Summary Reader Response draft 4 : RFID system

Hamadneh et al. (1970), in their article "Uncertain Supply Chain Management: The benefits and challenges of RFID technology implementation in supply chain: A case study from the Turkish construction sector." describes radio frequency identification (RFID) as a technology that automates data collection and identification utilizing electromagnetic fields. It consists of only three components; tags emitting signals, readers, and software for data storage. The tags can exist as passive, active, or semi-active, each offering distinct advantages in terms of read range, lifespan, and functionality(Amsler & Shea, 2021)

According to Goldberg (2020), the origins of RFID can be traced back as early as World War II, which was used to identify planes on radar, determining who was friend or foe. However, the first patented RFID technology was claimed in 1973 by an entrepreneur, Charles Walton, for a passive transponder embedded in cards to unlock doors without using keys. Now in the modern times of the rapidly evolving landscape of supply chain management, Subramanian et al. (2005) announced that RFID has become increasingly integral for enhancing visibility, efficiency, and traceability. It has undergone significant advancements, leading to improvements in performance, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. Innovations in tag design, such as printable and flexible tags, have expanded the range of applications across various industries (Shao et al., 2014). With its seamless ability to track and manage inventory, RFID technology emerges as a transformative force in modern supply chain management, reshaping industry practices and ushering in a future characterized by heightened efficiency, advanced visibility, and enhanced traceability.

Numerous benefits can be brought to supply chain stakeholders with the integration of RFID technology. One of them is having real-time visibility into inventory, assets, and shipments enables proactive decision-making and responsive supply chain planning (Michael & McCathie, 2005). This leads to improved traceability and visibility of the product, reducing lead times, improved on-time delivery performance, and enhanced customer satisfaction. Not only that, it reduces inaccuracy caused by theft and misplacement or delay in information and ineffective restocking (Fleisch & Tellkamp, 2005). Another benefit is the process automation and data-driven insights derived from RFID-enabled systems streamline operations, reduce labor costs, and minimize errors associated with manual data entry and barcode scanning (Sampath & Puvendran, 2019). It also enhances security and authenticity by enabling anti-counterfeiting measures, product authentication, and tamper-evident packaging (Kwok et al., 2008). Not only that, Casella et al.(2022) claims that RFID tags contain more unique IDs as compared to bar code which can include more data into the system as compared to barcodes. In contrast to manual data entry and barcoding, RFID offers superior accuracy, durability and reusability, making them more effective and cost-efficient (Groom et al., 2021). Additionally, advancements in RFID technology, including multi-protocol readers and long-range readers, have enhanced read accuracy and distance capabilities, enabling real-time tracking of assets over larger areas (Lee & Kim, 2020). Despite its many benefits, RFID technology in supply chain management faces challenges such as interoperability issues, data privacy concerns, and the need for standardization. Interoperability between different RFID systems and protocols remains a challenge, hindering seamless integration and data exchange across supply chain partners (Gerst et al., 2005). Moreover, ensuring the security and privacy of RFID-tagged data is crucial to address concerns related to data breaches and unauthorized access (Beitelspacher et al., 2012). The initial cost of implementing RFID systems is quite hefty, as RFID tags and readers are expensive (Brown & Miller, 2018). According to Michael and McCathie (2005), the signals given out by the tags can be affected by metal and liquid as well, making it very time consuming to determine the most suitable location to place the tag to prevent future issues. It is crucial to tackle these challenges head-on while capitalizing on emerging trends such as blockchain-enabled RFID systems and edge computing holds promise for further enhancing the capabilities and applications of RFID technology in supply chain management In conclusion, RFID technology remains pivotal in revolutionizing supply chain management. With the ongoing advancements, RFID technology continues to serve as a key facilitator for driving operational excellence and gaining a competitive edge in the contemporary business landscape. Nevertheless, tackling challenges related to interoperability, security, and privacy is imperative to unlock the full potential of RFID technology and shape the future of supply chain management. 

References

Amsler, S., & Shea, S. (2021, March 31). What is RFID and how does it work?. IoT Agenda. https://www.techtarget.com/iotagenda/definition/RFID-radio-frequency-identification

Beitelspacher, L. S., Hansen, J. D., Johnston, A. C., & Deitz, G. D. (2012). Exploring consumer privacy concerns and RFID technology: The Impact of Fear Appeals on consumer behaviors. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 20(2), 147–160. https://doi.org/10.2753/mtp1069-6679200202

‌Brown, A., & Miller, B. (2018). The impact of RFID on supply chain management: A literature review and future research directions. International Journal of Production Economics, 194, 138-156.

Casella, G., Bigliardi, B., & Bottani, E. (2022). The evolution of RFID technology in the Logistics Field: A Review. Procedia Computer Science, 200, 1582–1592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2022.01.359

Fleisch, E., & Tellkamp, C. (2005). Inventory inaccuracy and Supply Chain Performance: A simulation study of a Retail Supply Chain. International Journal of Production Economics, 95(3), 373–385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2004.02.003

Goldberg, A. (2020, November 23). The history of RFID. Labtag Blog. https://blog.labtag.com/the-history-of-rfid/ 

Gerst, M., Bunduchi, R., & Graham, I. (2005). Current issues in RFID standardisation - university of york. Current issues in RFID standardisation. https://www.york.ac.uk/res/e-society/projects/24/interop2005.pdf

Groom, T., Barrios, D., & George, K. (2021). An in-depth analysis of RFID versus Barcode Scanning for tactile learning. 2021 IEEE International Conference on Electronics, Computing and Communication Technologies (CONECCT). https://doi.org/10.1109/conecct52877.2021.9622640

Hamadneh, S., Keskin, E., Alshurideh, M., Al-Masri, Y., & Kurdi, B. (1970, January 1). The benefits and challenges of RFID technology implementation in supply chain: A case study from the Turkish Construction Sector. The benefits and challenges of RFID technology implementation in supply chain: A case study from the Turkish construction sector. http://m.growingscience.com/beta/uscm/5334-samer-hamadneh-elif-keskin-muhammad-alshurideh-yazeed-al-masri-and-barween-kurdi.html

Kwok, S. K., Tsang, A. H. C., Ting, J. S. L., Lee, W. B., & Cheung, B. C. F. (2008). An intelligent RFID-based electronic Anti-Counterfeit System (inrecs) for the manufacturing industry. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2), 5482–5487. https://doi.org/10.3182/20080706-5-kr-1001.00924

Michael, K., & McCathie, L. (n.d.). The Pros and cons of RFID in Supply Chain Management. International Conference on Mobile Business (ICMB’05). https://doi.org/10.1109/icmb.2005.103

Lee, S., & Kim, J. (2020). Performance analysis of RFID systems under various environmental conditions. IEEE Access, 8, 125622-125630

‌Sampath, H. S., & Puvendran, S. (2019). The evolution of RFID technology in the logistics field: a review. International Journal of Production Research, 57(13), 4139-4161

Shao, S., Kiourti, A., Burkholder, R., & Volakis, J. (2014). Broadband and flexible textile RFID tags for Tires. 2014 IEEE Antennas and Propagation Society International Symposium (APSURSI). https://doi.org/10.1109/aps.2014.6905079

Subramanian, V., Frechet, J. M. J., Chang, P. C., Huang, D. C., Lee, J. B., Molesa, S. E., Murphy, A. R., Redinger, D. R., & Volkman, S. K. (2005). Progress toward development of all-printed RFID tags: Materials, processes, and devices. Proceedings of the IEEE, 93(7), 1330–1338. https://doi.org/10.1109/jproc.2005.850305