Many years have passed since the appearance of the first warehouses, but the problem of accounting for the contents of warehouses has not been finally solved. The advent of RFID systems helped to solve this problem, with the introduction of RFID, it was possible to optimize and automate the accounting and control of objects in the warehouse.

The integral elements of the RFID system are the place of the database operator and stationary readers with antennas that are attached to metal frame, forming an RFID gate.

RFID tags of various types for a warehouse

If you need to mark metal objects, then special case marks are used, they allow you to remove antennas with chips from metal surfaces at a distance that will allow you to confidently read the information.

Based on the goals and objectives set for the integrator during the development of the project, different labels can be used: destructible, RW with hard-filled memory, and others. You can also adjust the antenna reading range and reading direction. This makes it possible to get rid of problems with excessive reading.

Warehouse RFID technologies provide many benefits. Thanks to RFID, effective control over the rearrangement of goods in real time is ensured, responsibility for violations is established, a high-speed search and inventory of goods takes place, and the number of human resources involved in collecting goods according to invoices and shipping them is reduced.

The influence of the physical conditions in which the tags will be used, such as humidity, electromagnetic field, influence the choice of the type of tags and RFID technology. RFID tags are exposed to metals when placed on metal surfaces Therefore, foil-packed metal containers will require the use of more expensive tags specifically designed for affixing to metal surfaces.

Interference that comes from working devices determines the choice of equipment frequencies. Any frequency range has certain features: different data transfer rates, signal encoding methods. This should be taken into account when choosing a frequency signal when solving a process problem.

Labels by frequency bands:

• Low-frequency (125, 134 kHz) are used when there is a minimum distance from the object to the reader. They are cheap, consume little power, the signal is better through non-metallic objects. Many access control systems use this kind of tag.
• HF (13.56 MHz) works great where transmission is needed a large number data. The tags have a high information transfer rate, they are energy-intensive, their signals do not pass through materials very well, so a direct line of sight between the reader and the tag-chip is needed.
• VHF (800-900 MHz) and microwave tags (2.45 GHz) are applicable when information is read over long distances and a high reading speed is needed.

Thanks to RFID, the goods are tracked during production, during transportation, at the time of warehouse processing and sale.

For chipping products, packages, shipping containers in the warehouse, different types labels. For labeling products - labels with RFID chips that are printed by RFID label printers.

For shipping containers, tags are taken in special cases, which allow you to protect the tags and fix them on the product.

Metal containers require special labels designed for metal.

The accounting model for RFID tags in a warehouse can vary and be combined with barcode technology. The main accounting of products is carried out by barcodes, and transport and shipping containers are equipped with RFID tags: boxes, containers, trolleys, loaders, hydraulic trolleys.

Warehousing steps and RFID chips

1. Product acceptance:

   A variety of tags for warehouse automation is smart tags, that is, self-adhesive labels with the ability to print on them that do not contain electronics. When the goods arrive at the warehouse, there is no need for direct visibility between the reader and the tag, and it is also possible to read multiple tags at the same time.

2. Warehouse inventory and product inventory tracking:

   If the products are labeled with chips, they do not need to be removed from the shelves to see the smart labels glued to the packages. The portable reader will scan the tag at a distance of up to 3.5 meters, through the packaging and its contents. Thus, the inventory is carried out very quickly.

3. Control over the shipment of inventory items:

   If the goods are shipped in large quantities, portal reading systems with multiple antennas will be able to read all the chips from the packages at high speed. The warehouse management system will automatically detect that a shipment is taking place and the corresponding documentation will be generated.

RFID tags attach to any surface and work in extreme conditions: shock, vibration, bad weather; readers recognize objects through dirt, snow, cardboard. The use of RFID tags and technologies is an ideal solution for optimizing warehouse activities.

To begin with, we will try to decide what RFID technology itself is. As the title implies, this is radio frequency identification of objects. In RFID technology, we always have a reader and a tag (transponder, i.e. a device that sends a signal).
Those. the reader receives information from the tag on which the data is written (usually this is its unique code). The tag itself consists of an integrated circuit (information is recorded on it) and an antenna for receiving and transmitting a signal.

Tags are active and passive. Active tags have their own power supply, so they can send a signal themselves and be read from a long distance. Passive tags do not have their own energy source and are activated when they receive a signal from the reader and give it the recorded information.

Active tags are quite large and expensive. Passive tags can be miniature. Their price is comparable to the cost of a simple label.

Application of RFID technology for business automation

RFID technology has many applications, but in this article we will talk specifically about the automation of warehouse activities and inventories. We believe that the use of this technology in these areas is relevant for almost any business.

Inventory automation with RFID

This is probably the easiest way to apply RFID technology. Any company conducts an inventory. You can inventory an item in a store, inventory in a warehouse, or fixed assets.
RFID technology greatly simplifies inventory. Thanks to this technology, the inventory time is reduced by 10 times! Indeed, unlike paper technology or barcoding, you do not need to check each product - just walk next to the label and the reader will already receive a signal from it.

What do we need to conduct such an inventory?

• Passive RFID tags. The cost of the tag is about $0.5 for non-metallic materials (if you order in large quantities, the price can be much lower). The cost of a label for metal is about $ 1.5.
• RFID reader. Usually, a data collection terminal with an RFID function and specially developed software is used for these purposes (from $ 1000)
• Special software for receiving and processing data from tags (depending on functionality from 15 thousand rubles) is installed on the TSD.
• An accounting system that stores data on goods and fixed assets (usually based on 1C). It needs to be integrated with RFID software.

The inventory process is simple. You just need to take the data collection terminal with the nomenclature loaded into it and count all the marks from the inventoryed property.

