RFID technology in the warehousing and logistics industry in the application

RFID technology in the warehousing and logistics industry in the application
Abstract: This paper outlines the RFID technology used in warehousing and logistics management
Keywords : RFID handhelds , RFID forklift reader , RFID door reader equipment, warehousing and logistics management
 
I. Introduction
RFID technology is the most promising development in the 21st century information technologies. With the combination of traditional networks , RFID technology show great market potential applications , particularly in the areas of inventory and logistics management , RFID applications tremendous value .
Enterprises to introduce warehouse management systems, transportation scheduling management system and RFID automatic identification system , and leverage existing operational networks and information networks , from the perspective of supply chain optimization , providing customers with collection of goods in storage, sorting, distribution , processing, packaging , order processing , inventory management, distribution coverage , cross-operation , information processing and other integrated services , the use of supply chain management, rely on IT technology and elements of resource integration, faster and improve labor efficiency.
China's logistics information technology relies on the versatility of IT maturity , is effective to improve the internal inventory management , distribution management and customer service. Gradual construction of logistics information , there has been by the company to the industry , to the region , to the entire logistics operation environment and comprehensively promote the development momentum , while the supply chain management started. From the current situation , transportation and warehousing logistics business is the most important , but also the logistics enterprise information in the primary function , on this basis , supply chain management information systems as represented started .
 
Second, the industry application needs
How to quickly triage the goods quickly reach customers is to provide services for the logistics industry, the basis of value . Therefore the establishment of an information platform for the industry characteristics , through a network, information integration , and promote business model innovation has become inevitable. Currently freight logistics information platform and information platform construction are being tried . The RFID technology is precisely to promote modern logistics, can the Internet technology, wireless communication technology , satellite positioning tracking technology , geographic information technology integration to inventory management, logistics and freight main line, covering all aspects of logistics and supply chain management , meet suppliers , manufacturers , freight industry, households , distributors and end customers comprehensive information needs.
Modern logistics system from supply, procurement , production, transportation , warehousing , sales to the consumer 's supply chain , which involves human , financial, material , something the four elements , in which " people " refers to all aspects of logistics operators , such as the production suppliers, transporters , vendors, consumers , operator information , roles and permissions set control is the key ; "wealth" refers to funds between various sectors , RFID systems and financial systems , EDI integration, goods prices and cost control is the key ; "material" refers to the supply chain of goods and material resources in the flow of information and goods temporal characteristics ( time and place ) is the key. If goods production date , shelf life, storage time , sell time , the origin of goods , suppliers and receiving land , etc. ; "thing" refers to the logistics aspects of the business activities , such as production , sales, warehousing, distribution , consumption , etc., tracking information , resource optimization and co-processing is the key. RFID technology is a result of automatic identification technology, information on the items to the information systems and information systems to achieve non- contact interaction and processing, which has fundamentally erecting physical world of communication and information bridge to the world , making the material world and the world of information can be quickly efficient conversion , processing, feedback , constitute the "Internet of Things ."
RFID can achieve more goals , moving target non-contact automatic identification , RFID-based material and information networking emphasizes the interaction of RFID technology in logistics industry information collection and logistics tracking , can greatly improve the level of service within the industry . Features: First, can achieve the information collection, information processing automation ; second is to achieve physical goods movement and other operational aspects of automation, such as sorting , handling, loading and unloading, storage, etc. ; three is to achieve the automation of the management and decision-making as well as intelligent, such as inventory management , automatic generation of orders, optimize distribution lines. RFID technology used in logistics management, we need to logistics process from the perspective of a large system to look at, in a wider range RFID information sharing at the lowest overall cost , highest efficiency of supply chain logistics management . Meanwhile , RFID application needs combined with its own characteristics:
( 1 ) As the supply chain management and logistics sectors can label each reprocessing ( modify data, write new data ), RFID tag is no longer a static cargo identification, it reflects the dynamic changes of the state of goods , cargo and the interaction between shippers .
( 2 ) Because RFID dynamic role in making RFID and enterprise , and the community can keep in touch. Such as : supermarkets using RFID, when the customer trucks through the reader , the salesperson can not only get the product information and price quickly , you can also quickly provide customers with product information, consumer warning information ;
(3) RFID represents a modern industrial society on the production (production), transportation (transportation), retail (retail) to the full range of consumer information processing and service process . Use the information in the RFID tag (EPC code ) on a variety of information acquisition, processing and dissemination , to achieve system application nodes can work together. Each RFID will it be collected items of information transmitted via the Internet of Things to any place where it should arrive at the same time based on Internet of Things could get information on electronic tags on the items of information processing .
 
