1、ATIS-0300110 ATIS Standard on Business Case for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in Communications Service Provider Warehouses Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions Approved June 8, 2017 Abstract This document is a business case for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in communic
2、ations service provider warehouse. ATIS-0300110 ii Foreword The Alliance for Telecommunication Industry Solutions (ATIS) serves the public through improved understanding between carriers, customers, and manufacturers. The Automatic Identification bulk reads on bulk containers. Use parent-child relat
3、ionship in the database along with bar codes and RFID. Bulk Containers use parent-level ID, either bar code and/or RFID. Question 2: What type of tag should the manufacturer put on the plug-in cards? To benefit from longer distance reads, UHF technology is the best technology to use; the benefit of
4、course is to increase the number of reads per area instead of requiring the need to see or be on top of the tag. Bar code requires line-of-sight, and high frequency (HF) requires a read distance of approximately four inches. A site audit would be greatly beneficial in the recommendation of the techn
5、ology. As there are many items to count, UHF RFID technology is expected to provide the shortest tag read time. Question 3: Should communications processes use: (1) tags embedded in the Printed Circuit Board (PCB); (2) RFID tags as labels on the product; or (3) RFID tags attached (hanging) to the pr
6、oduct? This can only be professionally answered with a site audit and some basic testing. However, some notes from prior experience: o RFID tags inside of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protective packaging have not proven to be 100% feasible. This is dependent on the type of materials used to manufa
7、cture the bag. See Annexes C and D for testing of various types of ESD packaging. o Most people want to have the end item tagged; however, tagging the end item does not always fit every use case in the supply chain. If the requirement is to reduce item level shrink and/or create full pedigree of the
8、 item this will be beneficial, however one may not be able to take advantage of this tag during every use case in the products lifecycle. o Hanging tags work well in static situations. However, for products that move constantly, these are burdensome to manage. o Tags as labels on bags or packages do
9、 seem to provide the best benefit for most use cases. However, they do not guarantee that the item in the bag is in fact represented by the label on the bag. Empty bags and packages may also cause issues. o The reading surface required for reading tags for installed inventory (end edge) is generally
10、 different than the surface required for logistical reading (broad side). Tags on printed circuit boards address this concern best as dual antenna structures can be part of the design. However, due to shielding, tags are likely not readable when the plug-in card is inserted in the shelf. o To accomp
11、lish acceptable read rates for both logistical and inventory processes, dual tagging (end item and packaging) should be considered. It should be understood that in addition to the added tag cost, dual tagging creates more system complexity, which must be considered against the benefits of dual taggi
12、ng. Question 4: Can tags be read through ESD packaging? ATIS-0300110 7 Not all bags are created equal. See Annexes C and D. Experience with ESD bags is varied. Note that if bags are changed, it may impact the performance. Purchasing people do not necessarily ask if RFID works on the bags they purcha
13、se. This should be stated as a requirement in procurement contracts. Question 5: Is there a system in which the return on investment (ROI) is one year? Assuming that there is no savings in all receiving and put away operations, although there would most likely be, it is difficult to understand the c
14、ost. Assuming that there is some savings in shipping, as the largest cost to shipping is finding an item, and the technology could help reduce the time spent finding items to ship. The first cost associated with the project is the labeling of items with RFID. Potential cost = 575,000 items * $0.20 p
15、er tag/item = $115,000 for tags. The cost of tagging equates to the available budget for the project in one year. It is difficult then to accomplish a one year ROI unless a full audit is completed and other functions benefit from the technology. Please keep in mind that any project of this scope wou
16、ld require the use of at least a hand held RFID scanner, software, and systems integration not to mention some training and installation charges. 4.3 Supplier will user memory be used? See ATIS-0300096. 5.1.4 Environmental 1. In what environment(s) will the tag be scanned? 2. In each environment, wh
17、at is the minimum required tag reading range? 3. In each environment, will tagged product be clustered (50+) together with the expectation of reading all tags in a tight group? 4. In each environment, what percentage of misreads/non-reads is acceptable? 5. Verify the tags shelf life within a specifi
18、c temperature and humidity range is sufficient. 6. Will the product be tagged with the expectation of reading it through the packaging material for transportation needs? 5.1.5 Logistical 1. Does the tag need to contain the serial number or other variable data of the product on which it is attached?