Implementation of RFID in the warehouse

The introduction of RFID in a warehouse does not differ fundamentally from inventory based on this technology. There are also readers and tags.
Only now readers are not only mobile, but also stationary. The latter can be mounted on shelves, loaders or gates.
The stationary reader has the ability to mount antennas that send a radio signal. Usually, from 2 to 8 antennas are connected to the reader. The cost of one stationary reader is about $2000
Most often, such readers are attached to the gate to receive information from all the tags that are carried through them. Therefore, stationary readers are also called portal readers.
The general scheme of work on RFID stock may look like the picture below:

RFID technologies in the warehouse are successfully combined with the use of WMS systems and address storage. At the same time, RFID tags can make it possible to create so-called "smart shelves" in the warehouse, when we can get real-time data about what is in a particular cell, thanks to reading the tags on a particular rack.
Inventory in the warehouse can be carried out both with the help of data collection terminals and with the help of readers installed on the loader.

Warehouse automation requires more advanced software than inventory control. Because in this case, we have a complex system of many different readers that simultaneously receive data from thousands of tags. Such software costs around 120 thousand rubles. At the same time, it is not independent and must be integrated into the WMS system in the warehouse, or into the customer's accounting system.

In general, RFID technology is quite complex and expensive. But the results of implementation usually pay off the funds invested in it. Because productivity increases many times, with a significant reduction in product losses.

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on the topic: "Application of technology RFID for automation of warehouse activities»

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Introduction

RFID tag product

Different enterprises come to solving the problem of warehouse automation in different ways, however, each of them has problems in the work of the warehouse, which become very critical at some point. The management cannot get the necessary information in a timely manner, the work of the staff is out of control, the goods "mysteriously disappear" without leaving the warehouse gate. Each enterprise can have many such difficulties, and together they lead to significant cumulative losses for the company, forcing its management to think about ways to overcome them. One of them is the introduction of an automated warehouse management system.

In the modern world, with the constant growth of transport and cargo flows, a huge increase in the number of commodity items, the issues of transport and warehouse logistics play an increasingly important role. The most common and automatic identification technology used in warehouse automation and logistics tasks is bar coding. This is primarily due to the cost of implementing a bar-coding system in a warehouse. It is the cheapness of barcode labels compared to radio frequency tags (RFID) that determines the high popularity of this technology today. But with the growth of flows, this technology is no longer so popular. In this regard, in recent years around the world, increasing interest has been shown in the new technology of radio frequency identification of goods (RFID). Any product during production or warehouse processing can be provided with an RFID RFID tag. RFID is a modern identification technology that provides significantly more options than traditional marking systems.

Chapter 1. RFID

1.1 The concept of RFID

RFID or RFID is a technology for automatic data entry, which makes it possible to quickly read information from small radio tags at a distance and in the absence of direct visibility using stationary and mobile readers.

Radio Frequency Identification (RDIF) is used to identify, track, sort and locate an unlimited number of items including people, vehicles, clothing, containers, shipping containers and pallets. It can be used in applications such as access control, vehicle identification, inventory control, factory automation, cargo and vehicle flow control, warehouse handling automation, loading and unloading automation. RFID is based on radio frequency and is a contactless technology requiring neither contact with the reader nor line of sight of the reader (as in barcode technology). That's why RFID removes the problems associated with "contact" and "in sight" technologies. For example, good reading is guaranteed in heat, rain, cold (-30C), grease or corrosive chemicals.

StandardRFID system consists of:

· Tags(tag) - devices capable of storing and transmitting data. The memory of the tags contains their unique identification code. Some tags have a writable memory.

· Readers(reader) - devices that read information from tags and write data to them. These devices can be either permanently connected to the accounting system or work autonomously.

· Accounting system- software that accumulates and analyzes information received from tags and links all elements into a single system. Most modern accounting systems (1C programs, corporate information systems - MS Axapta, R3Com) are already compatible with RFID technology and do not require special development.

Objects are identified by a unique digital code read from the memory of an electronic label attached to the identification object. The reader contains a transmitter and an antenna, through which an electromagnetic field of a certain frequency is emitted. RFID tags that have fallen into the coverage area of ​​the reading field "respond" with their own signal containing information (product identification number, user data, etc.). The signal is picked up by the reader's antenna, the information is decoded and transferred to a computer for processing.

Tags are:

By type of food:

1. Active - use the energy of the built-in battery for data transmission (reading zone up to 100 meters).

2. Passive - use the energy emitted by the reader (range up to 8 meters). Passive tags are smaller and lighter than active tags, less expensive, and have a virtually unlimited lifespan.

By type of memory:

1. "RO" (Read Only) - data is written only once during production. Such labels are only suitable for identification. None new information they cannot be written down, and they are almost impossible to fake.

2. "WORM" (Write Once Read Many) - in addition to a unique identifier, such tags contain a block of write-once memory, which can later be read many times.

3. "RW" (Read and Write) - such tags contain an identifier and a memory block for reading / writing information. The data in them can be overwritten big number once.

By execution (determined by the goals and conditions for the use of tags):

1. Self-adhesive paper or lavsan labels;

2. Standard plastic cards;

3. Disc labels (including those with a central hole for attaching to a pallet);

4. Various kinds of key rings;

5. Special version for harsh operating conditions.

Currently, there is a huge variety of tags, so a suitable design can be selected for any task, depending on the needs of the customer.

The development of RFID technology is closely related to the global spread of the Electronic Product Code (EPC) system - a unified global system for digital marking of goods, cargo, manufacturers. UHF tags of the latest generation - "Generation 2" (more precisely, Class 1 Gen 2), are designed to record and store EPC codes. They are issued both with an "empty" identifier field, which is filled in when the label is used (and can be protected from being overwritten later), and an invariable identifier, which can be used as a unique one without fear of forgery or duplication.

Data Readers with labels also come in several types. By execution, readers are divided into stationary and portable (mobile). Stationary readers are mounted motionless on walls, portals and other suitable places. They can be made in the form of a gate, built into a table or fixed next to the conveyor along the path of the products. Compared to portable readers, readers of this type usually have a larger reading area and power and are able to simultaneously process data from several dozen tags. Stationary readers are usually directly connected to a computer on which a control and accounting program is installed. The task of such readers is to gradually record the movement of marked objects in real time.

