RFID Infrastructure for Global Supply Chains Involving Small and Medium Enterprises

摘要

Passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has several limitations due to physical constraints in signal transmission and data processing in the supply chain. Therefore in order to access more information about the product, it is necessary to store that information externally. However, standard compliance RFID infrastructures are expensive. Many enterprises, large and small, are struggling to invest in this emerging technology and are left without RFID connectivity. Hence, some parts of the information link of the supply chain are broken. This chapter draws upon the experience of two large scale pilot projects using electronic product code (EPC) technology to illustrate the issues of connectivity in RFID implementation. The chapter then describes a new expanded supply chain infrastructure system that adopts a generalized RFID data containment capability that incorporates other mobile and more cost effective technologies.