Thursday, 4 January 2018
Supply Chain Management – Improve 4 Key Measurements Using RFID
In supply chain management, overall success is tied to specific measurements. Successfully managed supply chains are able to achieve 99% traceability, 99% visibility, 99% efficiency, and 99% accountability. Achieving such goals can be nearly impossible using manual processes.
When RFID technology is properly implemented, it allows the supply chain to watch those percentages rise, saving money and increasing profits. These four concepts are not only relevant in supply chain management and logistics – they pertain to most businesses. Because of the transparent nature of the supply chain, it is an ideal example of where manual processes fall short and where RFID can improve results.
In order to understand how RFID can affect these four measurements, the first step is to learn how the supply chain industry defines them, and then managers can understand how to achieve them.
TraceabilityTraceability
What is it? The ability to verify the history, location, or application of an item by means of documented, recorded identification. [1]
How do I accomplish it? Supply chain managers can increase traceability using RFID. Tagging valuable items and setting up RFID read zones at different locations can give managers the ability to track the various steps that an item takes throughout a facility. If an item is subjected to intense processes like melting, the item can still be accurately tracked using RFID. Tagging a tote that moves with the item throughout the facility will allow the item to be tracked without potentially harming the RFID tag. Below is an example of how RFID can increase traceability in the supply chain.
1. Track & Trace – Increased traceability can provide valuable results for a supply chain manager. For example, if an item is determined to have a defect and the consumer or retailer informs the company, the manager can see the path that the item took throughout the facility. The documented path will not only help pinpoint the location of the problem, but it may also determine if any other items could have been compromised at the same location. If there are additional items that could have been compromised, the items’ RFID tags can be traced and located, and the items can be removed from shelves.
What does increased traceability do for me? If supply chain managers have increased traceability, they are able to track each item throughout the supply chain. This reduces the risk of lost or stolen items and expensive, over-estimated recalls which saves the company money.
More info visit http://www.asiarfid.com/rfid-basics/supply-chain-management-improve-4-key-measurements-using-rfid.html
More info visit http://www.asiarfid.com/rfid-basics/supply-chain-management-improve-4-key-measurements-using-rfid.html
Wednesday, 3 January 2018
Synergy Donates IoT Equipment to Tree Lab
The Dom Cabral Foundation (FDC) has created a laboratory known as the Tree Lab, to provide executives and business leaders with access to technological solutions and experimentation activities involving the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and blockchain.
The Tree Lab, located at FDC's Aloysio Faria campus in Minas Gerais, is a breeding and innovation environment designed in partnership with IBM and Synergy, a company that develops RFID and IoT solutions. Synergy will donate devices to the lab to demonstrate IoT-focused applications.
The laboratory is intended for business-school research into the future of education and the challenges of the corporate world. According to information obtained in various market segments, in order to deal with the current volatile and challenging environment and build the skills of future leaders, educational solutions must be collaborative and interconnected. In addition, they need to develop intelligence that can cultivate curiosity and innovation.
"FDC believes that education is the only sustainable way out for more conscientious citizens, more responsible leaders and organizations, and a more prosperous business environment," says Antonio Batista da Silva Jr., FDC's executive president. "Our laboratory will enable a learning journey to foster the construction of the skills and competencies that can transform the world."
The allotted space will provide experience with IoT technologies. The laboratory will identify participants and their journeys, generating interactions and insights through a virtual assistant. This will be possible through the integration of IBM's Watson IoT platform with Synergy systems.
According to Maurício Strasburg, Synergy's CEO, the initiative seeks to prepare executives for the concepts of Industry 4.0 and Hospital 4.0, for example, which represent a conceptual evolution in the use of advanced technologies in business. "We are partners in this initiative," he explains, "and will donate equipment from Impinj so the Dom Cabral Foundation can offer education on what RFID and the IoT are."
The new lab will be the first step for fully connected environments in which participants can undergo experiences throughout the FDC campus. The concept of gamification will be introduced to participants, who will receive "points" for taking part and interacting in space activities. This experience will be based on IBM's blockchain platform.
Tuesday, 2 January 2018
D-Link, Afero Sign Partnership to Offer IoT Security in Brazil
D-Link, a provider of communication network products for residential and business use, has announced an international partnership with Afero, a company that has developed a cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) platform which, according to D-Link, promises to help improve security. The company says it selected Afero's IoT platform to offer the market a new class of smart and secure products.
Afero's IoT platform covers edge-device connectivity, mobile hubs, cloud integration, and automated development and deployment. The solution enables companies to create and manage the life cycle of their smart products so they can focus on their core businesses.