Portable readers have a relatively shorter range and often do not have a permanent connection with the control and accounting program. Mobile readers have an internal memory that stores data from read tags (then this information can be downloaded to a computer) and, like stationary readers, are able to write data to a tag (for example, information about the control performed). Depending on the frequency range of the tag, the distance of stable reading and writing data to them will be different.

Software. By itself, fixing tags on accounting objects, whether they are books or goods in a warehouse, is not able to solve the problems of accounting and tracking. In order for the built RFID system to effectively solve its problems, it must be organically integrated with the accounting system. Only if the accounting program fully supports the functions provided by the RFID system, the consumer will be able to get the maximum profit from the implementation.

The integration of the RFID components with the accounting system is carried out by Solution Providers, such as Aero Solutions. A professionally built system will not require retraining of personnel, will not force you to transfer / convert data, and will not disrupt the usual rhythm of the enterprise. All the advantages of contactless identification technology will become available in a familiar software shell. Aero Solutions has already integrated RFID with the most popular accounting and enterprise management programs, such as Microsoft Navision / Axapta, 1C family programs (1C-Address warehouse, 1C-VIP warehouse, 1C-Enterprise), library information systems IRBIS, Ruslan, Mark - SQL.

1.2 Detection systemsRTLSand EAS

The problem of automatic tracking of goods at any stage of its movement from producer to consumer has always been quite universal and included such stages as storage, inventory, movement of goods, location of individual items, etc. that place, or they can simply be forgotten. Many organizations describe the inventory process storage facilities as the process of moving a product from one "black hole" to another.

Imagine a situation where you are trying to locate one container out of a thousand in a vast area where they are all exactly the same. The container can be as small as a pallet or as big as a trailer. Existing traditional technologies will at best help record when it was received and where it was sent, but none of them can provide accurate real-time information about all its movements and whereabouts, with the exception of RF1D systems.

To do this, based on RFID, real-time detection systems or RTLS(Real Time Locating Systems). It's completely automatic systems, which constantly track the location of items and personnel. RTLS consist of an active radio tag and a tag detection system, usually made in the form of a matrix of detection devices (scanner antennas), which are installed at a distance of 15 to 30 meters. The system constantly updates the information in the database with a frequency of several seconds to several hours (for rarely moved objects). The systems can track thousands of tags at the same time, the tag battery life exceeds 5 years.

Whereas in a "traditional" RFID system, tags are read as they pass through certain parts of a structured process, RTLS tags are read continuously, regardless of the process that moves the tags. For such unstructured processes, reading may also depend on people when they themselves place an object with a tag in the reading field of the antenna-scanner, or a handheld scanner in the field of the tag. However, with the slightest mistake, the location of the object may not be determined.

RTLS has two varieties - GPS (Global Positioning System) and LLS (Local Locating System). These technologies, together with "traditional" RFID, essentially make "total object tracking" available for commercial use. This concept is now fundamental in military logistics. GPS makes it possible to effectively track the location of cargo around the world and transmit this information via radio to the center, while the object with the reader antenna installed on it determines its location by itself by scanning the signal from the nearest radio tag. However, this is not enough to completely solve the problem, because it is necessary to know the location of the object inside the premises, and not just on the way from one building to another. LPS, using pallets and containers with active long-range radio tags, solves the problems of detection at the level of pallets in the overall logistics and distribution chain. And finally, low-cost passive RFID tags installed on the product help track the production and packaging process.

EAS systems(Electronic Article Surveillance) are widely used in retail. These systems are a special case of RFID technology, when the tag contains only one bit of information. EAS technology involves the identification of objects while passing through the control zone - special gates. It is usually used to prevent unauthorized removal from a store, library, etc. The EAS systems market has more than 800,000 installations worldwide.

In stores, a special radioactive tag is attached to the goods: a label marker or a plastic tag. Readers with an antenna (transmitter and receiver) are placed at the exits of POS nodes, or on the doors at the entrance and control the removal of unpaid goods. If you try to carry out unauthorized removal of goods while passing by the antenna, the system gives a signal. The elements of the EAS-system in trade are also a deactivator for electronic deactivation of the marker from the purchased goods and a device for removing the tag from the purchased goods.

The general principle of operation of the system can be described as follows: the transmitter sends a signal to the receiver at a certain frequency. This forms the area of ​​protection. When it enters this area, the tag creates some violation, which is recorded by the receiver. The specific way in which a tag generates a signal interrupt is hallmark one or another technology used in different EAS systems (see Table 1). The tag in the system is a key element, because it must create a unique signal that cannot be repeated under any natural circumstances to avoid false alarms. A specific type of technology determines the size of the protection area, the method of blocking the signal, the size and visibility of the tag, the level of the alarm, as well as the percentage of detection and cost. The physics of a particular EAS tag and, as a result, the technology used determines the frequency at which the guardband occurs.

EAS systems use passive tags: plastic clothing tags (read-only) and modifiable label markers. The cost of plastic tags is in the range of .7-.5, while the cost of markers is .04-.10. In order to save space at POS nodes, some manufacturers integrate deactivators with conventional barcode scanners.

A hot topic at EAS is Source Tagging, where a marker is applied to a product at the production or packaging stage, eliminating the need to label the product in the store, which saves time and money. The security marker is located under the packaging, it is invisible, which makes it impossible for an intruder to remove it.

1.3 Advantagesand shortcomingsFRID

FRID technology makes it possible not to collect data with paper and pencil. As a rule, the amount of data that needs to be collected is simply incommensurable, and accordingly it takes a huge amount of time to process this information, which is why the most practical method of collecting data is automated using computer technology. Automatic data collection organizes the data in the system, making information quickly available. In manufacturing, the ability to quickly and timely detect when a workflow is not on schedule is highly valued. Unlike barcodes, FRID enables automatic identification of items without placing the item next to the reader. FRID technology solves this problem by wirelessly transmitting identification information from items to the reader. No direct line of sight to the reader is required.

Advantages of RFID technology over bar coding:

1. RFID systems work with any groups of goods. Bar coding systems can only work with a limited range of products and certain packaging. Barcodes generally do not work with industrial goods, while RFID systems work with absolutely any group of goods.

