Supp_ch - ch4: Inventory control tools

basic inventory tracking system

- Consists of software and a barcode scanner - Inventory items (e.g., finished products or raw materials) have barcode labels affixed so that when an item is removed from stock, the barcode can be scanned in order to reduce the available count in the inventory tracking software, instead of having to enter the information manually

ways RFID can be utilized in the supply chain

- Materials management - manufacturing - distribution - retail store

benefits of RFID over barcodes

- RFID does not require direct line of sight to read a tag - can provide much more information - the information on the tag is updatable

history of barcodes

- Started out with simple one-dimensional (linear) designs, consisting of basic black lines that could only be read by specially designed barcode scanners - today barcodes come in many shapes and sizes and a wide range of designs; many can even be read by mobile phones and other devices

barcode reader (scanner)

- an electronic device that can read barcodes and transmit the data to a computer - Handheld cordless, or corded

parts of an RFID tag

- chip - antenna - packaging

Passive RFID tags

- does not send out data and is not self-powered - Electromagnetic energy is transmitted from the reader in order to obtain the information from passive tags. As the tags pass through/near the reader, the reader pulls information from the tag

categories of barcodes

- linear (1D) - two dimensional (2D)

RFID has gained little traction because...?

- the cost of tags is relatively high - in order to reap full benefits, RFID must be implemented across the entire supply chain

the benefits of barcode systems

- vastly reduces the time it takes to record necessary information - eliminates the potential for human data entry error

_______________________ are a series of alternating bars and spaces printed or stamped on parts, containers, labels, or other media, representing encoded information that can be read by electronic readers

Linear (1D) Barcodes

the limitations of ____________________ are: - they are one dimensional, can only be read horizontally - can only hold a maximum of 85 characters - Becoming obsolete with popularization of 2D

Linear (1D) Barcodes

2 types of RFID tags

active and passive

How __________________ systems work: - The lines and patterns on a barcode are actually representations of numbers and data - their use allows basic information about a product to be read by an optical scanning device, a barcode scanner, easily and automatically - scanner is connected to a computer system that supplies information to the scanner (e.g., the price of the item in a grocery store), and receives information from the scanner (i.e., the product sold) and, therefore, removes it from inventory

barcode

active RFID tags

broadcasts information and contains its own power source

RFID packaging

encases the chip and antenna so that tag can be attached to physical object

RFID chip

holds information about the physical object to which the tag is attached

___________________ is the successor to the barcode

radio frequency identification (RFID)

_____________________ are a system using electronic tags to store data about items. Accessing these data is accomplished through a specific radio frequency and does not require close proximity or line-of-sight access for data retrieval

radio frequency identification (RFID)

barcode systems help businesses and organizations...?

track products, prices, and stock levels for centralized management in a computer software system allowing for incredible increases in productivity and efficiency

RFID antenna

transmits information to a reader (e.g., handheld, warehouse portal, store shelf) using radio waves

_________________________ are graphical images that store information both horizontally and vertically

2D barcodes

advantages of _________________ scanners are: - can scan from any angle - can scan multiple barcodes in one scan

2D barcodes

___________________ can store over

7,000 characters, allowing transmission of almost two paragraphs of information