<< Back to Articles
RFID Technology in Distribution Centers
Distribution centers throughout the world are adopting RFID technology and using it either by itself or in combination with their existing Automatic Identification and Data Collection (AIDC) solutions (e.g., barcoding) to save time and cut costs.
Here's an example of how RFID technology can be used in a distribution center environment:
An RFID portal at the dock door reads data from cases, pallets, or other items as they're unloaded from the truck. These data are transferred to the warehouse management system (WMS), which modifies the database. The WMS then reconciles the orders and provides a list of items that can be cross-docked for immediate transport or staged and stored. It's easy to see how much more laborious a barcoding solution would be in this case because each of the items would have to be scanned individually by human workers, who would have to make sure that the barcode labels are both visible and properly aligned with the scanner. In contrast, RFID tags or labels do not have to be visible (i.e., they can be inside of the packaging) in order to be read by an RFID reader, and multiple items can be read by one reader at the same time.
When the items are moved to shelves, stationary RFID readers on the shelves record what items have been placed there and when they were placed there, as well as when the items are removed from the shelf. The entire process occurs without human intervention -- no clunky barcode scanners, clipboards, or laptops to carry around the warehouse.
In the event that a case is opened and its items repacked, each item can be reassigned to a different case (also equipped with an RFID tag) by scanning the item's barcode label or RFID tag and the new case's RFID tag. After being reassigned, the items can either be moved to a dock or a truck. Pallets and cases travel along conveyor belts, which are "supervised" by RFID equipment that track the items' movements and adjusts the conveyors as necessary to redirect the cases and pallets toward the proper destination within the distribution center.
While RFID technology can be used without human intervention, sometimes it may be necessary for a person to handle specific items. In that case, a warehouse employee can move through the aisles with a handheld RFID reader that has been inputted with that item's unique ID. When the item is found, the reader will beep. This process allows individual items to be located quickly if necessary. When cases and pallets are ready to be redistributed, they're loaded back onto trucks after passing through the RFID portals at the dock doors. Once again, the WMS updates the database with new information regarding the status of the case or pallet. The WMS can also create packing slips, invoices, and/or advance shipping notices (ASNs).
As you can see, employing RFID technology in your distribution center can increase operational efficiencies. Installing an RFID system, however, is not a "do it yourself" project. It requires much initial research and consultation with qualified professionals in order to determine exactly what the system should do and how it should accomplish your goal(s). Almost every RFID system must be customized for the particular environment in which it will be used. The chemical make-up of the materials to be tracked is a huge factor in determining HOW they can be tracked with RFID, because not all materials are ideal for this type of inventory management. Metals and liquids are especially difficult to track with RFID because they either interfere with or absorb radio waves.
If you are considering migrating from a barcoding solution to one that utilizes RFID technology -- or a system that combines the powers of both -- contact the RFID experts at American Barcode and RFID today.
<< Back to Articles
If you are considering implementing an RFID solution, take the next step and contact the RFID experts at American Barcode & RFID.
Simply complete and send the form below, and one of our RFID Experts will contact you as soon as possible.