Use of Radio Frequency Identification Technology

Questions: Evaluate the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. Your evaluative report should include the following: a) Briefly explain how the technology works. b) Explain the business or technical problem the technology is designed to solve. c) Identify the technologys limitations. Does it create any new problems? d) Evaluate at least one organizations implementation of the technology. e) Assessment of the technologys prospects for success in the marketplace. Answers: Introduction RFID or Radio Frequency Identification is an emerging technology for identification and logging of products and services. It is the most popular technology in this common aspect of product or services identification (Kwon et al., 2016). Briefly, RFID is demonstrated in form of tags to contain some form of identity information transmission to RFID reader, this device can directly fetch that piece of information in computer. To initiate proper understanding of RFID, the report considers the conventional Point-of-Sale barcode reader scanning devices (Zhong et al., 2015). It is simpler to rectify the use of RFID, as it is much similar to barcodes in terms of operation and procedures. How RFID works, Active and Passive RFID: Discussion The RFID systems are interrogated with RFID reader; where the tag generates radio frequency identification signal for communication between the computer-aided device and the product. The reader is designed with a receiver, which holds a answering signal directed from RFID tags and decodes the signal (Gladysz, 2015). The answering signal is reflected from the RFID tags as figuratively with tags data contents. The reply is termed as passive backscatter to the RFID reader. Active RFID tags: The active RFID tags are generally designed with in-built power source, with capability of transmitting the active and intensive processing data over physical address locations. Active RFID tags are efficient for communication to the readers within 100 meters distance or more (Vojtech et al., 2015). It requires lesser signal from the reader comparative to Passive RFID tags; unlike Passive RFID tags, it can contain sensors and data loggers with continuous power supply. Again, these are designed with time-stamp clock and significant memory storage for better operation from distance. Passive RFID tags: The Passive RFID tags contain no power or energy source in-built in them, while active tags are automatically powered with battery. The Passive RFID tags can be operated at a greatest space of 3 meters or less, enabling energy availability only while communicating with RFID interrogator (Arbit et al., 2015). These simple tags are effective with storing 64 bits of factory-written unique data (identified as Class 0 tags). However, these active and passive tags classification is confusing; because in every communication process with passive RFID tags, the reader communicates first. All RFID tags generally act as a server of containing identity information; again, Active RFID tags can communicate by itself or by the reader as well (Yan et al., 2015). Reader term is potentially confusing as it has capability of both reading the information and writing it in computer database. Again, both the tags are important for showing its full potential along with cost-savings in Passive RFID tags and better functionality with Active RFID tags. Business or Technology Problem(s) RFID solves The current business and organizations face technical issues as effect on manufacturing is depicted as following: Required to ensure error-free and customized assembly in substations of the production lines Required inventory management of components for the several types of customization options maintenance Mitigating some significant concerns as in controlling production line assembly, catalog management, Supply-Chain management, and customer feedback based services The solution is suggested as the usage of RFID tags in business products and service outcomes. The solution is included to those problems as shown underneath: Assembly Line incorporation: The RFID tags can be connected to approximately anything as objects, luggage, and product package as well. The vehicles, resources, livestock, and even personnel might be tagged with RFID (Zhou Piramuthu, 2015). Therefore, the running assembly lines or production lines can be designed with RFID reader panel. The panel should be designed to detect the RFID tags under the products on the go. Figure 1: Assembly line applications (Source: Arbit et al., 2015, pp. 90) Handheld applications of RFID tags: The handheld RFID reader devices are relevant for bigger products identification while storing inside the inventory (Fescioglu-Unver et al., 2015). There must be stakeholders for incorporating this application of RFID tags for suitable inventory management process. Figure 2: Handheld device applications (Source: Gladysz, 2015, pp. 40) Shipping and other critical issues solution: The shipping portals are basically containers for sending lots of products from the inventory to the distributors. The portals are important for maintaining proper record keeping, auditing, and database management of products (Zhong et al., 2015). Other critical issues are addressed as supply chain management or particular products. Figure 3: Shipping management with RFID tags (Source: Zhou Piramuthu, 2015, pp. 15) RFID advantages over Barcode or OCR: The advantages are listed in favor of RFID over other ADC (Automated Data Collection) technologies as Barcode or OCR as following: Line of sight is not required for reading the product identity With single scanning process, multiple stuff or products can be read with essential information Individual tag has capability of reading or writing huge amount of data Rather identifying categories, individual items can be identified as well Passive tags are with unlimited