RFID's wide range of possibilities
Radio frequency tags can help gather information about people, places, and things where optical systems such as bar codes simply cannot perform.
By Rick Bushnell -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/2000
Bar codes, bar codes, bar codes! We seem to hear about bar codes whenever we discuss information and the control of materials necessary to integrate supply chains. Although bar codes have become ubiquitous and necessary, they certainly are not the only form of automatic identification and data collection that can help companies become more efficient.In this column I'd like to direct your attention to radio frequency identification (RFID). Some people, familiar with the capabilities of RFID, have begun to wonder if it isn't just a matter of time before this technology replaces bar codes.
To get closer to what is today's reality, however, I'd like to express my opinion, one that's shared by many. As far as simple product identification goes, bar codes will be around for a long, long time. This view is not simply mine, but it has been expressed by the Uniform Code Council (UCC), by the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) association, and even by many of the companies that provide RFID products.
The reality is that bar codes have an enormous installed base. They are inexpensive. And they are highly reliable. Furthermore, the two technologies complement each other rather than compete with each other.
RFID has some intriguing capabilities. The main benefit is that you do not have to "see" the RFID tag. That also means that you do not have to aim a reader at it. In fact, you can wave a reader over a stack of products that carry RFID tags and gather information individually about all of them at one pass.
In one application, the user was reading a bar code serial number on each product on a shelf. It took an average of 2 minutes and 25 seconds to "find, aim, and capture" the serial numbers for all the products. Using RFID it took only 25 seconds.
RFID tags (the little radio and antenna) can provide a range of different capabilities and their prices go up accordingly. One type simply provides a serial number to link itself to a file in a database where a great deal more information can be contained. Another type can be placed on anything that needs to be stored in a yard or stacked on the floor in a large facility. The device tells the reading system its serial number and its location within a grid. A third type allows information to be read from the tag as well as written to the tag.
I'd like to gather some ideas about applying this technology and you can help. Keep in mind that RFID can help gather information about people, places, and things where optical systems such as bar codes simply cannot perform. Tell me about places where you think RFID could help in your operation; please drop me a note at rickb@quadii.com
If you would like information about this technology, there are web sites that will provide a wealth of information. Start with www.mmh.com and use the click on mmh button. You will be amazed at the amount of information available to you.
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