19、2. If the serial number of the tagged unit cannot be programmed into the tag, is a (RFID tag ID) to (unit serial number) cross reference required? 3. What process takes place when a misread/non-read occurs? 4. If the product is not intended to be scanned in service, is a box-only tag acceptable? 5.
20、Will both the product and its packaging have its own RFID tag? 5.1.6 Implementation 1. Can tag placement be secured to achieve 100% reading of tags? 2. Can tag placement be different for products and packages? 3. Can a standard test environment/set of criteria be defined, under which the tags must b
21、e readable? 4. Can reader equipment be configured to enable 100% reading of tags? a. Some ESD bags and other metallic materials that interfere with radio frequency signals may prevent reading of the tags. b. Some testing has shown that the number of antennas around the reading area will increase the
22、 read rate, such as using a tunnel (antennas on four sides of the read area). 5. Can the reader equipment know that it has read 100% of the tags? One method to validate 100% tag reading is to synchronize the suppliers database with the service providers (could use Advanced Ship Notice ASN informatio
23、n). 6. How will applications know that there is (new) information available (above minimum requirements) and know where to place/use it (e.g., repair date, Product Change Notice PCN, disposition codes)? 7. What are the fallback technologies and concepts? Consider using existing bar code and 2D symbo
24、ls as well as RFID. ATIS-0300110 10 8. Consider how RFID tags are applied to packages and shipments to ensure readability and layering of technologies. Provide guidelines to ensure tags are applied to adjacent sides of packages using multiple redundant tags. 9. What to do with products and packages
25、already produced? 10. What are the cost of recalls, counterfeiting, and product failures (including processes currently used)? Determine if RFID can improve these processes. 11. Field returns: see clause 5.4.2. 5.2 Supplier Concerns 5.2.1 General See Clause 5.1.1. 5.2.2 Information 1. How much infor
26、mation shall be stored in tags; can a minimum be defined? 2. Will information stored in tags be different than the information on markings? 3. What identity scheme shall be used: ISO, GS1, or combination of both? 4. Will supplier assigned data be sufficient? 5. Is there a requirement for customer sp
27、ecific data? 5.2.3 Technology See Clause 5.1.3. 5.2.4 Implementation See Clause 5.1.6. 5.3 Transportation Carrier Concerns 5.3.1 Tag Reading If the manufacturer/supplier shipping the product provides RFID tags on products, packages, or shipments, transportation carriers would work with them to best
28、accommodate their needs, including the ability to read the tags. Transportation carriers could utilize information in the tag to better manage the shipments per trading partner requirements (both shippers and receivers). It would be helpful for better shipment management for the transportation carri
29、er to have information on what is in the package and be capable of verifying it. Information like license plate and order number would be read and tracked. RFID tags could better help the carrier check for missed loads and contents, depending on the detail level in the tag. Tags could also improve t
30、he efficiency in assigning pallets to trailer and ensuring that a pallet gets on the trailer. It could help provide alerts for missed loads. 5.3.2 Implementation Considerations It is important for all affected parties (e.g., communications suppliers, equipment suppliers, shipping recipients, etc.) t
31、o communicate any new requirements for using RFID technology to the transportation carriers with sufficient notice to allow time for implementation by the transportation carriers. Transportation carriers have informed the communications industry through standards bodies of their intent to keep curre
32、nt with RFID technology. The additional information obtained through the use of RFID technology should help to improve the level of accountability and could minimize conflicts when there are issues with a shipment. ATIS-0300110 11 5.4 Service Provider/Operator Concerns Refer to Clause 5.1. 5.4.1 Tag
33、 Reading Service providers need to consider RFID readers that also incorporate the ability to read linear bar codes and 2D symbols. Consult ATIS-0300096. 5.4.2 Implementation Considerations Service providers need to consider Issues associated with implementing RFID in their warehouse environment. Is
34、sues include: Radio Frequency (RF) environment and potential interference, as well as implementing RFID on existing items (embedded base). In general, an RFID system will utilize the inductive RF bands that fall well below the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands that are regulated in most
