Page 15 - Logistics News - May 2021

RFID TECHN O L O GY

5 ways RFID technology facilitates

inventory and production visibility

By Emily Newton

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags help manufacturers and suppliers maintain inventory

oversight while reducing the potential for errors and time-consuming practices. Here are some
real-world applications that show what the technology can do.

1. Improving automobile component tracking that people inject or ingest. That’s why pharmaceutical
Vehicle tyre brand Michelin intends to install RFID companies commonly use real-time water usage data
tags on all its tyres by 2023. The company plans to to avoid waste and prevent supply disruptions. Water
harness RFID tag usage in several ways. For example, is the main ingredient in vaccines. Many of these
tyre suppliers can use the data to identify which models businesses are also investing in artificial intelligence (AI)
they install most. That insight prevents out-of-stock to maintain the correct production environments and
incidents. associated assets.

Moreover, since the technology identifies the exact A 2019 pilot concerning pharmaceutical
tyres used, it could help Michelin become more aware manufacturers used RFID to improve their existing
of batches that wear down too quickly or have other tracking methods, most of which used 2D barcodes. A
faults. Michelin representatives even say drivers may company called Kit Check got on board during the trial,
eventually see an icon on their dashboard that details too. RFID technology alerted pharmacy technicians to
their automobiles’ specific tyres. missing, expired or incorrect contents of medication
trays. Verifying accuracy reportedly took only three
In another instance, a collaboration between minutes compared to the half-hour required without the
Mercedes-Benz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory technology.
Operation and Automation IFF involved using RFID tags
to identify production scheduling blind spots. Project Statistics indicate that more than 30 percent
managers could quickly see where slowdowns occurred, of drugs fail in Phase II of clinical trials. People
making it easier to deal with them efficiently and understandably sighed with relief when Pfizer’s
have the necessary parts to keep production running COVID-19 vaccine candidate was the first approved
smoothly. for emergency use in the United States. It requires
extremely cold temperatures, though, and cannot
Due to the high-value items on an automobile stay at room temperature for longer than a limited
assembly line, any delays prove exceptionally costly. period.
However, RFID tags could provide a relatively
straightforward solution for avoiding misinformation 3. Applying access controls to packaging machines
and bottlenecks. RFID technology can also help manufacturers ensure
that unauthorised parties do not attempt to operate
2. Maintaining visibility into medical supplies and packaging machines or alter crucial parameters. One L O GI S T I CS NEWS
production abnormalities company offers a solution where people use fobs or cards
Ensuring product oversight is crucial for materials to gain access to the equipment.

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