Third, the system implementation plan
1 system workflow
Application of RFID technology to automate warehousing and logistics management, including access to the goods and inventory and other operations. Supply chain planning system developed receipt , pick up plans , shipment plans and RFID technology, can efficiently accomplish a variety of business operations, such as the stowage area , shelving and replenishment pick and so on. Specific workflow shown in Figure 1 :




Figure 1 system workflow

 
2 System Works
The main entrance door in the warehouse to install RFID door reader equipment, library equipped with an RFID reader handheld and forklift goods can be passed, quickly identify cargo space, and quantities of goods on pallets and RFID tag information to fully automatic quick confirmation of items , calibration work .
( 1 ) Goods Receipt
At this stage the vast majority of suppliers of goods and packaging are still no label , but with the wide application of technology , more and more suppliers are in their stick labels on the product or packaging .
a) ◇ backend system receives the shipper 's delivery note , the pre- discharge cargo space use plans, according to business requirements generated receipt instruction.
b) ◇ after the goods arrive , the backend system through the wireless network to retrieve idle forklift job ticket receipt to its release .
c) ◇ front-end system receives job ticket receipt . Truck drivers transporting goods to be seized area, as it passes through the antenna field , the fixed reader reads bulk cargo box labels, cartons made ??of all cargo information . If delivery note number, send , the arrival , the order details , etc., and transfers the data to the backend systems. Back-end systems to get the actual arrival information. No labeling for goods , based on data generated by the back-end system , generate labels . Tag hanging from the receiving clerk will arrive tank.
d) ◇ into the area to be tested , the driver reads the RFID reader device forklift pallet labels and label cargo area to be seized and transferred to the front-end system .
e) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , then instruct the driver to transport the goods to the designated area to be seized cargo space .
f) ◇ front-end system will be recognized after the data transmitted to the backend systems.
g) ◇ updated after back-end systems to obtain data related to system data , indicating the current location of the pallet .
h) ◇ drivers to complete the operation , press the " confirm " button , which means that delivery is completed. This truck owned by people backend system "idle forklift " queue , wait for the next instruction.
( 2 ) storage
a) ◇ backend systems based on business requirements generation storage instructions.
b) ◇ backend system via a wireless network to retrieve idle forklift, issued to people whose job library list.
c) ◇ receiver front-end system database operations alone . Forklift driver via RFID reader device to read labels to be seized cargo area and pallet labels and transfer it to the front-end system .
d) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , then instruct the driver to transport the goods to the designated reservoir cargo space .
e) ◇ into the reservoir , the driver reads the reservoir via a mobile device labels and pallet labels cargo and transfer it to the front-end system .
f) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , then instruct the driver of the goods given away the reservoir cargo space . Cargo system while updating the data in the label .
g) ◇ drivers to complete the operation , press the " confirm " button , which means that one library is completed . Front-end system will be operating results over the wireless network to the backend system . Back-end system in a data update system , and the truck under the " idle truck " queue , wait for the next instruction.
( 3 ) out of the library
a) ◇ backend systems based on business requirements to generate shipping instructions.
b) ◇ backend system via a wireless network to retrieve idle forklift job ticket delivery to its release .
c) ◇ front-end system receives shipments job ticket . Truck drivers transporting goods to be seized area, as it passes through the antenna field , the fixed reader reads bulk cargo box labels, to obtain information on all the goods on the pallet . And transfer it to the backend systems. Back-end systems to get the actual shipping information.
d) ◇ backend systems check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , it can be shipped to the front-end system to send commands while updating the system -related data. Drivers to perform the library operation.
e) ◇ If that does not conform to the front-end system to send alarm information and processing operation instructions . Drivers to perform the appropriate action in accordance with instructions .
f) ◇ drivers to complete the operation , press the " confirm " button , which means that delivery is completed. This truck and classified as " idle truck " queue , wait for the next instruction.
( 4 ) forklift stacking and picking
a) ◇ backend systems based on business requirements generated equipped instruction.
b) ◇ backend system via a wireless network to retrieve idle forklift, fitted to their assigned job ticket .
c) ◇ equipped with front-end system receives the job ticket . Forklift driver via RFID reader device to read pallet label and its transmission to the front-end system .
d) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , it indicates that the driver can proceed.
e) ◇ fitted into the area , the driver through the RFID reader device reads the truck cargo loading area with label and its transmission to the front-end system .
f) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , then instruct the driver to release the goods to the tray.
g) ◇ all the goods are to be loaded into the tray , the system updates the data in the tray label . Front-end system will be operating results over the wireless network to the backend system . Back-end system updates data in the system .
h) ◇ drivers to complete the operation , press the " confirm " button , which means that picking is completed. This truck and classified as " idle truck " queue , wait for the next instruction.
 
