How To Evaluate and

Implement RFID

McLeod Williamson

RFID Business Development, North America

Zebra Technologies

#EF4

Before 2008• Does it work?

2008-2010• Does it work

reliably?

2010 -Present• How do I make

it work for my business?

The RFID Conversation Has Changed

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ROI:The Age-Old Question

• The Age-Old Answer

– Use Technology ABC to:

• Eliminate Inventory ‘Touches’ – Automate Manual Processes

• Eliminate Errors in Data

• Improve Visibility – Make better, faster Business Decisions

• Reduce Inventory Levels and Out of Stocks

How can I use Technology ABC and get a return on my investment?

#EF4

Visibility Is The Key

• Visibility drives better business decisions.

• Where do I need to see the asset

• Where do I not need to see the asset?

• How often do I need to see the asset

• How often do I need this info updated?

#EF4

Technology Data Richness Continuum

AssetItem, CasePallet

ContainersTruck Trailers, Marine Containers,ULD’s, Rail Cars

MovementCars, Trucks, Ships, PlanesRail Engines

EquipmentLift Equipment, Ground SupportEquipment, Forklifts

Higher

Lower

Asset

$ Value

Barcodes

Passive RFID

Active RFID

GPS

Telematics

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RFID Extends Barcode’s Value Proposition

Barcode RFID

Confined by line-of-sight scanning Wireless/no line-of-sight dependency

1:1 Scan Ratio 1:100s Read Ratio

Not Necessarily Unique Always Unique

Limited information can be encoded / leveraged

Ability to add/edit data from new and existing sources

Less automated Enables automation

Approaching information storage limits Significantly more storage capacity

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The Fundamentals Remain:The right product in the right place at the right time.

• Inventory/Asset visibility and control result in:

– Efficiencies and cost control

– Lower Safety Stock

– Higher Asset Utilization

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Common Supply Chain Issues

Bottlenecks

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Common Supply Chain Issues

Vacancies

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Visibility Is The Key

10

• Visibility drives better business decisions.

• Where do I need to see the asset

• Where do I not need to see the asset?

• How often do I need to see the asset

• How often do I need this info updated?

#EF4

Plan Your RFID ProjectPick your locations for visibility

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Plan Your RFID Project

How will you read tags at visibility locations?Does this require a process change?

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Plan Your RFID Project

Select Your Inlay

• Inlays are now product and/or application specific• Work with a supplier/integrator with selection and testing expertise.

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Plan Your RFID ProjectHow and When to Tag Items

Goal: As little added labor and cost as possible

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Test Your RFID Project

You have to PROVE the ROI to stakeholders, so:

Measure, Measure, Measure!

• Determine Success Requirements• Include all departments

• Test in real scenarios• Run for enough time to show real

results• Compare with a Control

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Real World ExampleHVAC Manufacturer

• Lack of Visibility: Wrong Units going on trucks for shipments.

• Barcode process not working• Plan:

• Visibility Point: Dock Doors• How to Read Tags: Fixed Readers at

Doors• When to Tag: Final Assembly

• Measurements• Plant vs. Plant Order Accuracy and

Volumes

Thank You!

McLeod Williamson

RFID Business Development, North America

Zebra Technologies

mwilliamson@zebra.com