D-Link hopes to leverage itself as a leading provider of secure, converged network infrastructure equipment, as well as monitoring and cloud-computing solutions for end user and enterprises. The firm operates subsidiaries throughout more than 90 countries. It was established in Brazil in 2001, with connectivity solutions aimed at broadening the network-access experience and supplying Wi-Fi equipment, routers, cloud cameras and solutions for connecting physical spaces.
"The D-Link Smart Water Sensor system leverages the Afero IoT platform for reliability and ease of use," says Jack McGuigan, D-Link's vice president. "Afero provides a scalable, cloud-based platform for a variety of solutions."
"For more than 30 years, D-Link has delivered award-winning communication solutions to the home and business," says Joe Britt, Afero's CEO. "We are thrilled that D-Link has partnered with us to combine our technological innovation with its trusted brand that will enable customers to quickly deploy devices and deploy rich IoT solutions quickly and easily."
Gartner estimates that more than 8.4 billion items will be connected and in use worldwide by the end of 2017, and expects that number to reach more than 20 billion by 2020. Total spending on endpoints and services is expected to reach approximately $2 trillion this year.
Lyngsoe Systems Launch RFID Belt Loader Reader
Lyngsoe Systems, world-leading RFID integrator, is launching the Belt Loader Reader, a discreet, innovative and intelligent RAIN RFID reader solution designed to track and reconcile baggage when loading and offloading aircraft with belt loaders.
Providing departure and arrival scanning of baggage loaded and off-loaded into aircraft using belt loaders, the Lyngsoe Systems’ Belt Loader Reader uses RFID technology (radio frequency identification) for automatic reconciliation and positive passenger bag match (PPBM) before loading baggage onto an aircraft.
The Belt Loader Reader is compliant to the new IATA (International Air Transport Association) Resolution 753, which requires airlines to demonstrate delivery and acquisition of baggage when custody changes, provide an inventory of bags upon departure and be capable of exchanging such information.
Michael Vistisen, head of Lyngsoe Systems’ Airport Business Unit, said: “Designed to reduce incidents of mishandled baggage, speed up operations and support airlines to be compliant with IATA Resolution 753, our Belt Loader Reader is easily integrated with baggage reconciliation systems. It speeds up reconciliation by using real-time information to monitor all bags and provide instant feedback to the ramp personnel on, whether a bag is authorized for loading or not.”
Already in use by customers, the Belt Loader Reader also enables airlines to provide enriched baggage location information to their passengers, such as automatically providing data when a bag has been loaded onto the correct flight.
One customer states, “RFID technology allows us to set a new standard for more transparent, interactive tracking of our baggage handling processes.”
Built for harsh conditions, Lyngsoe Systems’ Belt Loader Reader enables airlines and airports to meet compliance demands to IATA Resolution 753, which comes into effect in June 2018.
Andrew Price, Head of Global Baggage Operations, IATA, said: “Lyngsoe Systems’ RFID Belt Loader Reader is one of a number of RFID tracking points that can help airlines comply with IATA Resolution 753, the aim of which is to help airlines reduce the cost of mishandled baggage and improve efficiency of baggage handling.”
“Lyngsoe Systems fully supports the goals of the IATA in reducing lost and delayed baggage, improving customer service and speeding up baggage handling operations,” adds Villads Thomsen, Lyngsoe Systems’ CEO. “This is why we focus on products that have real benefits for airlines, such as our RFID Belt Loader Reader.”
The Belt Loader Reader is an intelligent solution designed for the specific purpose of tracking and reconciling baggage on belt loaders. It is integrated with the belt loader and as a bag is scanned, the Belt Loader Reader request the back-end system for permission to load. If yes, the bag is sent in to the aircraft. If not, the Belt Loader Reader ensures a red light is flashed and the Belt Loader is stopped. This allows the handling agent to remove the bag before it is incorrectly loaded onto the aircraft. If bag without baggage label is detected on the belt loader, it will also be notified by the Belt Loader Reader and be manually handled by the ramp personnel. Using cellular communication all tracking information from the Belt Loader Reader is sent to the back-end system for further processing.
Monday, 1 January 2018
NFC Facts & Applications That Will Broaden Your Mind
NFC or Near-Field Communications is a rapidly growing wireless, short-range technology. Approved as an ISO standard in 2003, NFC is a form of RFID technology that has a read range of up to a few centimeters. The ISO standards approved by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO 14443 and ISO 18000-3) exist on the HF or High-Frequency band on the Radio Frequency Spectrum.
Since its inception, NFC has grown in popularity due to widespread adoption in response to NFC’s fast connectivity and data transmission capabilities. Below are some little known facts about NFC as well as unique applications for the technology.
