BIBA-IPS at the University of BremenIntelligent Production and Logistics Systems

Christian Gorldt, Bernd Scholz-Reiter, Dieter UckelmannHochschulring 20, 28359 Bremen, Germanygor@biba.uni-bremen.de

Opportunities and Challenges for RFID-Integration in Logistics Processes of Small and Medium Enterprises

RFID Academic Convocation, Shanghai, China

SMEs

Improvement of flow of information by RFID in logistic processes

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Warehouse

Logistics

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Application of RFID-Technology

The Goal of RFID-Integration in Logistic Processes

Partners:

Sponsored by:

Analyzed scenarios:

1. Production logistics

2. Warehouse logistics

Content of research:

Identification of potential as well as applications of

RFID technology in logistics of small and medium-sized

enterprises.

Objectives:

1. Analysis of status quo, obstructions and additionalvalue of RFID technology within the scope of a survey

2. Development of a to-be concept to introduce RFID in SME logistics

3. Exemplary implementation of this concept on the basis of a demonstrator

RFID Applications in Logistics Processes in Consideration of SME

Survey about RFID Implementation in SME

• Scope– Interview with 150 SME– Replies from 35 Enterprises (online questionnaire)– Return rate 23%

• Branch overview– 43% shipper & logistics– 29% industry– 11% retail– 3% package delivery service– 14% others

• Opportunities– 82% of the interviewed enterprises could imagine to implement RFID

• Obstacles– High costs– Lack of information

Expectations, Obstacles, Potentials

• Francotyp Postalia GmbH, Birkenwerder

• Market leader (Germany) in franking machines

• RFID in kanban processes: achievement of a realtime device-booking for franking machine optimail

• RFID gate: up to date inventory management of assembled devices

Scenario 1: Production Logistics

RFID in KANBAN Processes

systems assemblysubassembly

Flow of information(production order,KANBAN card)

Flow of material(picking,

KANBAN delivery)

until KANBAN box

(decentralised warehouse) Is empty

KANBAN card

(equipped with tag)

KANBAN board

(equipped with antenna)

KANBAN demand is identified on the

board(sight KANBAN)

In-house transportExchange of boxes

Starting production

SAPrebooking

(while mounting)

Abstract of the Scenario at Francotyp

• Booking of devices and components within a machine does no longer take place at the end of the production flow by bill explosion

• Realtime-booking of consumption of devices

• Process analysis and design causes improvement of planning reliability and information security by realtime booking

• Successful and fast implementation of RFID technology

• RFID technology tests led to high acceptance in the enterprise (e.g. employees)

• JOKE Event AG (owner-managed)

• JOKE focusses on consequential full service to guarantee highest flexibility and smooth events

• 2.500 sqm storage space

• 50 employees as well as freelancers

• Task• To locate goods (warehouse, lorry, customer)

Scenario 2: Warehouse Logistics

Warehouse Goods Movement

RFID gate

PickingLoading of goods

Prepared goods

registration of goods issue and comparison with the shipping documents via computing

Stocking the goods

1. Development of performance data protocols in an excel sheet

2. Determination of key figures to evaluate the identification reliability

3. Interpretation of these key figures in diagrams

Documentation of the Test Series

Experimental setup

1. Registration of single entries via RFID (UHF) is possible.

2. Group entries are possible by choosing capable transponder and ideal antenna power. There is a need of optimization.

3. Metal-containing goods like speaker-tripods must be tagged with higher priced on-metal-tags.

4. Optimization of ordering processes.

5. Transparent warehousing.

6. Elimination of media disruptions.

Abstract of the Scenario at Joke

Planning Handbook

• Deduction of universal criterias which are relevant for the implementation of RFID in small and medium-sized enterprises

realization:

HTML/ web basedplanning handbook

1. Demarcation of the application area

2. Problem description and defintion of project aims

3. Type and specification of solution

4. Selection criteria for RFID-components

5. Integration into the IT-landscape

6. SWOT analysis

7. Stakeholder analysis

8. Cost benefit analysisP

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Back to the survey – RFID implementation by when?

RFID Projects in Co-operation with SME

• Possibility of identification of objects using radio-frequency-identification is already known

RFID transfer to new fields of application increased rapidly in the last years

• no plug `n` ident

• elaboration of case studies or realization of pilot projects meaningful

• knowledge and method competence as a result of complex planning and problems are necessary

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Robotics in Logistics

Thank you for your attention!

Bremen Institute of Industrial Technology and Applied Work Science at the University of Bremen (BIBA) Department - IPSHochschulring 20, 28359 Bremen

http://www.ips.biba.uni-bremen.de

Christian Gorldtgor@biba.uni-bremen.de

http://www.LDIC2007.uni-bremen.de