2. The data from the tag is read in a non-contact way. In this case, the label should not be in the field of view of the reader and can be hidden inside the product or its packaging.

3. Greater reading distance. An RFID tag can be read at a much greater distance than a barcode. Depending on the model of the tag and the reader, the reading radius can be up to several tens of meters.

4. Possibility to read several labels at the same time. The mechanism of anticollisions makes it possible to determine exact amount tags that are currently in the field of action of the antenna.

5. The location of the tag does not really matter to the reader. In order to ensure automatic reading of the barcode, standards committees have developed rules for placing barcode symbols on product and shipping packaging. For radio frequency tags, these requirements are not essential. The only thing that is required to read information from the RFID tag is that it is in the range of the RFID scanner.

6. The identification label data may be supplemented. While bar code data is written only once (when printed), the information stored in an RFID tag can be changed, supplemented or replaced by another under appropriate conditions. This provision applies only to Read/Write tags for multiple writes and reads of information.

7. Much more data can be written to a tag. Ordinary barcodes can contain information of no more than 50 bytes (characters), and to reproduce such a character, an area the size of a standard A4 sheet is required.

8. An RFID tag can easily fit 1000 bytes on a 1 sq.cm chip. The placement of information of 10,000 bytes does not represent a serious technical problem either.

9. Data is entered onto the label much faster. To obtain a bar code, it is usually necessary to print its symbol either directly on the packaging material or on a paper label. RFID tags can be implanted in the base of the pallet or original packaging for the entire period of their operation. The data on the content of the package itself is recorded in a non-contact way in no more than 1 second.

10. The data on the label can be classified. Like any digital device, an RFID tag has the ability to password-protect data writing and reading operations. In addition, information can be encrypted. You can store private and public data in the same label at the same time. This makes RFID tags ideal for protecting goods and valuables from counterfeiting and theft.

11. RFID tags are more durable. In areas where the same tagged object can be used countless times (for example, when identifying pallets or returnable containers), an RFID tag proves to be an ideal means of identification, as it can be used up to 1,000,000 times.

12. The tag is better protected from environmental influences. RFID tags are not required to be placed on the outside of the package (object). Therefore, they are better protected in the conditions of storage, handling and transportation of logistics units. Unlike a bar code, they are not affected by dust and dirt.

13. Intelligent behavior. An RFID tag can be used for other purposes besides just being a data store and transporter. A barcode, on the other hand, does not have any intelligence and is only a means of storing data.

Disadvantages of RFID compared to barcode:

1. The cost of RFID tags is much higher than the cost of barcode labels on product packaging. In the field of logistics and cargo transportation, the cost of an RFID tag can be quite insignificant compared to the cost of the contents of the container. Therefore, large supermarkets can start using RFID by applying RFID tags on crates, pallets and containers.

2. Impossibility of placement under metal and electrically conductive surfaces. Radio frequency tags are affected by metal (the electromagnetic field is shielded by conductive surfaces). Therefore, before using RFID tags in certain types of packages (for example, metal containers), the package should be upgraded. This provision also applies to certain types of liquid packaging. food products sealed with foil (the essence is a thin sheet of metal).

1.4 RFID system application

RFID is used in all areas of automatic data acquisition; this technology allows non-contact identification of objects using radio frequency (RF). RFID systems are used in a variety of cases where prompt and accurate control, tracking and accounting of numerous movements of various objects is required.

The scope of the system is determined by its frequency:

· High-frequency (850-950 MHz and 2.4-5 GHz) are used where long distance and high reading speed are required, such as monitoring railway cars or cars. For example, the reader is installed on gates or barriers, and the transponder is fixed on the windshield or side window of the car. The long range makes it possible safe installation readers out of reach of people.

Intermediate frequency (10 -15 MHz) - where to be transmitted large quantities data. Scope: logistics of goods turnover tracking, retail trade: inventory of goods, accounting of warehouse movements.

· Low-frequency (100-500 kHz) are used where a small distance between the object and the reader is acceptable. The usual reading distance is 0.5 meters, and for tags built into small “key fobs”, the reading range is usually even less - about 0.1 meters. Scope: most access control systems, contactless cards, warehouse and production management use low frequency.

The main applications of RFID technology include:

· Warehouse logistics;

Logistics and supply chain management from producer to consumer in real time;

identification of moving objects in real time (accounting for vehicles, cars in moving trains);

Identification of vehicles in parking lots, parking lots, bus stations;

automation of assembly processes in industrial production;

· systems of control of access to premises and constructions;

providing passengers with electronic tickets;

express delivery of parcels;

handling and delivery of baggage on airlines;

car security systems;

Checking the transaction of payment systems for authenticity;

prevention of counterfeiting of various categories of goods;

· marking (identification) of property, documents, library materials, etc.

Chapter 2 Using RFID in Practice

2.1 RFIDin stock

Fig. 1. Warehouse automation at the modern level.

In the RFID system, each unit of goods or containers, for example, a box, a box, a pallet, when it enters the warehouse, passes through a gate with a built-in RFID antenna, while reading information from the tag and entering it into the database. If there are no radio frequency tags on the goods at the time of receipt, they must be pasted.

Another possible option is to mount the antennas directly on the loaders. The label contains information about the supplier, date and time of receipt, type of goods, quantity, location, etc. Thus, the inventory of the warehouse becomes possible absolutely at any time. When goods are shipped through the exit gate, the time and place of shipment of the goods are noted. Additionally, hand-held RFID readers can be used, which exist in various versions.

The economic effect of the introduction of RFID systems is calculated taking into account the current state of the warehouse, the problems that arise during its operation, the expected cost reduction, downtime, losses, increase in throughput, which is achieved by more accurate planning using data obtained using the RFID system. The ultimate goal is the harmonious functioning of the warehouse as a single organism, which is impossible without complete and accurate information about the processes taking place on its territory at any time.

