RFID System Implementation: State of the Art of Guidelines, Frameworks, Models, and Methods

For radio frequency identification (RFID) system implementation in supply chain, there are numerous commercial and academic documents and publications available. RFID technology facilitates reading of objects without physical and visual contact with real-time data transfer. In order to provide an overview of the state of the art of knowledge development on the topic, this paper systematically classifies and analyzes documents and publications regarded as guidelines, frameworks, models, and methods on RFID system implementation using a proper selection criteria, classification method and content analysis methodology. For this purpose, documents and publications on the topic that are published between 2004 and 2015, that are easily available publically online and through libraries, and that address topics relevant during the process of RFID system implementation were reviewed. A comprehensive review of existing documents and publications is provided and business and technology requirements are assessed. Totally, sixty-seven documents are short-listed for six categories based on selected criteria, where forty documents concentrate on economic analysis and special implementation aspects of RFID and only twenty-seven documents address categories of project management, implementation from the perspective of large and small and medium enterprises, and special business domains. Accordingly, irrespective of the quality and scope of the documents, the overall number of documents is small as there are different facets of an RFID system implementation and diversities in RFID applications because of the characteristics of the technology and uniqueness of business processes and needs. Based on the findings, the paper proposes future research areas

Semantic discovery and reuse of business process patterns

Patterns currently play an important role in modern information systems (IS) development and their use has mainly been restricted to the design and implementation phases of the development lifecycle. Given the increasing significance of business modelling in IS development, patterns have the potential of providing a viable solution for promoting reusability of recurrent generalized models in the very early stages of development. As a statement of research-in-progress this paper focuses on business process patterns and proposes an initial methodological framework for the discovery and reuse of business process patterns within the IS development lifecycle. The framework borrows ideas from the domain engineering literature and proposes the use of semantics to drive both the discovery of patterns as well as their reuse

Reference Model for Management of RFID System Implementations

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is adopted in supply chain as it possesses high potential for optimization. However, the adoption is constrained with management and technological issues for certain domains. Applicability and profitability of the technology and implementation approaches as well as maturity of the technology and data integration are few of the concerns in this regard. Therefore, many enterprises are still skeptical about investment in RFID technology. Rightly, for instance, there are no appropriate approaches for management of the RFID system implementations at present that consider specific concerns of preparation of the food manufacturing enterprises. This research suggests a reference model for the purpose. The model is a result of extensive literature reviews and practice-oriented research aiming practical solutions to the problems of the respective domain. The model, which involves planning, organization and realization of RFID system implementation activities, considers multiple facets of RFID system implementations in order to increase understanding of RFID technology (i.e. knowledge development), ease decision making of an RFID implementation (i.e. willingness), and reduce cost and complexity of RFID system implementations (i.e. effectiveness and efficiency). It is an artifact of design-oriented information system research and includes a frame of reference, a process model, input and output templates, and tools and techniques. The model is applied in ‘real life context’ in order to achieve objectives of the involved enterprises. Similarly, the model aims effectiveness and efficiency in the future use, for example, by providing free of cost acquisition and appropriateness for manufacturing industries of food businesses of Saxony-Anhalt. However, adaptation efforts (e.g. by instantiation or specialization) may vary depending on the skills of users of individual enterprises. The reference model provides flexibility in terms of independence from specific vendors, openness by complying with available standards (e.g. PMBOK), and relationship to RFID system development artifacts during technical work realization