An article by Chaug Ing Hsu from the Department of Transportation Technology Management of the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan talks about the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) used in air cargo transport. The articles talks about using proofs in the implementation of Radio Frequency devices into cargo packages to keep track of packages.
Before the use of radio frequency devices packages used to just have barcodes and barcode readers to keep track of packages on a daily basis. The disadvantages of using barcodes and reader to keep track of packages is that barcodes had to be read at a short distance and could only read one at a time. Also once the barcodes on the packages were messed up it could not be read making that data useless. The radio frequency devices which were implemented after barcodes reduced a lot of the problems that barcodes had and increased the time taken to read packages. Radio Frequency Identification uses wireless sensors to identify more products than barcodes could at the same time with a wider distance being covered. Essentially these RFID makes the information gathering process easier and faster. Also RFID allows for more information on the packages to be gathered through tags related to the id. Through these tags information can be changes as customers request changes at very minimum cost and effort which could not be done with barcodes. This switch from barcodes to Radio Frequency devices allowed for a change to be made in the Supply Chain Management for the cargo terminals for the better. This change had to be represented in the Customs Clearance Network and the Process Delay Model for packages going through the entire process.
It can easily be seen, and I agree, that RFID implementation for the use in cargo systems only better the entire system and at the same time improving customer satisfaction. At the same time it reduces labor time and cost and therefore reduces customer cost in the longer run. Everyone whether they are the ones sending a package or waiting to receive a package wants it to be processes and gotten in the shortest amount of time possible; RFID makes this possible. Before the import packages used to stay in storage for 5 days while exports would stay for 2 days, RFID allows for this storage time to drastically be reduced because of the availability of information provided by the tags. It allows for custom clearance to be faster through cargo forwarders, customs broker, air carriers and customs. Also because of the amount of storage time that it save, it allows for more valuable and time essential products to be sent internationally without sacrificing business or personal costs.
Clearly RFIDs are the better way to go in the implementation of information systems using this. It in every way benefits everyone involved making job processes easier, faster and cheaper. While RFIDs are not only used in customs cargo, but also in other businesses to help improve their customer service and information gathering, this is obviously one of the better uses of them.
Before the use of radio frequency devices packages used to just have barcodes and barcode readers to keep track of packages on a daily basis. The disadvantages of using barcodes and reader to keep track of packages is that barcodes had to be read at a short distance and could only read one at a time. Also once the barcodes on the packages were messed up it could not be read making that data useless. The radio frequency devices which were implemented after barcodes reduced a lot of the problems that barcodes had and increased the time taken to read packages. Radio Frequency Identification uses wireless sensors to identify more products than barcodes could at the same time with a wider distance being covered. Essentially these RFID makes the information gathering process easier and faster. Also RFID allows for more information on the packages to be gathered through tags related to the id. Through these tags information can be changes as customers request changes at very minimum cost and effort which could not be done with barcodes. This switch from barcodes to Radio Frequency devices allowed for a change to be made in the Supply Chain Management for the cargo terminals for the better. This change had to be represented in the Customs Clearance Network and the Process Delay Model for packages going through the entire process.
It can easily be seen, and I agree, that RFID implementation for the use in cargo systems only better the entire system and at the same time improving customer satisfaction. At the same time it reduces labor time and cost and therefore reduces customer cost in the longer run. Everyone whether they are the ones sending a package or waiting to receive a package wants it to be processes and gotten in the shortest amount of time possible; RFID makes this possible. Before the import packages used to stay in storage for 5 days while exports would stay for 2 days, RFID allows for this storage time to drastically be reduced because of the availability of information provided by the tags. It allows for custom clearance to be faster through cargo forwarders, customs broker, air carriers and customs. Also because of the amount of storage time that it save, it allows for more valuable and time essential products to be sent internationally without sacrificing business or personal costs.
Clearly RFIDs are the better way to go in the implementation of information systems using this. It in every way benefits everyone involved making job processes easier, faster and cheaper. While RFIDs are not only used in customs cargo, but also in other businesses to help improve their customer service and information gathering, this is obviously one of the better uses of them.
Source: Computers & Industrial Engineering Sept. 2009, vol.57, no.2, pp. 506-19. ISSN: 0360-8352 (print), CODEN: CINDDL Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd. Country of Publication: UK
I definitely agree about the benefits of RFID scanners; they save time and money, and everyone benefits from their use. It is not a tool that only benefits the company while dissatisfying the package recipients. Nor does it benefit the customers while dissatisfying the company. The scanners result in faster shipping time which allows for the company to deal with more packages each day, leading to greater profits, and also results in greater customer satisfaction, which means that they are more likely to ship packages with the company again.
ReplyDeleteIt has become clear that the use of barcodes and scanners has become obsolete and, in turn, the implementation and usage of RFID tags have truly become the future of tracking cargo. I strongly agree with many companies utilizing RFID tags in courier services because it truly allows for simple and accurate tracking, thus expediting the process of moving cargo to its recipients in a timely manner. As a result, Dietrick is correct in claiming that they will improve customer satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteI first heard about the effective use of RFID tags on inventory in my accounting class. My teacher informed us that one of the companies that has been so successful with their inventory data collection process was Home Depot, because everything in the store is in their system with an RFID code. This enables them to be aware of their stock, where it is in the store and who is selling it. RFID coding has become so revoltionary I have even heard that it will start to be used to keep track of tickets in baseball stadiums. In this way, workers will know if anyone is out of their correct seat because an RFID tag will be encripted into the ticket. This process is obviously more effecient and productive than the previously used barcode system and I am curious to see what new ways RFID coding will be used to streamline and organize business processes.
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