Effective warehouse management requires the following tasks:

automatic collection of real-time information on the receipt and sale of goods;

Elimination of information loss due to the use of a unified accounting and control system;

the ability to quickly search for goods;

Reducing the time for all logistics operations.

Using the RFID system allows you to achieve the following results:

Reduce labor costs, eliminate personnel errors, automate a significant part of the work;

improve information processing by eliminating manual input and related errors;

Reduce costs and loss of time from searching for goods and assembling orders;

Quickly and accurately conduct inventory;

· Eliminate incorrect shipments.

An example of the implementation of RFID, which turned out to be an optimal alternative to bar coding. A large domestic distributor used the services of 3PL logistics, in particular, outsourcing transportation. Shipment from the warehouse and acceptance of goods by the forwarder was carried out according to the following scheme. The distributor employee, using a hand-held barcode scanner, checked the presence of each unit of the transport package already formed on the pallet (50 boxes on average). Then the freight forwarder checked the conformity of the received cargo by similar actions. If the position of at least one box made it impossible to read the barcode, or the person simply missed a unit of cargo, then the whole process would start over. Or had to disband ready transport package, which entailed not only the loss of time, but also the cost of packaging materials.

The RFID system made it possible to identify and account for the entire cargo in 20 seconds, regardless of the position of its units, saving both time and money. By the way, the use of this technology also allows you to increase the capacity of existing warehouse space. For example, if you increase the speed of transport loading, then there is no need to build additional ramps.

Depending on the specifics of cargo handling operations in the warehouse, different types readers:

Stationary - used at the checkpoint for instant accounting of a large amount of cargo;

manual - used for periodic accounting;

· mobile readers can be installed, for example, on loading equipment, which ensures the transparency of the movement of goods within the warehouse.

2.2 ApplicationRFIDWal-Mart Stores Inc.andTesco PLC

The world's largest retail chains Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Tesco PLC and Metro AG have already recognized the potential benefits of RFID technology and are very aggressive in implementing it in their distribution centers and warehouse complexes. 40 Ford Motor Co. plants equipped with radio identification systems. The English company Tesco has installed more than 4,000 first-generation readers and 16,000 antennas for reading data from product radio labels. retail passing through the gates of the docks of the English warehouses. Tesco, the UK's largest retail store, has also applied RFID tags to Gillette's blades, enabling tracking of every item in the warehouse and on the sales floor. If the effect is clear, RFID tags could be used on many products and merchandise in the future. This will greatly facilitate the work of staff with information and have a beneficial effect on customer service. Using radio tags, it is easy to find out how many items of a particular product are on the shelves when their expiration date ends.

The German company Metro began a pilot project in November 2005, in which 100 suppliers installed RFID tags with destination data in 10 wholesale stores and 250 warehouses.

Metro's first RFID project, says Wolfram, was aimed at solving the out-of-stock problem known to any retailer (lack of goods in a store or warehouse). On empty shelves, an average of 8% of retailers' annual revenue is lost - globally, this is about $93 billion a year. The use of RFID even at the warehouse level can reduce out-of-stock by 15-20%.

The project was completed in October 2007. “Now 180 German stores of Metro Cash & Carry and Real, as well as distribution centers and warehouses of Metro Group Logistics (MGL) are fully automated. This is the first practical use of RFID on this scale in Europe,” proud Wolfram. According to him, the new system helped to save about ?8 million in 2007.

According to a study by the American system integrator Alinean, the use of RFID in warehouses helps prevent delivery errors, while increasing order processing speed by 20-30%, and operating costs are reduced by 2-5%. Which ultimately leads to an increase in annual revenue by 2-7%. RFID makes it much easier to track or find a missing item in the supply chain, reducing losses at this stage by 18%.

Simon Langford, Wal-Mart's manager of global RFID strategies, estimates that RFID and barcoding technology will exist together for the next 10 to 15 years.

All current projects of the largest retailers in the world (Wal-Mart, Metro, Target) on the use of RFID technology are limited to the use of tags for marking pallets, boxes and crates of goods. In particular, in June 2003, Wal-Mart demanded from 100 of its most major suppliers so that by 2005 they will switch to RFID technology for marking boxes, crates and pallets. In August 2003, Wal-Mart said that by 2006, all suppliers should be using RFID tags to tag boxes, crates, and pallets.

In late April of this year, Wal-Mart began an RFID pilot project at its distribution center and 7 super centers around Dallas, Texas. The retail giant's decision appears to be significant for the fate of this technology. Investor market research firm Sanford C. Bernstein estimates that by fully adopting RFID technology, Wal-Mart could save up to $8.4 billion each year by reducing manual labor, eliminating sales losses from stock-outs, and increasing efficiency. and "transparency" of its supply chain.

History shows that if Wal-Mart gives an order, then everyone is saluted. During the 1980s, Wal-Mart played a pivotal role in the spread of bar coding technology. It was standardized in 1973, but by 1984 only 15,000 manufacturers of goods put barcodes on their products. Wal-Mart hit the ground running, and by 1987, 75,000 suppliers were using barcodes (according to AMR Research).

2.3 RFID in Russia

The interest and level of knowledge of our compatriots in the field of RFID has progressed noticeably over the past year. And although a huge number of misconceptions that traditionally accompany new technologies remain, there are functioning RFID systems in Russia that clearly demonstrate cost-effectiveness. True, there are not so many such enterprises, and the lion's share is occupied by pilot projects.

Enterprises of quite different levels and industries, from factories for manufacturing and processing raw materials to clothing companies, were the first to try out all the advantages of this technology, most of which faced two problems. First, most companies want to leave things as they are, and implement RFID to get stunning results. First of all, it is extremely necessary to streamline, optimize and make transparent those processes within whose jurisdiction the implementation of RFID falls. If, for example, there is a mess in the warehouse, no one is responsible for anything, no one knows anything, and in general all the ongoing processes of receiving storage and shipment occur chaotically, then RFID systems will bring even more panic and confusion!

