Essay On RFID Technology

704 Words2 Pages

5. Examples of RFID Technology

Example 1 : THE TREND TOWARD CLOSED-LOOP RFID

"The hype around open-loop, supply chain applications four or five years ago created an awareness of RFID," says Chris Schaefer, director of RFID product marketing at Motorola Enterprise Mobility. "This awareness, over time, has led companies to consider what RFID can do within their own four walls, with a closed-loop RFID application." According to Schaefer, IT asset management is one way in which companies are using closed-loop RFID. "Items such as company laptops and storage tapes are not only expensive, but can contain sensitive information the company needs to protect," says Schaefer. Rather than using spreadsheets or user logs to track this equipment, a company can deploy RFID to do so. Using RFID in this instance is a more secure way of tracing where equipment is and who has been using it, which can save money on lost equipment and keep sensitive data more secure.

According to Larry Harper, president of WinWare, inventory control is another area in which closed-loop RFID has really taken off. "Closed-loop RFID applications are our sole focus, and we've seen a lot of growth of these types of applications in the industry over the past couple of years," says Harper. RFID can be used to track tools and supplies within a manufacturing environment. Tracking these items with RFID helps to make sure employees are using the correct amount of materials and helps to automate your inventory replenishment process so you can be sure the correct tools are available when they are needed. RFID also can be used to track expendable items within a facility, so that as someone removes an item from a designated area, they are automatically charged for it.

Another ex...

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...ors to read temperatures. These sensor-enabled tags have proven very useful for tracking in the cold chain/food chain industry. The food product is tracked from the point of origin to the point of sale to monitor its environment. With the recent produce issues that have arisen, this technology can provide consumers with peace of mind about the safety of what they're eating. Further, the monitoring reduces shrink that may occur with produce being transported in too hot or too cold of a truck.

These examples are only the beginning of what's being done with RFID. Many companies are finding other ways to deploy the technology either within the four walls or in a mobile manner to streamline business processes. As technology continues to advance, adoption of RFID will continue to spread. According to ABI Research, the RFID industry will continue to grow 21% through 2012.

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