly used on supply floors as a result of their lower cost.

Cost, as mentioned above, is a significant consideration, particularly for small businesses.

Caton concurs with Thryft in this matter; cost remains a barrier to the widescale implementation of RFID technology. Particularly, Caton mentions that testing and resources will be required to determine even the basic implementation of the technology. Such resources may be impossible for small...

This is an issue that is however being addressed by companies such as Sun Microsystems Inc., which focuses on helping companies to determine how to most cost-effectively implement RFID.
When taking the above concerns into account, it is important to also keep in mind that all developing technology is initially somewhat expensive and complex. However, with time, both prices and complexity levels lower as the technology becomes standardized and widely used. Rather than therefore right away demonizing RFID as mostly unviable in terms of any of these factors, it is also important to consider the potential advantages is offers.

According to Active Wave Inc. (2007), for example, the technology continues to evolve, making open architectures increasingly available. Logistical tracking and inventory is also facilitated by means of the sturdier nature of the technology than that of barcodes, which tend to malfunction after a certain amount of use. Furthermore, it is noted that there is no line of sight requirement between reader and tag, the database is portable, multiple tags can be read and written, and there is a much longer reading range than for bar codes.

In conclusion, RFID is reminiscent of all new technologies: there is a wide range of negativity and mistrust. I do believe however that the concerns and problems currently surrounding the issue will be eliminated with time as the technology evolves to suit the needs of its users. RFID technology offers significant advantages. In general, I believe that these outweigh any disadvantages, and indeed that the latter will eventually be completely eliminated. RFID technology should therefore be a serious consideration in all aspects of the supply chain.

Sources

Active Wave Inc. (2007). Technology: Advantages of RFID. http://www.activewaveinc.com/technology_rfid_advantage.php

Caton, Michael (2004, Apr. 19). RFID Reshapes Supply Chain Management. Eweek. http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/RFID-Reshapes-Supply-Chain-Management/

Thryft, Ann R. (2007, Jan). Supply chain Management Challenges RFID Technology. RTC Magazine. http://www.rtcmagazine.com/home/article.php?id=100786

Sources used in this document:
Sources

Active Wave Inc. (2007). Technology: Advantages of RFID. http://www.activewaveinc.com/technology_rfid_advantage.php

Caton, Michael (2004, Apr. 19). RFID Reshapes Supply Chain Management. Eweek. http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/RFID-Reshapes-Supply-Chain-Management/

Thryft, Ann R. (2007, Jan). Supply chain Management Challenges RFID Technology. RTC Magazine. http://www.rtcmagazine.com/home/article.php?id=100786
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

RFID Technology in the Military Radio Frequency
Words: 4247 Length: 15 Document Type: Essay

RFID Technology in the Military Radio frequency identification (RFID) Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a term used to refer to an electronic system that transmits in form of serial numbers that are distinct, the identity of a person or an object in a wireless manner with the aid of radio frequencies. The RFID is categorized under the wider automatic identification technologies category (Association of Automatic Identification and Mobility, 2011). The RFID are

Radio Frequency Identification RFID Technology
Words: 757 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology Advantages and disadvantages of RFID technology to the organization RFID technology has many benefits over traditional technologies as it changes the process becoming automatic. Conventional tracking technologies require manual connections, which include labor intense, very time intense and error vulnerable. With RFID technology, it has notable advantages that can raise the performance of management and inventory. Efficient Inventory Tracking system: The main benefit to using RFID in the

RFID and Epc Assessment of
Words: 870 Length: 3 Document Type: Assessment

The combination of EPC and RFID taken together are providing the foundation of value chain efficiency and profitable operation across many industries, with retailing being one of the most rapid adopters (Trunick, 2005). Wal-Mart's pilot in 2004 of its top 100 suppliers further legitimized the use of EPC codes in RFID pilots and discovered that mixed-pallet mode shipping was even more cost-effective than large-scale logistics and supplier enablement (Khanna,

RFID System for Patient Tracking
Words: 3588 Length: 12 Document Type: Literature Review

There are various applications of the RFID technology in the healthcare. These are explored by a HIBCC,(2006 ) report that studies the application of the RFID technology in the healthcare setting with emphasis on its benefits, limitations as well as recommendations The report categorically pointed out that that the applications of the RFID technology in the health care settings are numerous. They range from being used in the management of

Technology Making Strategic Plans for
Words: 746 Length: 2 Document Type: Case Study

It must the compare it with the returns the company is earning without going for the proposal. The new vessels required for the project will increase the transportation time. Great lakes Carriers must consider the increasing international oil prices and its potential implications on the company's costs. Supply Chain Considerations There are a few supply chain issues that are important to be taken into consideration. It is important that Great Lakes

Technology in Facilities Management the
Words: 1348 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

A third real-life example are the pervasive Healthcare Information Systems (HIS) and Patient Information Management Systems (PIMS) that form the backbone of any healthcare facility. These are systems that capture all relevant patient demographic, treatment and health-related data in addition to showing the specific costs of treatment and profits as well (McGurkin, Hart, Millinghausen, 2006). In short, these systems form the basic financial structure of a healthcare systems. There are

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now