Many are literally frightened that with the introduction of RFID, it will be necessary to increase the acceptance area or additionally allocate a marking area, follow instructions clearly, and providing accurate and reliable quantitative and qualitative indicators of the warehouse’s work seems unthinkable. In this case, we cannot talk about using a high-tech and precise control tool. Even if a clear order is put in place, the very chain of movement of goods should assume the possibility of using radio frequency identification systems. For example, one of the most powerful Russian carriers sends goods literally from wheels. There is simply no time to mark in this case!

Second problem. Now it is really very profitable and fashionable to engage in RFID systems. The number of companies that seek to occupy the RFID niche is growing every day. At the same time, most of them forget that the integration of RFID systems is a very complex and responsible matter. And to have qualified staff and necessary knowledge in this area, solid financial injections and a certain period of time are required. In addition, the reliability and financial responsibility of the integrator company play an important role when choosing an equipment supplier. Suffer in these cases only customers who act as guinea pigs, who believed the ambitious and exaggerated statements of integrators. As a result, the customer incurs substantial financial losses, and a negative attitude is formed towards the technology.

In conclusion, I would like to add that RFID technology can neither be underestimated nor overestimated, there are no identical projects in principle and cannot exist. Each warehouse, each Production Line, each supply chain is an organism that has both a general resemblance to its kind, and an individuality and peculiarity inherent only to it. Therefore, the best way to benefit from new technologies is to reflect on the appropriateness of their use, in consultation with experts in the field.

There are countless examples of RFID implementation in real business processes in Russia, and one of them is the implementation of a process control system at the St. Petersburg Fish Processing Plant No. 1. As part of the project to install the Microsoft Dynamics AX (Axapta) ERP system, a process control system was introduced at the enterprise that tracks the movement of containers in the workshop, based on RFID technology. Pallets were equipped with radio tags, in which products are moved between warehouses and workshops of the enterprise, which made it possible to control its movement and optimize the loading of processing equipment for processing, the capacities of which were constantly lacking before. Information about which defroster has free taro-places, how many of them, which batches of raw materials have already been defrosted and can be sent for further processing, is sent directly to the computers of technologists. To reduce losses from theft, tag readers were also equipped with scales and gates of technological premises. The growth in production volumes and the decrease in the percentage of defects, according to the specialists of the plant, made it possible to quickly pay for the introduction of an automated control system.

Another test project was implemented in Nizhny Novgorod at GAZ. There, a system based on RFID tags has been implemented on the assembly line of Gazelle commercial trucks. It is used to control and optimize the supply chain of units and components to the assembly line, automate inventory control, identify finished products and semi-finished products.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that RFID technology has a huge potential for application in various fields of activity, especially in the field of transport and warehouse logistics, and will develop at a rapid pace. According to experts' forecasts, the use of FRID technology will increase turnover, reduce inventory, reduce transportation costs, reduce losses from loss and theft, and optimize logistics costs.

In our country, this technology is still taking its first steps, even taking into account the difficulties of its implementation, such as, for example, obtaining permission to use the radio frequency. But it has a great future, and those companies that use it have made a qualitative leap in their development and conquest of the transport and warehouse logistics market.

RFID technology is considered to be rapidly developing due to many important applications in the field of logistics and warehouse management. According to some estimates, within a few next years the number of products with "smart labels" will grow by more than 20% per year. The use of technology and its impact are enormous, from improving the efficiency of commodity supply chains to improving the safety of airports and factories. In addition to identification, RFID technologies in combination with computer sensors allow you to control the condition of the goods. Existing technologies are becoming cheaper and thinner, the electronic world is penetrating and our lives are getting deeper, and completely new forms of electronic integration are emerging.

It should be noted that RFID has its drawbacks and limitations. There are materials "opaque" for radio waves. Most prime example- metal objects. If there are metal objects in the shipping box, if massive metal objects need to be tagged, the benefits of RFID are much more difficult to exploit. There are radio tags that can work on metal, but they are usually expensive and bulky. For a large warehousing business that does not fall under these two constraints, the efficiency gains and cost savings can be very large and outweigh the costs of RFID tags and equipment. In addition, the metal significantly interferes only if the metal structures to a large extent block the "field of view" of the reader's antenna. If line-of-sight is possible, one of the main advantages of RFID remains in effect - the ability to read many tags at a time.

Bibliography

1. http://www.liveretail.ru/articles.php?id=209

2. http://ru.wikipedia.org/Applications_RFID

3. http://www.biometricsecurity.ru/index.php?page=rfid

4. http://markerovka.ru/st_rfid.html

5. http://www.rf-id.ru/using_rfid/81.html

6. http://offline.cio-world.ru/2010/91/531202/

7. http://www.loglink.ru/massmedia/analytics/record/?id=556

8. http://www.itproject.ru/index.php?id=450

9. http://www.logist.ru/

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System concept

The efficiency and profitability of the warehouse depends on many factors, and to a large extent on the speed and accuracy of receiving and shipping goods. The fewer delays and downtime, the higher the quality of customer service and more profit.

The RFID-Control system accelerates the main processes of warehouse logistics in the processing of goods, increases the reliability and transparency of operations, speeds up paperwork and reduces the number of errors to a minimum, thanks to the reduction of the human factor.

How the system works

A special RFID tag is attached to each storage unit (product, pallet, container), thus it receives a unique electronic identifier. The identifier is used in the operations of controlling the composition of the shipment, paperwork, inventory, sorting, in the internal logistics of the warehouse, etc. Any operation in the warehouse (moving goods, placing orders, shipping and receiving goods) is automatically recorded in the accounting system. Thus, full transparency of all operations in the warehouse is achieved.

System Composition

The RFID-Control system consists of three components: tags, readers and software.

RFID tags - miniature devices, most often made in the form of stickers, capable of storing and transmitting information. Each tag has a unique identification code. The tag code is correlated in the database with a specific product.

Most tags have a writable memory. Additional information about the product can be written into this memory: its serial number, batch number, code, designated storage location and other data at the request of the customer. Rewritable labels are very convenient to use for labeling returnable containers (pallets, containers, etc.). Having fixed the label once, it can be used for many years, if necessary, supplementing and updating the data in it.

