Radio-frequency identification chips can be either passive or active. The former hold data permanently burned onto the chip and can't be edited or changed in any way. Active tags are more expensive to produce, but allow data contained within to be read, written or changed, including anything from test results and product characteristics to even customer or vendor specific data.

Previously, the cost of RFID tags was a prohibitive barrier to their widespread adoption, but now chips and readers are reaching cost-effective levels. From a software perspective, some warehouse management systems such as SAP's WM and Extended WM solutions have been capable of RFID integration for quite some time, with implementation no longer requiring a total system overhaul.

These factors are leading warehouse managers and manufacturers to view RFID as an attractive option when looking to identify and track goods.

Read Full Article


Keywords: RFID, warehouse management systems, WMS, RFID in manufacturing, supply chain management, supply chain management IT, supply chain solutions