( 5 ) inventory
Staff using a handheld device to read or write forklift pallet tag data , pallet labels recorded the actual quantity of goods in the tray , you can achieve real-time data transmission network ; half- time as a unit or in collecting data, in order to batch mode spread backstage management system. Therefore, the RFID system of automatic acquisition mode , you can achieve unattended , automatic real partition inventory and inventory operations to ensure rapid and inventory data accuracy.
Different types of warehouses, inventory different ways , different inventory requirements , determine the different devices and different processes. Inventory process package supports flat position , three-dimensional positions of different types of warehouses, support handheld mobile and fixed inventory of equipment , support for labor, and the high forklift stacker automatic , semi-automatic inventory , support of cargo area , sub- shelf real-time inventory .
a) ◇ backend systems based on business requirements to generate inventory directives. Assigned to the front-end system inventory worksheets .
b) ◇ equipped with front-end system receives the job ticket . Members of the mobile device to read inventory reservoir cargo labels, made ??the current cargo carrying amount of goods and transfer it to the front-end system .
c) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , then instruct staff to use RFID handheld inventory of cargo space in the tray to read the label and its transmission to the front-end system .
d) ◇ front-end system check the collected data are consistent with system commands . If they match , it indicates that the current inventory of cargo space inventory staff in the physical quantity of goods .
e) ◇ member inventory inventory is completed, the number of physical input .
f) ◇ front-end system check of the goods and the carrying amount of physical quantity , in accordance with the appropriate inventory policy indicates whether inventory recovery disk members and other operations .
g) ◇ inventory settlement, front-end system inventory data to backend systems. Backend system updates related data.
( 6 ) Transportation
In the transport management , transport of goods in transit and vehicle RFID tags , transport lines installed on some checkpoints on the RFID receiver forwarding device . Receiving device receives RFID tag information , together with the location information received to be uploaded to transport control center, into the database.