The information in the labels can also be encrypted. This allows you to provide reliable protection against unauthorized access to data.

Storage locations are also marked with labels. In all product transfer operations, these tags are automatically or manually read, along with the tags of the item being placed. Thus, when moving goods in the database of the accounting system, its exact location is automatically fixed. The placement of goods inside the warehouse is displayed on its mnemonic diagram in real time.

RFID readers - devices that read and write information in tags.

Stationary (fixed) readers are most often made in the form of gates and are located at the exits from the warehouse premises, in the areas of pallet formation and in the areas for receiving and issuing goods. These readers are permanently connected to the accounting system. The system automatically registers each marked object that enters the reading zone. The data obtained is used, for example, to draw up consignment notes or to quickly track the movement of goods within the warehouse.

Portable (mobile) readers are used to search for the necessary goods in the warehouse, record service information in tags and control the authenticity of goods during transportation. Mobile readers also help to quickly control the loading: make sure that the goods have been sent in full to their destination.

Software – a software package for integrating the system into the customer's warehouse program. The implementation of RFID does not require the replacement of the existing warehouse program. All the advantages of contactless identification technology are available in a familiar software shell.

Capabilities of the RFID-Control system

Warehouse mnemonic in real time. Any movement of goods within the warehouse, any shipment or receipt of goods in real time is recorded in the database. The system doesn't just constantly know how much stock is in stock, it has data on the exact location where each item is stored. Any change in the arrangement of goods on the racks is reflected in the mnemonic diagram. Thanks to this, the product does not need to be searched. The system will indicate exactly where exactly it is located. Automation of the paperwork process. Using data from tags when preparing accompanying documents for goods will allow you to get rid of errors and inaccuracies. Also, due to the fact that it is possible to register several storage units at the same time, the registration time is significantly reduced. Effective fight with fakes and substitutions. The unique, unchangeable identifier assigned to the tag during production guarantees a high degree of protection against counterfeiting. Also, the data on the label can be encrypted. This is an additional guarantee for the recipient of the authenticity of the goods delivered to him and provides protection against unauthorized access to data. Also, the supplier can check the authenticity of the goods in the warehouse of his distributor. Supply chain management. The ability to track the movement of pallets along the supply chain in real time will allow you to control the process of delivering goods to their destination and in full. Thus, it is possible to identify and prevent errors at an early stage. This will free up a significant amount of temporary resources and get rid of errors. Warranty and post-warranty service. Products marked with tags can be traced throughout their life cycle. Information about the product, such as the date of manufacture, lot number, will greatly facilitate the work of quality controllers and help in identifying the causes of failure in the event of a warranty case.

General description and scenarios of the system operation

Hardware and software architecture of the system (preliminary description):

System operation scenarios

Receiving goods to the warehouse

Upon receipt, all storage units are marked with RFID tags. The tags are attached with a roll marker, attached by hand, or simply inserted into a package or container.

With the help of a manual reader, all goods are registered in the database. Automatic registration of goods is also possible when a forklift passes through the coverage area of ​​a stationary reader - tags can be read directly in the direction of travel.

Placement of goods in storage areas

The warehouse accounting system receives information that the goods received are labeled and ready for placement. The responsible employee forms a task for their placement and sends it to the loader terminal.

The loader terminal receives a task to pick up the goods from the palletizing area. If the wrong product was taken by mistake, the terminal will immediately issue a warning. Then the loader goes to the storage location specified in the task. When placing an item, both the item tag and the storage location tag are read. If this data matches the task data, the placement of goods is allowed, and the fact of installation is recorded in the database.

Movement of goods within the warehouse

If it is necessary to move goods from one area of ​​the warehouse to another, the responsible employee creates a transfer task and sends it to the loader terminal.

The loader terminal receives a task to move the goods to a new storage location. Similarly to the previous case, he makes sure on the spot that he has taken what he needs. The database marks the old storage location as free. The loader then moves to the new storage location specified in the job. When placing an item, both the item tag and the storage location tag are read. If this data matches the task data, the placement of goods is allowed, and the fact of installation is recorded in the database.

Issuance of goods from the warehouse

When requesting the issuance of a certain product, the responsible employee generates and sends to the loader terminal a list of goods that need to be issued, indicating their location and the required quantity.

Similar to the previous operations, the forklift reads the product tags and storage locations before picking up the required product.

At the exit from the warehouse, stationary readers record the fact that the goods have left the warehouse.

Inventory

To conduct an inventory, mobile readers are used, which can be connected to the database using Wi-Fi or accumulate information in internal memory for subsequent synchronization.

Implementation stages

Each warehouse is unique, so the automation system should be developed taking into account its features and specifics in order to make its work as efficient as possible.

Concept development

The Interweb company will study the needs and needs of a particular warehouse and develop a concept for its modernization, draw up a list of changes that will affect its work with the introduction of RFID, and propose a phased plan for implementing the system.

Conducting a pilot project

Before implementing RFID control system in full, it is recommended to run a pilot project in a limited area to test the system in a particular warehouse.

During the pilot project, Interweb

Conduct a preliminary study of working conditions and technical equipment; Determine the type of equipment and labels that are most suitable for a particular warehouse, select suppliers of components, formulate terms of reference; Find out if there is a need to create new or upgrade existing warehouse software, conduct its preliminary testing and interface with existing equipment for effective integration of RFID technology; Develop new warehouse operation scenarios, taking into account the opportunities provided by RFID technology, and also determine possible system extensions; Will analyze the operation of the pilot system and develop terms of reference for a larger automation project.

Automation projects for large warehouses can include many stages. The necessary correction of the system will be made based on the analysis of feedback from employees directly working with the system, as well as on the basis of its constant monitoring.

Escort

Interweb supports installed systems, expands and modernizes their functions and, if necessary, integrates with new or updated warehouse systems of the client. We guarantee support at all stages of implementation and operation of our systems.

RFID system for automation of warehouse processes

How to effectively control all warehouse processes, eliminating the human factor?

