RFID for Product ID & Traceability

Radio frequency (RF) technology is commonly used to transmit and receive information without wires. RFID technology is finding a growing number of applications and is beginning to demonstrate its revolutionary impact on supply chain management. Today, these electronic ID tags are being used ever more frequently to automatically identify products, people and animals in applications that range from access control and IT security to industrial automation, logistics, asset tracking and animal identification.

At Matthews, we have access the most comprehensive portfolio of tags and readers for the broadest range of markets and applications. Matthews has experience in RFID for product identification and can help you implement modern wireless technologies to help your business track products and equipment. The RFID tag is attached or placed inside of the equipment or inventory. 

Advantages of RFID Technology

RFID tags and barcodes both carry information about products. However, there are important differences between these two technologies:

• Barcode readers require a direct line of sight to the printed barcode; RFID readers do not require a direct line of sight to either active RFID tags or passive RFID tags.
• RFID tags can be read at much greater distances; an RFID reader can pull information from a tag at distances up to 300 feet. The range to read a barcode is much less, typically no more than fifteen feet.
• RFID readers can interrogate, or read, RFID tags much faster; read rates of forty or more tags per second are possible. Reading barcodes is much more time-consuming; due to the fact that a direct line of sight is required, if the items are not properly oriented to the reader it may take seconds to read an individual tag. Barcode readers usually take a half-second or more to successfully complete a read.
• Line of sight requirements also limit the ruggedness of barcodes as well as the reusability of barcodes. (Since line of sight is required for barcodes, the printed barcode must be exposed on the outside of the product, where it is subject to greater wear and tear.) RFID tags are typically more rugged, since the electronic components are better protected in a plastic cover. RFID tags can also be implanted within the product itself, guaranteeing greater ruggedness and reusability.
• Barcodes have no read/write capability; that is, you cannot add to the information written on a printed barcode. RFID tags, however, can be read/write devices; the RFID reader can communicate with the tag, and alter as much of the information as the tag design will allow to track product in real-time.

Disadvantages of RFID Technology

• The RFID technology, though very beneficial, is expensive to install. Small and medium scale enterprises find it costly to use it in their firms and offices.
• It is difficult for an RFID reader to read the information in case of RFID tags installed in liquids and metal products. The problem is that the liquid and metal surfaces tend to reflect the radio waves, which makes the tags unreadable. The tags have to be placed in various alignments and angles for taking proper reading. 
• Interference has been observed if devices such as forklifts and walkie-talkies are in the vicinity of the distribution centers. The presence of mobile phone towers has been found to interfere with RFID radio waves.