35、 countries. However, there will always be a possibility for equipment to generate or receive RF interference due to close proximity or high power levels generated by rogue or harmonic interferences (an out of band signal created by the intended RF signal). Issues to be considered: Individual service
36、 providers need to assess their current practices for performing operations such as inventories in a warehouse, receiving, put-away, picking and packing, and shipping operations. 1. Consider current practices that use bar codes/2D symbols on packages/shipments (i.e., ATIS-0300006 and ATIS-0300038 co
37、mpliant). If so, determine the current costs for a typical warehouse to perform each of the operations. 2. Determine costs for an RFID system: a. Tagging packages where is this done (e.g., manufacturer, supplier, at the receiving dock or a combination of these during a phased-in process) and what is
38、 the cost for each area of the supply chain? b. RFID readers portals at shipping docks or portable readers? For example, start with portable readers, then phase in portals. c. In the new RFID-driven environment, what will transport the received packages (i.e., put-away) to their storage location how
39、 should this be different than a bar code/2D symbol driven system? Should an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) be used (if not already used)? Would RFID enhance (i.e., reduce the cost) the process versus using bar codes/2D symbols? If an ASRS is currently used, would RFID improve the ope
40、ration; reduce the cost? For example, RFID could eliminate the need to orient bar codes to be read properly on a conveyer. d. Similarly, in the picking process, would an ASRS be used? Cost benefits. 3. Compare the costs of 1 and 2 to determine whether RFID is beneficial. 4. Field returns: a. To supp
41、lier: In terms of labels or tags on returned devices, typically there would not be any when dealing with equipment returned from the field. Field support typically has applications that allow users to generate Return Material Authorizations (RMA) at an item ID level. Once the RMA is generated and va
42、lidated, the user will complete a packing slip and label and return to supplier. RMAs can range from a single unit to upwards of a thousand units depending on the reason for the return. b. To inventory: If items are not being returned to the manufacturer, service providers will have their own proces
43、s for identifying the items being returned to inventory. Typically field engineers will use whatever packing materials are readily available to them, including recycled boxes, which rarely have a correlation between the labels and whats in the box. Below are scenarios for field returns: - Unopened P
44、ackage Items i. Wrong equipment products are handled with its original packaging. ii. Excessive spares products are handled with its original packaging. ATIS-0300110 12 iii. Rotating inventory circulating inventory, units may be either returned to stock or sold back to original manufacturer or third
45、 party. - Opened Package Items iv. Defective Equipment products may be supported by the manufacturers product packaging but there is no guarantee that the returned material is exact to the opened package. v. Decommissioned Equipment Bulk equipment most likely not in original packaging. vi. Rotating
46、inventory Circulating inventory; units may be returned to stock or sent out for refurbishing. 5.4.3 RFID Environment An RF Site Survey should be performed to determine what types of RF fields exist in the designated warehouse site where RFID will be implemented. It is critical to know whether radio
47、waves could interfere with the operation of any new system to be introduced. 5.4.4 Embedded Base It is important to evaluate how to implement RFID on the packages that exist in the warehouse but are not tagged when the implementation phase is started. What is the cost to tag these existing packages
48、and what process should be used to phase in the tagging? Is it necessary to tag these packages or is the turnover such that the phasing in process of new tagged packages will result in clearing these items out over a short period of time? When adding an RFID tag to these items, ATIS-0300096 should b
49、e followed. 6 Warehouse/Distribution Center Process 6.1 RF Tag Use in Telecom Distribution Centers The following Clauses describe several scenarios for and the benefits of implementing RF tags at a telecom Distribution Center (DC) for the purpose of identifying plug-in circuit cards during the Receiving, Returns, and Cycle Counting operations. In these examples, it is assumed that every circuit card has an RF tag attached to it. 6.1.1 Receiving 6.1.1.1 Present Mode of Operation A predetermined percentage of circuit cards (from 30%
