Product traceability has long been recognised as in important and necessary part of most if not all quality assurance systems.
Automatic Identification/Datacapture, AIDC, RFID
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the process of automatically identifying and collecting data about objects/goods, then logging this information in a computer. The term AIDC refers to a range of different types of data capture devices. These include barcodes, biometrics, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), magnetic stripes, smart cards, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and voice recognition. AIDC devices are deployed in a wide range of environments, including: retail, warehousing, distribution & logistics and field service. The first RFID solutions were developed in 1980s. It has since been deployed in a range of markets including Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems due to RFID's ability to track moving objects. RFID is also effective in challenging manufacturing environments where barcode labels might not prove resilient enough.
Active RFID market will grow to over 12 times its present size by 2016
Oct 11, 2006
Active RFID has been growing quietly already several applications have been over $100 million and it is currently responsible for over 20% of all spend on RFID.
PEAK Automation Controller Earns Powered by SAP NetWeaver Qualification
Oct 09, 2006
Certification demonstrates PEAK Technologies continued strategy and commitment to SAP solution integration
SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCES DIGITAL IMAGER WITH BAR CODE, IMAGING AND ENHANCED TEXT READING CAPABILITIES
Oct 05, 2006
All-in-one Device Captures Bar Codes, Prescriptions and Invoices - Automates Retail Customer Data Entry Process
Intellident deliver advanced RFID traceability system to Honda
Oct 02, 2006
Honda have awarded Intellident the contract to supply, implement and manage an RFID track and trace solution.
Christian Salvesen nominated for RFID Breakthrough Awards
Oct 02, 2006
European logistics company Christian Salvesen has been nominated for a series of technical innovation awards for its ground-breaking use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
Poundland selects Jivili and Datalogic to make picking operations more effective as it continues ambitious growth plans
Sep 22, 2006
Poundland, Europes leading single price retailer, has appointed Nottinghamshire based Jivili Barcode Solutions to deliver vehicle mounted mobile computers for its picking operation.
Practice performance expectations for smart packaging
Sep 20, 2006
There seems to be a common expectation among radio frequency identification (RFID) newcomers that putting an inexpensive, passive smart label on a box will create an accounting nirvana. Download this white paper.
RFID in Europe: Major Players Will Recommend on RFID Regulations and Standards
Sep 13, 2006
European major players from industry have joined to recommend proper actions on RFID standards and regulations to the European Commission.
Startling Paybacks from RFID
Sep 12, 2006
Paybacks from item level RFID divide into those that are difficult or impossible to quantify at project level and those that are readily quantifiable.
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC)
Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) refers to the methods of automatically identifying objects, collecting data about them, and entering that data directly into computer systems (i.e. without human involvement). Technologies typically considered as part of AIDC include bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), biometrics, magnetic stripes, Optical Character Recognition (OCR), smart cards, and voice recognition. AIDC is also commonly referred to as “Automatic Identification,” “Auto-ID,” and "Automatic Data Capture."
Barcoding has become established in several industries as an inexpensive and reliable automatic identification technology that can overcome human error in capturing and validating information. AIDC is the process or means of obtaining external data, particularly through analysis of images, sounds or videos. To capture data, a transducer is employed which converts the actual image or a sound into a digital file which can be later analysed. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is relatively a new AIDC technology which was first developed in 1980’s. The technology acts as a base in automated data collection, identification and analysis systems worldwide
In the decades since its creation, barcoding has become highly standardised, resulting in lower costs and greater accessibility. Indeed, word processors now can produce barcodes, and many inexpensive printers print barcodes on labels. Most current barcode scanners can read between 12 and 15 symbols and all their variants without requiring configuration or programming. For specific scans the readers can be pre-programmed easily from the user manual.
Despite these significant developments, the adoption of barcoding has been slower in the healthcare sector than the retail and manufacturing sectors. Barcoding can capture and prevent errors during medication administration and is now finding its way from the bedside into support operations within the hospital.
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object. It can also be read only or read-write enabling information to be either permanently stored in the tag or it can be read-write where information can be continually updated and over-written on the tag.
RFID has found its importance in a wide range of markets including livestock identification and Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) systems and are now commonly used in tracking consumer products worldwide. Many manufacturers use the tags to track the location of each product they make from the time it's made until it's pulled off the shelf and tossed in a shopping cart. These automated wireless AIDC systems are effective in manufacturing environments where barcode labels could not survive. They can be used in pharmaceutical to track consignments, they can also be used in cold chain distribution to monitor temperature fluctuations. This is particularly useful to ensure frozen and chilled foods have not deviated from the required temperature parameters during transit.
Cost used to be a prohibitive factor in the widespread use of RFID tags however the unit costs have reduced considerably to make this a viable technology to improve track and trace throughout the supply chain. Many leading supermarket chains employ RFID insisting that their suppliers incorporate this technology into the packaging of the products in order to improve supply chain efficiency and traceability.