November 24, 2005
EPC implementation - part 2
Enterprises planning to implement RFID start off by conducting pilots to test their preparedness, study locations, and find out the most suitable tag and reader combinations. For a pilot to be successful, it has to enjoy support from the top management, should be based on a defined business requirement, should pursue quantifiable and verifiable targets, should be executed in a phased manner, and should be scalable.
Before starting with the pilot it is important that the effect of interference and the impact on the existing systems be considered. The initial stages of the pilot are to be devoted to acquiring a proof-of-concept, understanding the working of the infrastructure required to integrate the RFID with the existing systems.
EPC/RFID technology can be affected by interference from metals, static electricity, electromagnetic induction, etc. Factors that influence interference include the size of the antenna, frequency used, power output, nature of the object being tagged, etc.
The UHF technology offers a greater read range but is more susceptible to interference than the 13.56 MHz range. Viscous liquids cause less interference than thinner liquids. Methods to control the interference include placing a buffer between the tag and the object, altering the location of the antenna, placing readers as far away as possible from potential sources of interference, etc.
The manner in which the entire system is configured and the type of read/write device used are also important variables that need to be looked at during the pilot. Pilots should cover simulated working conditions by using purpose-built EPC/RFID test facilities that can help in understanding the infrastructure preparedness in handling interference from shelves, metals, electrostatic interference, etc. The interference can be isolated and measured much more conveniently under test conditions than under actual conditions.
In order to benefit from an EPC/RFID implementation, business applications such as ERP and WMS should be able to access tag data in so that they can obtain actionable information from it. This is made possible by data integration planning wherein the flow of data through the network can be tested and the system can be architected accordingly.
It is up to the company to elicit maximum benefit from EPC/RFID. The technology has the potential to provide visibility where previously none existed. The real-time data provided can lead to several improvements across the supply chain. Therefore, it is important that the technology should not be considered to be only a replacement for bar codes.
It is a good idea to begin the pilot at a single facility; this helps to reach the root of an issue fairly quickly. The site selected for the pilot should offer maximum scope to replicate actual work conditions. A crucial factor in ensuring the smooth launch and execution of a pilot is the amount of pre-testing that is done. Greater the amount of testing done before a pilot, less will be the disturbance caused by the pilot to the actual work being done.
The response of the staff to the pilot is important in understanding the ease of use of the software, the correct placement of the equipment, etc. It is preferable to implement the learning obtained from the pilot in a phased manner so that all the required resources can be made available for the rollout.
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