Facts
1. Types of NFC Devices
There are two main types of NFC devices: Passive communication NFC devices and active communication NFC devices. Passive devices have no power source and can only connect to active devices. Active devices have a power source and can send and receive data by switching between the normal active (transmitting) state and a passive (receiving) state. In a typical NFC system, there is an active NFC device, passive NFC device, and a host computer or application. Unlike a UHF RFID system that requires both a reader and a tag, active NFC devices can communicate with other active NFC devices by switching between the active state and the passive state. An example of this is using NFC devices or smartphones for the exchange of data.
2. Magnetic Coupling
NFC technology uses magnetic coupling to send and receive signals. When two NFC enabled devices are close enough (from touch to 10 cm), they create an electromagnetic field between them. That electromagnetic field allows the active NFC device to power up and communicate with the passive NFC device. The active NFC device then picks up on variations in signal levels specific to the passive device and reads those variations as a signal. A detector and decoder circuit in the active NFC device is then used to comprehend the passive NFC signal and extract the relevant information. The host computer or application can then understand the information and take any relevant next steps.
3. Modes of Operation
Three main modes of operation for NFC devices are:
Peer-to-peer mode – Active NFC devices exchange information by switching between passive and active states.
Read/write mode – Active NFC device reads or writes information from/on a passive NFC device.
Card emulation – An Active NFC device used for contactless payment.
4. Read Range
The optimal read range for NFC tags is between 1 cm and 10 cm due to the need to form a magnetic field.
5. Security Risks
Security risks exist when using NFC technology as a payment form. Since all the parts in an NFC system needs to be within 10 cm to enable the technology to transfer the data, eavesdropping with another NFC device is fairly difficult without being noticed, but can be done.
There are other, more complex ways that thieves are trying to steal NFC data through data corruption, interception devices, or just theft of the NFC device. While new ways are coming out to try and defeat NFC security, new security measures are being put in place.
BLE and RFID System Aims to Bring Security to Seniors
Today's senior citizens expect to have as much freedom of movement as possible, in order to protect the quality of their later years, and care providers strive to offer them that freedom as they age, while still providing safety when required. Technology is allowing some facilities to provide the best of both worlds—the freedom to go where they choose, while also ensuring they can obtain assistance if they are hurt or in an unsafe location.
Several senior-care facilities are using a new Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and low-frequency (LF) RFID-based system, the Elpas LoneProtect BLE app, so that they can ensure their residents are accounted for and do not wander off grounds or into unauthorized areas. The same technology can be provided to more independent seniors living in a residential environment, who are more autonomous but want to be able to summon help if they are injured or otherwise require assistance.
Securitec One, a home security system company in Columbus, Ohio, is piloting the technology with its own customers, such as assisted-living facilities and home health-care providers.
The system solves a persistent problem that real-time location system (RTLS) technology users have encountered, explains David Fensterheim, Elpas's professional services and product management VP. Although RTLS solutions—with a network of fixed readers to talk to a tag—can provide information regarding the movement of a particular patient or staff member throughout a facility, the technology isn't much help once a resident moves out the door. In fact, RTLS technology that provides coverage outdoors, such as in a garden space, can be prohibitively expensive for the installation of a network of readers.
Elpas is a Tyco Security Products company that, for several decades, has already been providing nurse-call and RTLS solutions to hundreds of facilities worldwide. The Israel-based technology firm sells its products to health-care and senior-services companies via systems integrators, for the purpose of managing the movements of their residents or patients.
The RTLS solution includes an Elpas Shield Tag that transmits a signal to RFID readers via active 433 MHz frequency each time it comes within range of an LF 125 KHz exciter, thereby providing data about that individual's movements into or out of a private room or public area (such as a dining hall), or if he or she walks out the front door.
The technology can be used as an access-control system as well. Elpas' Eiris Alarm Management and Tracking Software—which can be cloud-based or reside on a local server—identifies the tag's ID number and confirms that the patient linked to that particular ID is authorized to leave. If so, the front door lock would automatically release for that person.
But for Elpas, and for senior-care and retirement facilities, there is another challenge: monitoring people's movements outdoors. This year, the firm developed its LoneProtect app and tag to provide seniors with freedom of movement outside of a building, and to allow them to request help when needed.
The LoneProtect tag is a pendant that can be worn around a person's neck, though the company plans to release a tamper-evident wristband in the future as well. A user's personal information, such as his or her name, photograph and/or medical requirements, can be stored in the Eiris software, along with the unique ID number encoded in the pendant.
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