MANAGING THE COMPLEXITY OF LARGE-SCALE RFID ROLLOUT PROJECTS IN LOGISTICS

The adoption and diffusion of RFID in logistics falls short behind the optimistic expectations shaped years ago. The complexity of large-scale RFID rollout projects is a barrier for widespread adoption and diffusion of RFID. Current RFID specific project management frameworks address the implementation of isolated RFID projects but provide very limited guidance on how to manage large-scale RFID rollouts. This paper provides substantiated insights on fuzzy front-end activities in the early phase of RFID rollout projects at a large automotive manufacturer. Our findings indicate that indivisibility as the underlying source of complexity is one of the principal factors for hesitant adoption and diffusion of RFID in automotive logistics. We propose fuzzy front-end approaches to address identified complexity issues and ramp up RFID implementation in a diverse cross-company and multi-project environment

Co-existence of RFID and Barcode in Automotive Logistics

Today barcode is the dominant auto-ID technology in the automotive supply chain. The prevalence of barcode is likely to affect the adoption and diffusion of RFID technology. In this paper, we focus on the migration from barcode to RFID in the automotive industry and point out the relevance of barcode for future RFID rollouts. We study the case of a RFID pilot project to derive a concept for managing the technological co-existence of barcode and RFID technology. Our research demonstrates that the implementation of interfaces on multiple levels ensures the interoperability of barcode and RFID and supports companies in achieving gradual RFID migration in large-scale RFID rollouts

Role of Pilot Study in Assessing Viability of New Technology Projects: The Case of RFID in Parking Operations

The use of pilot studies to evaluate the economic justification of technology projects is common in practice. The pilot studies play even greater role in the projects affecting customer interactions with the product/service offerings since perception and/or reaction of customers is captured and analyzed through such studies. Yet, many times the methodology used in these studies lacks rigor and comprehensiveness, and there are scopes for further improvement. The current literature provides limited information on how the pilot studies should be used to decide whether to go ahead with a proposed technology project or not. In this paper we present guidelines for effectively using pilot studies in making such decisions. With the help of a real-life pilot study on deployment of RFID technology in parking operations at a university, we discuss how the proposed guidelines may be implemented to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed project. In recent times RFID technology is getting increasing attention and many organizations are in the process of deploying this technology. The paper offers a timely and cost-effective evaluation study of a particular application of RFID technology. We found that users’ benefits and costs played a crucial role in determining whether the proposed project should go forward or not. Also, we found that intangible benefits and costs to be important. These findings along with our discussions on the general methodology will provide practical guidelines for evaluating viability of technology projects using pilot studies

Conceptualizing Emerging Technology in Local Contexts: An Ethnographic Study of RFID in an Emirate’s Farming Industry

Situated in an emirate’s farming industry, this ethnographic study develops a framework to help bridge the existing knowledge gap about what and how local contexts interact with emerging technology, RFID in particular. Findings suggest that numerous local factors pertaining to the researched emirate’s unique environmental, project, cultural, and societal/political contexts shape and/or are reshaped by RFID implementation. For example, geographic landscape demands systems modification and device adaptation; religious custom increases project difficulty, and the systems, in turn, requires changes in certain religious practice; the notion of social sustainability establishes objectives for RFID project, while the latter helps reshape social welfare systems. As these local factors have rarely been empirically examined, my framework can help contribute to future RFID implementation in different local contexts. More specifically, insights gained urge stakeholders involved to carefully manage unique factors of the emirate or similar contexts for intended RFID projects. The findings also suggest that stakeholders should be aware of RFID’s reshaping effects on the local context particularly because those effects might be unexpected

Implementing RFID in Production Systems: A Case Study from a Confectionery Manufacturer

This paper presents a case study on the research and development of an RFID-based work-in-progress container tracking system at a confectionery manufacturer. We report on the management of the RFID project, the system design and the economic evaluation of the solution as compared to the situation before implementing RFID. We discuss the case from a practitioner\u27s view as well as from an academic view regarding the theoretical implications that can be drawn from it. The lessons learned from the project can help other companies to better anticipate the challenges they may experience and make them aware of the possible ways to cope with such challenges prior to starting an RFID implementation. Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/pajais/vol2/iss2/4