How to achieve order in the warehouse? Confusion in names, quantities and locations leads to confusion and regrading, loss of goods and incorrect inventory planning. As a result, the company incurs losses.

To prevent this from happening, you need to control all the processes and events that occur in the warehouse. It is necessary to monitor the shipment and receipt of goods, security, the correct registration of goods according to the invoice - and dozens of other operations. But how to automate warehouse processes and eliminate the human factor?

Use the RFID system for automating warehouse processes, developed by ITProject,based on a ready-made universal solution.

Benefits of an RFID system?

System Capabilities

With RFID - system you can:

full control of warehouse processes: everything from the receipt to the shipment of goods will now be under constant automatic control.

track the movement of goods or pallets : using the RFID gate, you can track which goods or pallets are taken out of the warehouse or moved to another location.

promptly inventory : due to the high speed of reading tags, inventory can be carried out at least every day.

carry out address storage : Each cell where the goods are stored is affixed with an RFID tag, which contains all the information about the objects inside, so that you can determine the location of the cell and its contents at any time.

return goods on time : If any product has an expiration date, you will immediately know about it and can return it.

pick orders efficiently : you will see how many units of the product are in the lot: this will help you avoid shortages or surpluses.

quickly find a specific object : the location of any product can now be tracked instantly.

How and where to apply RFID system ?

On objects of any size and orientation, where access control or statistics collection is required:

at enterprises: for automation of warehouse processes

in logistics centers: for example, to account for transported goods

Completed projects:

Economic efficiency from the implementation of the RFID system

Why choose RFID technology to replace barcoding?

Barcodes are cheaper than RFID tags, but they often tear, get dirty, and cannot be rewritten. The speed of warehouse operations is not high enough.

RFID technology is much more reliable. It is based on RFID, so RFID tags can be read automatically from a long distance (up to 5 -7 meters) up to 200 pcs. at the same time, excluding the human factor. RFID tags cannot be counterfeited, they are not afraid of damage and exposure to heat and light. You can also add a barcode to the RFID tag.

RFID System Features

	Use of ultra-high UFH frequency It is at this frequency that an ideal reading of an object at a distance of 1.5 to 5 meters is achieved. With the help of a mobile reader, one person can easily take inventory of goods that lie even on the highest shelves, without any extra effort and devices. Also, the peculiarity of this frequency is that it does not interfere with the use of any other devices.
	Using the "ITProject RFID Server" platform + client and server modules A convenient boxed solution from ITProject allows you to use any stationary and mobile RFID readers (even different manufacturers are allowed) and solve a wide range of tasks related to the use of RFID technology to optimize all warehouse processes.
Easy integration with various accounting systems Integration with various customer accounting systems (at the database level, or using the library API): 1C, SAP, Microsoft Navision, etc.

RFID system for automation of warehouse processes

How to control effectively all warehouse processes, eliminating the human factor?

How to achieve the order in stock? Confusion in the names, quantity and location leads to confusion and resorting loss of goods and improper planning of stocks. As a result, the company is losing money.

To prevent this you need to control all the processes and events that happen in the warehouse. You need to control shipping and receiving of goods, security, correctness goods processing in the bill of lading — and more for dozens of operations. How to automate all warehouse processes, eliminate the human factor?

The goods are marked by special RFID tags, which you can then read at the distance from 1.5 up to 5 meters with RFID-readers (hand-held or fixed). All information is sent to the data accounting system and can be checked at any time.

What benefits brings the usage of RFID system?

The System Capabilities

Using the RFID-system enables:

to control the warehouse processes in full: everything from receipt and to shipment of goods will now be under constant automatic control.

to track the movement of goods or pallets: using the RFID gate you will be able to track goods or pallets exported from a warehouse or moved to another location.

to perform inventory quickly: thanks to the high speed of reading tags inventory can be performed every day.

to implement address storage: for each cell that contains product RFID-label is fixed, which records all information about objects inside, so that at any time you can determine the location of the cell and its contents.

to return items on time: if a product will expire on the expiration date you will know it and will return it.

to complete effectively orders: you will see how many units of the item is in the lot: this will avoid shortages or surpluses.

to find quickly a particular item: now you can track the location of each product immediately.

How and where to apply RFID system?

in enterprises: to automate warehouse processes

logistics centers: for example, to account for the transported goods

Completed RIFD projects:

Cost-effectiveness of the implementation of RFID Systems in your business

Why should you choose RFID technology for the replacement of bar-coding?

Bar-codes are cheaper than RFID tags, but they often break, polluted and they also cannot recapture information. Speed ​​of inventory transactions is not high.

RFID technology is much more reliable. It is based on radio frequency identification therefore RFID tags can be read automatically from a distance (up to 5-7 meters) up to 200 pcs at the same time, eliminating the human factor. RFID tags cannot be forged, they are not afraid of damage and exposure to heat and light. Also you can optionally record the bar-code on the RFID-tag.

RFID System Features

	Use of Ultra-High Frequency (UFH) On this frequency the perfect reading of the object at a distance of from 1.5 to 5 meters is achieved. Using a mobile reader one person can easily carry out inventory of goods, which lie even on the highest shelves without superfluous efforts and devices. One more feature of this frequency is that it does not interfere with any other devices.
	Use of "ITProject RFID Server" platform + server and client modules Convenient box solution from the company "ITProject" allows you to use any fixed and mobile RFID reader (they may have even different manufacturers) and solve a wide range of tasks associated with the use of RFID technology to optimize all warehouse processes.
Simple Integration with Different Accounting Systems Integration with different customer’s accounting systems (at the DB level or using the API library): 1С, SAP, Microsoft Navision etc.

Do you hesitate to order because you think the system is too complicated to use? Are you afraid that the staff would have a long time to understand and get used to the new work scheme? Throw a doubt! Our workers are always ready to help you at the first stage of the installation and implementation of the system, as well as to carry out the warranty service.

Want to get an extra year of warranty service? In a conversation with our managers do not forget to mention that you have learned about RFID-system on our website.