The Impact of Radio Frequency Identification (rfid)

Abstract

This paper is being written to discuss the impact of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and how it is affecting global supply chains. This paper aims to discuss how firms are using RFID technology to improve their supply chain and keep track of their goods. This paper will use examples of firms that use RFID and show how they implement this technology in to their day-to-day operations. We will also discuss the history of RFID and how it came to be what it is today. This paper will also look at current literature available on the subject of RFID technology. Sources will primarily be internet based. They will be current papers on the subject or websites that focus specifically on the topic of RFID technology in supply chains. Current results have found that RFID technology has allowed companies to better track products and find bottlenecks in their supply chains due to this technology. This has allowed companies to quickly make changes or find suppliers who can help them make changes to better serve customers and meet their firm’s competitive priorities. This paper also will show that companies will continue to invest in RFID technology in the future and the impact that it will have on global supply chains and inventory management.

Introduction

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is defined as, “A generic term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects (RFID Journal, n.d.).” RFID technology’s origins can be traced back to the 1973 (Roberti, 2005). The first time that the idea of RFID was used can be traced all the way back to World War II. Germany couldn’t tell if planes flying in to Germany were German or Allied Forces so they had to figure something out. German pilots rolled their jets as they entered German air space to send a different signal to identify themselves as a German plane (Roberti, 2005).”