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8-24-04 --- RFID WILL AFFECT MANY MANUFACTURERS AND PACKAGERS
Radio frequency identification (RFID) has become one of the most visible issues
in manufacturing and packaging in recent months. At its simplest, RFID is a generic
term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify products
to which a special tag has been affixed. To identify or access information about
the product, an RFID reader typically communicates with the tag, which holds
digital information in a microchip. While RFID technology has been available
for years, it has been too expensive and too limited to be practical for most
commercial applications. As both the capability and cost of the tags has improved,
RFID is being viewed as the solution to some of the problems associated with
bar code identification systems.
In mid-2003, Wal-Mart announced plans to begin using RFID marking at the pallet
and case level for product receipt at Wal-Mart distribution centers by January
2005. The Department of Defense followed shortly with the announcement of their
own RFID policy for received materials, to be applied to the lowest possible
piece/part/case/pallet packaging, also by January 2005. As the suppliers to these
two mammoth customers begin to implement the technology, it will naturally proliferate
to other customers and manufacturers. Regardless of the cost and technology hurdles
remaining, these initiatives have greatly increased the likelihood that RFID
use is inevitable in a wide range of industries, including food, beverage and
particularly pharmaceuticals.
To gain a basic understanding of RFID technology and applications, visit www.rfidjournal.com or www.aimglobal.org/technologies/rfid. Many trade magazines have also covered
the technology, suppliers and applications in recent months, including Control
Engineering, Automation
World and Medical
Design. Also check out an upcoming
RFID conference in Boston.
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