A comparison of barcoding and RFID technologies in practice

This research paper highlights inconsistencies in the way Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is compared to existing barcoding technology and the lack of empirical evidence to support one’s superiority over the other. Reference is drawn to the way in which RFID and barcoding tech- nologies are represented in the literature. Time and motion studies were conducted in a distribution company’s chilled warehouse where RFID technology had already been trialled and implemented on recyclable refrigerated food trays and in operation alongside barcoding systems. Attention was given to recording the number and nature of errors that each technology exhibited. This paper concludes that while RFID can deliver improved operational performance over tradi- tional barcode systems, it is found to be less reliable in implementation. Hybrid systems may offer operational benefits over single-technology systems, but the cost of their complexity still needs to be examined

In search of the radio frequency identification (RFID) implementation framework: Lessons from the United Kingdom's public sector

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This study presents a normative framework of the RFID implementation process in the UK public sector. It was motivated by the lack of socio-technical studies on the RFID implementation process in the UK public sector and the need for existing and potential RFID project managers to have an implementation model which could guide their effort in implementing any RFID initiatives in the sector. The study has been conducted through a combination of case study research and grounded theory research approach. Primary data have been collected from the in-depth interviews conducted with the RFID project managers from seven public sector organisations, i.e., five libraries and two hospitals. The analyses of the data were in two main stages. The first stage involved the analysis of the RFID implementation process in each of the organisations and the second stage involved a cross analysis of the RFID implementation process across the entire organisations. Potential contribution towards the existing body of knowledge on RFID implementation was in the form of a normative framework of RFID implementation process in the public sector. This framework describes the main and sub activities in the implementation process, and illustrates the dissimilarities and similarities between the implementation processes. Consequently, the implications of the study to the existing and potential RFID project managers in the public sector and also to the study of information system and RFID implementation are discussed

Value chain dynamics in the RFID technology

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 66).RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology has been one of the oldest renewed technologies with a promise of becoming a foundation of "The Internet of Things" in future. MIT's Auto-ID labs and EPCGlobal have been instrumental in advocating standards, making mass scale adoption a reality. The early adopters were found to be in the retail supply chain industry followed by many interesting applications in areas ranging from Fish Tracking to authentication of currency notes. Projects implemented till 2006 were mainly pilot in nature with a desire to understand the technology, given its limitations and challenges and conclude with value propositions or return on investment analysis for corporations. This work has attempted to study such phenomenon in greater detail, bring together the dimensions of technology and business as related to the current state of RFID. We found a very different set of value dynamics applicable to each individual component in the RFID business landscape. Analysis on presented in more detail for manufacturers (Suppliers) of goods as well as Sellers (Retailers) of goods. Further work may be in the form of analyzing the remaining components like logistics players and end customers in a similar fashion.(cont.) Case studies and interview were done to collect data. Secondary sources of information in the forms of published reports and articles are also used and referenced. Management science techniques like Systems Dynamics are used to model some of the value parameters for each component in the retail supply chain. In conclusion, we think although each component of the studied landscape has shown value enhancement and erosion (primarily to cost factors), the overall system shows net gains. As all other technologies, RFID will become cheaper with increased adoption and has a very high probability to be prevalent and ubiquitous in near future.by Milind Tavshikar.S.M

Improving reuse of semiconductor equipment through benchmarking, standardization, and automation

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering; in conjunction with the Leaders for Manufacturing Program at MIT, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-92).The 6D program at Intel® Corporation was set up to improve operations around capital equipment reuse, primarily in their semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The company was faced with a number of challenges, including differing work flows across multiple locations, lack of centralized work flow management, discontinuous inventory information, and other opportunities for cost reduction. The internship was set up to benchmark and explore potential for integration of best known methods, accumulated both inside and outside the company. Based on interviews, research and quantitative analysis, opportunities were identified for reuse of equipment shipping crates, improvement in warehouse inventory management, and changes in labor models to facilitate better knowledge capture and dissemination. As a result of this study Intel® Corporation may realize significant improvement in the areas mentioned in terms of cost reduction, process improvement and knowledge management. By using a flexible approach to problem identification and generating organizational interest in the improvements, recommendations were well received and should lead to eventual adoption.by Jacob Silber.S.M.M.B.A