lifespan and active tags are readable from big distances RFID can be attached with Barcode and OCR technology to gain competitive advantages of both the techniques Limitations of RFID and Possible Solutions The primary limitations in RFID deployment are defined to be the challenges of implementation. The challenges are identified as following: Managing the system cost for entire implementation Handling the materials under suitable inventory management Tagging and identification scheme incompatibilities Operating frequency variances over the products Business process redesigning with new RFID technology incorporation Cost and Return on Investment sharing The solutions are included as referring to the current limitations over design challenges with RFID deployment as well. The solutions are included as underneath: To manage the system expenditure, the accurate hardware, right implementation path, and right data architecture should be chosen. To handle materials under suitable inventory management, RFID tagging of produced products should be performed along with RFID reader designing. To avoid tagging and identification scheme incompatibilities, a suitable standard should be followed. To manage the variances of operating frequencies, the frequency should be chosen in this RFID tagging implementation. To introduce the RFID tagging system, the new processes should be included, existing processes should be re-written, and Human Resource Department (HR) should be trained well. To share cost and ROI in business, the RFID helps in supply chain management as well. Implementation of RFID in Philips Semiconductors The RFID tag implementation is performed in Philips Semiconductors with products tagging and inventor management facility. RFID helps in determining the data identification and transmission of data with active tagging mechanism. The transmission of data can be used for suitable supply chain management of semiconductors (Tariq Khan, 2011). The factory and production related data could be added with the production system. The distribution-assisted steps of the organization are added with loading and unloading of received information. The final stages of retail and shelf management is included in the business. However, some customers denied the RFID technology saying I would rather grow a beard; stating that these information can be used against them by spammers. Further, this information will become traceable to the outsiders; Philips Semiconductors have implemented the technology with security and privacy management disabling the unlimited access to information. Success Assessment of RFID in Marketplaces RFID application is Airlines: Delta Airlines have announced that RFID implementation will be deployed for baggage tracking in 344 stations all over the world. The application can provide notifications when the baggage should be loaded and unloaded from the aircraft (Yang et al., 2015). The initial deployment has 99.9% success rate as confirmed from Delta Airlines. RFID in Transportation: The tagging helps the trucks to run without unnecessary speed decreasing a bit within weigh stations. The vehicle does not need to slow down as RFID is quick to detect the weight of the truck while it is in motion. Trains can be tagged with RFID for identifying the content of it (Ozdemir Bayrak, 2015). Again, shipping can be helped with loading and unloading the assets. However, acceptance of RFID in toll booths helped in minimizing congestion in tunnels, bridges, and toll roads. RFID in Medical and Healthcare: RFID tags helped in limiting the overstock of certain products with limiting supply. The injection can be matched with patients wristband and embedded RFID tags in it as well (Cavus Munyavi, 2015). The radiology RFID tagging helped in finding the equipments from the inventory. The RFID tag can help in alerting people to control them from unwanted infection. The drugs can be traced and tracked under the RFID tagged prescription drugs. RFID in Supply Chain Management: The RFID helps in quality controlling, tracking, and tracing, shelf maintenance, high-value goods management, asset management, and distribution of productivity as well (Zhou Piramuthu, 2015). The tagging techniques is relatively effective rather than Barcodes. RFID in banking: The RFID tagging helped in automatic identification and data capturing technology usage for maintaining different equipments in same banking firm. Conclusion The identified tags as both passive and active RFID tags are important for showing its full potential along with cost-savings in Passive RFID tags and better functionality with Active RFID tags. To handle materials under suitable inventory management, RFID tagging of produced products should be performed along with RFID reader designing. The RFID tag implementation is performed in some organizations with products tagging and inventor management facility. RFID helps in determining the data identification and transmission of data with active tagging mechanism. RFID tags helped in limiting the overstock of certain products with limiting supply. The radiology RFID tagging helped in finding the equipments from the inventory. References Arbit, A., Livne, Y., Oren, Y., Wool, A. (2015). Implementing public-key cryptography on passive RFID tags is practical. International Journal of Information Security, 14(1), 85-99. Cavus, N., Munyavi, R. M. (2015). An assessment of the effects of widespread use of mobile applications in the health sector: An exploratory study of its success and failures. Fescioglu-Unver, N., Choi, S. H., Sheen, D., Kumara, S. (2015). RFID in production and service systems: Technology, applications and issues. Information Systems Frontiers, 17(6), 1369-1380. Gladysz, B. (2015). An Assessment of RFID Applications in Manufacturing Companies. Management and Production Engineering Review, 6(4), 33-42. 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