5 Minutes Diagnostic

Please check each box when you response is Yes.

A- Identification Of Items

RFID is about identifying and managing items, particularly where the value of the item is high in comparison with the cost of the data carrier or tag that is used to identify the item. Where the above needs are encountered, either within or external to an organisation, it makes sense to consider RFID or other automatic identification and data capture lAlDC) data carriers and how they be applied effectively to satisfy such requirements.

Do you have a need to identify individual items or assets ?

Do you have a need to identify containers, pallets or other physical carriers of items ?

Do you encounter problems in managing items that could be aided by an identification system ?

Do you have an internal identification system that is difficult to handle or constrained bay manual data handling processes ?

Do you have a need for item traceability that could be aided by an appropriate identification system ?

B- Management Of Item Information

Giving thought to such questions can often reveal inadequacies concerning information management of items than was hitherto unrecognised. Problems of the sort referred to above may well respond to solutions using RFID or other AIDC technologies.

Do you have problems in defining and handling item-based information ?

Is re-keying of data a common occurrence within your company ?

Do you encounter difficulties in tracking items and process information ?

Do encounter customer problems because of errors in information ?

Do you encounter customer problems because of delays in responding to customer requests ?

C- Capacity to Handle Items

Although these questions deal with the capacity to handle items the nature of the problem may well benefit from better identification and capability to track items. RFID can often provide the means of identification and tracking and in so doing allow you to handle a greater volume of items and enhance the efficiency with which those items are handled.

Do you encounter problems or inefficiencies in tracking items or assets internally ?

Do you encounter problems or inefficiencies in organising customer orders ?

Are you part of a supply chain in which more efficient handling of items is being demanded ?

Do you feel competitively disadvantaged in your handling of items ?

Do you encounter problems or inefficiencies in delivering orders due to inefficient item management ?

D- Throughput of Items

Througput link to capacity to handle items and again where problems are encountered RFID can often help in achieving a solution, allowing increased throughput with savings in time and without increase in staffing.

Is the throughput of your busniss in terms of items, items managed in manufacturing processes or services made difficult or slow due to errors in information ?

Is the throughputof your busniss in terms of items, items managed in manufacturing processes or services made difficult or slow due to inefficient data handling ?

Do you feel constrained in achieving sifficient item throughput in response to rising customer orders ?

Do you feel taht an increase in item throughput would compromise your quality of service ?

Do you feel that a requirement to increase troughput would be difficult to achieve without significant investment ?

E- Space Requirements for Items

Effective use of available space or planning space requirements requires an understanding of what the space is to be used for. Where storage is an issue, knowing what is to be stored, how it is to be stored and the dynamics of item movement provides the basis for more cost-effective usage. item identification using RFID or other AIDC data carriers can often help in achieving effective solutions. RFID may also allow better organisation of stock and more efficient handling, with other attributes such as read-write capability adding to its effectiveness for such applications.

Are you constrained in the handling of goods by the space available ?

Is the space available for handling goods inefficiently organised to allow for effective and efficient storage and retrieval ?

Do you have difficulties in tracking items within the space available ?

Are you constrained by space-limiting stock to meet business or manufacturing process requirements ?

Do you have significant problems in respect of pick and put-away of items within your storage space ?

F- Sortation of Items

Sorting items can often be a labour intensive operation. Many opportunities may present for automating or semi-automating sortation processes using RFID or other AIDC data carriers, making better use of available labour. avoidance of bottlenecks and stockpiling and the realisation of greater productivity.

Do you encounter bottlenecks, difficulties or inefficiencies in sorting items ?

Do you encounter stockpiling problems due to sorting difficulties ?

Do you have a need for automated sorting and matching of items within a manufacturing process ?

Do you encounter significant problems in handling returned goods ?

Do you have a manual sorting systems that could benefit by being automated ?

G- Transportation of Items

Apart from tracking items problems are often encountered in tracking and recovering containers, totes, pallets and so forth. RFID can generally assist in improving processes involved in the transportation of goods and other aspects of transportation operations, including fleet maintenance, for example. RFID can often provide the basis for better management of transportation and distribution through better data handling.

Do you have information-based problems in organising the flow of Items for distribution ?

Do you have difficulties in maintaining service and maintenance histories on vehicles ?

Do you have problems in tracking and recovering pallets and containers ?

Do you have information-based difficulties or inefficiencies in loading and unloading goods to and from goods-carrying vehicles ?

Do you encounter significant problems in maintaining delivery records ?

H- Inventory Management of Items

Inventory management can often involve time-consuming manual audits or stock-taking activities. RFID and other AIDC technologies can be particularly effective in reducing the time and effort required for stock-taking, inventory control and for track and traceability. Do you perform time-consuming manual inventory checks.

Do you experience unaccountable losses from inventory ?

Do you encounter difficulties in tracking items and process information ?

Do you experience problems in controlling inventory against re-order requirements ?

Do you have a need for up-to-the-minute inventory knowledge ?

I- Security of Items

Diversion of goods in the supply chain. counterfeiting and fraud are problems of increasing dimension. Protecting goods and assets and access to particular areas or information are requirements often encountered in business operations. RFID can often provide scope for improving protection of goods, better access control and enhancement of services.

Do you have problems of theft or misappropriation of goods ?

Do you have a need to introduce or improve controlled access to information and/or computer-based information management systems ?

Do you have a need to introduce or improve the security of goods delivery ?

Do you have a need to introduce or improve a proof-of-delivery service ?

Do you have a need to enhance data security for item-based transaction purposes ?

J- Reliability of Item-data

Are errors arising within the item handling or service activities of your company causing concern ?

ls the data you derive from your item-based business processes unreliable ?

ls the immediacy of information about items terms causing concern ?

ls the data you derive from your business processes in a form that is inappropriate or inefficient for processing purposes ?

ls the data you derive from your business processes subject to problematic variation ?

K- Personnel dimension of data management

Where people are involved in item management and the need arises to more effectively link individuals to particular processes or services it is often necessary to have some form of personal identification. RFID can often be applied to facilitate such identification. It may also be used to support and better assess time and attendance provisions.

Do you have a need to introduce or enhance time and attendance monitoring ?

Is manual data entry a significant feature in your business ?

Do you have a need to formally link jobs to individuals ?

Do you have problems in tracking and managing manual processes within your company ?

Do you have a need for access control to designated areas of your organisation ?

L- Some Particular Data Carrier Requirements?

These are requirements that can be generally satisfied with appropriately selected RFID data carrier technologies.

Do you require a data carrier to have read and write capability ?

Do you require non-line-of-sight read capability ?

Do you require readability under fairly harsh conditions ?

Do you require batch readability (more than one item in the read zone at the same time) ?

Do you require readability through non-metallic materials, such as paper and plastics ?

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