Supply Chain Management
With RFID, each product can be tracked from the moment it rolls off the production line to its purchase and recycling. For this purpose, the commodity (or a unit with more than one piece such as a pack, a pallet, or another) is factory-marked with an RFID tag. Antennae and readers are mounted at key points (warehouse entrance, distribution centre, store entrance, store checkout and others), and these are connected to software with information on the commodities. Here is a sample scheme for such a system: - as a commodity enters the storage facility, the system registers it and adds it to the inventory. Based on this information, an operator can get instructions on a display where to place the commodity.
- when the commodity leaves the storage facility, the system registers the movement and sends a signal for decrease of the available stock.
- the commodity is registered as it enters the store;
- as a commodity is moved from the store's warehouse to the shelves, a signal is sent that the stocks are going down;
- antenna mounted at the checkout registers allow automatic registration of the sale and connection with the cash system for automated payment;
- the tracking of used packaging before recycling is also possible.
Commodity tracking can be made even more precise by the use of what is called “smart” shelves. Readers are mounted close to these shelves to track the movement of commodities. Advantages The use of RFID provides precise and timely information about the commodities, which allows: - better stock management. The analysis of the received data allows forecasting in respect of the used quantities and better control on stocking; - less stock shortfalls. The system registers each movement of a commodity from the storage facility and reports reduction of the stock below a
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