 
3 System Features
The application system is the use of the latest international automatic identification technology - radio frequency identification technology (RFID), the use of modern computer technology, wireless telecommunication technology, automatic control technology and other areas of technology to achieve integrated warehousing and logistics information technology, intelligent management. System features are as follows :
( A ) supply process tracking
With the expansion of the scope required by retailers , more production companies require at least pallets and boxes on the use of RFID tags . The system can be real-time , accurate and complete records and track product operation can be comprehensively and efficiently to enhance products from the production, transportation, marketing and other aspects of the management and provides a variety of sound -to-use query, statistics, data analysis , etc. function . Product quality is the life of enterprise, through the RFID tracking system data collection, a comprehensive collection of product quality tracking information , the ability to detect quality problems and timely feedback to the product design, production management, quality management and operational decision-making departments to help enterprises improve product quality.
( 2 ) products storage management
In the application of each product produced RFID tags , placement record , product category , date, and other data , to keep the state of goods to warehouse management , but also to immediately understand the need replenishment projects , to facilitate stock management . And in the case of return as long as import system, then the data can be modified. As the rapid long-distance RFID reading and writing skills , will allow businesses to become more efficient out of storage to avoid the busy corporate operations related personnel , allowing business owners to enjoy a multiplier high returns.
( 3 ) Effective security features
In the process of the sale of products , because it is not the spot unpacking check its authenticity , which provided an opportunity for the forger . Electronic tag data by querying the product , you can clearly understand the product Factory , year, date of manufacture , composition and other information. RFID tags using RFID anti-counterfeiting technology , to prevent counterfeit products from entering the corporate sales market to the enterprise so much to avoid the economic and reputation loss .
( 4 ) Effective security features
Because each tag chip has an ID number of the world's only read and modify data area can be encrypted and password . To the product label information is based on the establishment of a complete product files and user files, which the enterprise is undoubtedly a great asset , user distribution and user feedback on product design firm positioning and market positioning are of great significance.
( 5 ) ability to adapt to the environment
RFID tags can adapt to various environments , whether in light or dark , wet or dry conditions can correctly read the data. Whether in the store or the supply of negative factors encountered in the process , the electronic tag will not appear abrasion .
( 6 ) cost savings
RFID systems help save human resources , providing all aspects of convenience , which undoubtedly in the product management saves a considerable amount of management costs. After getting the RFID system security technology, to make their own brand in the minds of consumers confidence and social status more firm , which is an intangible asset got it.
( 7 ) to enhance the overall level of logistics
Reduce inventory costs and improve supply chain efficiency , providing accurate and timely inventory information to ensure that the raw material warehouse and storage yard of goods from the beginning to the end product of the whole process out of the library information are in various aspects of the data center accurate scheduling, use, handling and surveillance.
Through the RFID tag on the product information collection , product quality and after-sales tracking to enable enterprises to accurately understand the judge product quality and user feedback to help companies control product quality and constantly update service strategies , improve product competitiveness .
Sales to companies based on the idea to product label information as a guide to sales activities , increase sales force management. Through product sales information collection , feedback , implementation of vendor partitions, hierarchical management , to ensure the healthy and orderly development of the market . Can effectively control the regional R & D down goods , while tracking vendor evaluation , the correct choice is conducive to business sales partners , promote sales .
Enterprise management systems to provide complete and accurate product data , and to ensure the timeliness of data collection . For enterprises to provide a timely and accurate basis for decision making , enabling enterprises to rapidly changing the face of fierce competition to make timely and correct management decision-making , gain competitive advantage.
 
 
Fifth, the implementation of the results
? ◇ enhanced accuracy and fast operation , improve service quality , reduce costs , save labor and inventory space , while reducing the overall logistics as commodity misplaced , misfiled , theft, damage and inventory, shipping errors caused by the loss . RFID solutions can provide accurate information about inventory , managers can quickly identify and correct inefficiencies in operations , enabling rapid delivery , and minimize storage costs.
? ◇ corporate warehouses and various branches of the warehouse are mounted RFID reader devices, with network connections within the system , so that with the passage of automatic identification , access to real-time recording , illegal access to the police, information query and data analysis and other functions . For real-time , accurate and complete grasp of the flow of material to improve the scientific management efficiency will play a positive role. Instrumental in assisting the logistics system to achieve reliable security , better achieve effective supervision and improve effectiveness. The master inventory management , sales , storage conditions , to achieve transparency of information asset management.
? ◇ without implementing traditional inventory , thereby reducing the backlog of material , accelerate cash flow .
? ◇ solve the artificial statistical prone to human error and timely exchange of information is not a traditional approach to management.
? ◇ reduce the manual workload statistics , improve work efficiency .
? ◇ use technical means to effectively curb the occurrence of misconduct .