RFID-enabled business intelligence modules for supply chain optimisation

Abstract

The implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) for product identification and electronic product code (EPC) for information sharing has the potential to generate a wide amount of data, and to make those data real-time available between supply chain players. However, data need to be interpreted to derive value-added information, which could generate economic benefits from the introduction of RFID technology. This paper aims at addressing the issue of how to exploit EPC data generated by RFID technology to provide value-added information, which could be usefully exploited to optimise supply chain processes. To achieve such aim, a panel of experts, composed of information technology, logistics and supply chain managers of major manufacturers and distributors of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), has been involved in the definition of relevant value-added information to be derived from RFID reads. On the basis of the suggestions from the panel members, appropriate business intelligence modules (BIMs) were designed and developed. All BIMs are compliant with EPC standards, and could be in-field implemented to manage logistics processes through RFID technology. The whole work has been carried out inside the RFID Logistics Pilot project, an Italian pilot study aiming at exploiting RFID technology and innovative EPC Network tools, to enable track and trace and product flow plain visibility in the FMCG supply chain.

Keywords:

• supply chain management
• radio frequency identification
• electronic product code
• supply chain optimisation
• Business Intelligence

Notes

^1. In this paper, we define the ODS as a database designed to integrate data from multiple sources, to make analysis and reporting easier (Inmon, 1998).

^2. The full list and a detailed description of supply chain processes examined during the RFID Logistics Pilot project are provided in Section 4.2.

^A1 In the query algorithm, we have called ‘product_flow_table’ the ODS where the RFID reads related to that module are stored. The same nomenclature is used for all the remaining modules.