Technology: Radio Frequency Identification

What is RFID?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology in which small tags containing microchips send out radio signals which transmit information detected by RFID receivers. RFID is primarily used in order to locate inventory and manage business or military operations. RFID however is not limited to these functions only.

Two variations of RFID are used in today’s markets. Active RFID tags transmit and collect information and Passive RFID tags transmit information only.

The Future of Tracking Assets

RFID is fast becoming a useful and beneficial method to track and manage inventories or assets.

With the introduction of RFID manual tracking and reporting, barcode scanning is becoming obsolete. With RFID it is now possible for a small chip to be placed on products to track inventories without manually scanning each item one by one. RFID receivers can accurately determine what and how much freight is being shipped through radio signals sent by RFID tags. Shippers can know where their products are and if they were indeed shipped to where they needed to be. This information can also be used to determine how much time shipments took and which routes trucks used. This information is valuable to companies because RFID shows them efficiencies as well as deficiencies that otherwise would be difficult to determine.

Businesses that use RFID technology will no longer have to spend valuable time searching for inventories since a radio signal can quickly locate the items needed. What is more, they don’t have to suppose inventory has been lost because someone cannot find what they are looking for. RFID sensors will find it. This method greatly cuts costs because unnecessary reorders will no longer have to be placed and labor hours used to locate inventory will no longer be needed.

RFID also enhances security. It is especially important to ocean going cargo coming into and going out of U.S. ports. After 9/11 many port authorities became concerned with the security of outgoing and especially incoming cargo. RFID has the potential to help solve these concerns because receivers can accurately determine where cargo is and whether it has been tampered with. If a signal is lost or has changed locations, RFID operators can locate and investigate problems promptly without having to search entire shipments. This can be done at any time aboard the ship or in port because RFID receivers will be present in both. Cargo ships will, therefore, become more secure and threats of terrorism within port cities will be greatly reduced.

History of RFID

RFID was first used by US Allies during WWII for identification of Allied aircraft. RFID has since evolved and was used during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in which military personnel were having a hard time locating shipments. Supplies were missing their drop zones and could not be located in a timely or safe fashion. Reorders were reissued and the supplies that often were already sent were costing the military double. RFID tags were used to help the military solve this problem. Supplies were found without compromising time and security. This greatly reduced the cost of fighting the war and also kept troops out of harm’s way. RFID has since improved and is still a useful tool for the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

How to implement RFID into your business

The NBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Program will offer RFID training to businesses who supply products to the Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD is currently developing and implementing requirements and procedures for their contractors. RFID training will be scheduled in the near future. They will be announced in future newsletters. If you have any questions concerning RFID contact Mike Hall by e-mail at mikehall@mail.unomaha.edu or visit our website at ptac.unomaha.edu.