The Case for UHF RFID application in the meat supply chain in the Irish context: a review perspective

As a result of recent food scares increasing pressure has been placed on food producing industries to incorporate a farm-to-fork traceability system. Conventional methods of traceability while reasonably successful are not without their disadvantages. These include potential damage and limited data capacity in the case of bar codes, unacceptable delays incurred through the use of DNA sampling and finally inapplicability of on biometric technologies due to permanent detachment post mortem. The aims of this paper is to outline the legislative requirements for traceability, technological aspects of current traceability systems, and the case for the widespread adoption of RFID in the farm-to-fork traceability of meat, all based on the Irish system. The arguments would be valid to any country or geographic region, with the existing differences taken into account. RFID technologies offer, among others, solutions to most important challenges to barcode technology, amenity to automation, possibility of value-added products, possibility for condition monitoring during storage and transport, potential to in house traceability under adverse processing environments, seamless integration with global supply chain, item-level traceability, and all these in near real-time

Novel food packaging technologies: Innovations and future prospective

AbstractNovel food packaging technologies arose as a result of consumer’s desire for convenient, ready to eat, tasty and mild processed food products with extended shelf life and maintained quality. Recent trend of lifestyle changes with less time for consumers to prepare foods posed a great challenge toward food packaging sector for the evolution of novel and innovative food packaging techniques. The novel food packaging techniques, viz. active packaging, intelligent packaging and bio active packaging which involve intentional interaction with the food or its surroundings and influence on consumer’s health have been the major innovations in the field of packaging technology. These novel techniques act by prolonging the shelf life, enhancing or maintaining the quality, providing indication and to regulate freshness of food product. The advancement in novel food packaging technologies involves retardation in oxidation, hindered respiratory process, prevention of microbial attack, prevention of moisture infusion, use of CO2 scavengers/emitters, ethylene scavengers, aroma emitters, time-temperature sensors, ripeness indicators, biosensors and sustained release of antioxidants during storage. The novel food packaging technologies besides the basic function of containment increase the margin of food quality and safety. The novel food packaging techniques thus help in fulfilling the demands throughout the food supply chain by gearing up toward persons own lifestyle. The main objectives of this review article are to provide basic knowledge of different new and innovative food packaging techniques about their way of preservative action, effectiveness and suitability in various types of foods

Exploring the potential of using radio frequency identification technology in retail supply chains - A Packaging Logistics perspective

In recent years RFID technology has attracted interest from the retail industry where it is being presented as a possible key to creating more efficient and effective retail supply chains. If RFID technology is to be implemented in packaging throughout retail supply chains, there is a need to develop an understanding of how and why the technology affects activities and processes within retail supply chains. Accordingly, the overall purpose of this licentiate thesis is to explore how the application of RFID technology to packaging could affect packaging logistics activities in retail supply chains. The packaging logistics activities discussed in this licentiate thesis are those related to ambient fast-moving consumer goods, from the product-filling point at the manufacturer’s, where the product is merged with the primary packaging, to the point of sale at retail outlets, where the products are sold to the end consumer. This thesis is based on multiple research strategies; a case study and a modelling and simulation study. The case study was conducted to describe and gain an in-depth understanding of and insight into existing packaging logistics activities in retail supply chains. A Dutch retail supply chain was chosen as a single-case study. The single-case study was both data-triangulated and investigator-triangulated with three Swedish case studies to further broaden the understanding of packaging logistics activities in retail supply chains. The case study resulted in a framework of packaging logistics activities in retail supply chains. The modelling and simulation study was conducted to describe what, how and why packaging logistics activities are affected when RFID technology is applied to packaging. A conceptual model and a simulation model were developed in the modelling and simulation study. The conceptual model describes and analyses “could-be” processes and activities in retail supply chains, whereas the simulation model primarily describes and anal

Empirical Evidence of RFID Impacts on Supply Chain Performance

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the actual benefits of radio frequency identification (RFID) on supply chain performance through the empirical evidence. Design/methodology/approach - The research reviews and classifies the existing quantitative empirical evidence of RFID on supply chain performance. The evidence is classified by process (operational or managerial) and for each process by effect (automational, informational, and transformational). Findings - The empirical evidence shows that the major effects from the implementation of RFID are automational effects on operational processes followed by informational effects on managerial processes. The RFID implementation has not reached transformational level on either operational or managerial processes. RFID has an automational effect on operational processes through inventory control and efficiency improvements. An informational effect for managerial processes is observed for improved decision quality, production control and the effectiveness of retail sales and promotions coordination. In addition, a three-stage model is proposed to explain the effects of RFID on the supply chain. Research limitations/implications - Limitations of this research include the use of secondary sources and the lack of consistency in performance measure definitions. Future research could focus on detailed case studies that investigate cross-functional applications across the organization and the supply chain. Practical implications - For managers, the empirical evidence presented can help them identify implementation areas where RFID can have the greatest impact. The data can be used to build the business case for RFID and therefore better estimate ROI and the payback period. Originality/value - This research fills a void in the literature by providing practitioners and researchers with a better understanding of the quantitative benefits of RFID in the supply chain

Cashless transactions through ecommerce platform in the Post-Covid-19

COVID-19 pandemic becomes one of the critical challenges that occur around the world that is impressed by the social environment of society. This paper is based on a literature review of the conceptual framework of cashless transactions based on attitude customized in e-commerce usage in post-COVID-19. The main purpose of this study paper is to formulate elements that are suitable for the proposed cashless transactions model based on attitude tailored to the use of e-commerce in post-COVID-19 to enhance trustworthiness value and best practices among consumers. The conceptual framework of cashless transactions based on attitude through e-commerce focuses on the influence of e-commerce usage features, perceived behavioural control (consumer abilities), and subjective norms related to motivational values influenced by the social environment. This research paper was also carried out based on previous studies and the use of Theory Of Planned Behaviour tailored to the conceptual framework of the study to be produced. This study proposes a cashless transactions model based on attitude primarily among consumers of higher education institutions. Based on the studies, focuses on the culture of using cashless transactions specializing in e-commerce platforms that will guide further studies in the future

The role of packaging in minimising food waste in the supply chain of the future

This report focuses on packaging opportunities that may help to reduce or recover food waste, proposes opportunities for industry to address food waste through innovative and sustainable primary, secondary and tertiary packaging. Food security is an emerging challenge for policy makers and companies in the food supply chain. The global population is expected to grow to 9 billion and demand for food by 77% by 2050. Over the same period food production will be under threat from climate change, competing land uses, erosion and diminishing supplies of clean water. One of the solutions to this dilemma is increased efficiency and waste reduction in the food supply chain. This report focuses on packaging opportunities that may help to reduce or recover food waste. Packaging has a vital role to play in containing and protecting food as it moves through the supply chain to the consumer. It already reduces food waste in transport and storage, and innovations in packaging materials, design and labelling provide new opportunities to improve efficiencies. Product protection needs to be the primary goal for packaging sustainability, and sometimes this requires trade-offs between packaging and food waste. The report draws on an international literature review and interviews with representatives from 15 organisations in the Australian food and packaging supply chain. It considers food waste along the entire food supply chain, but with a particular emphasis on food waste that occurs prior to consumption, i.e. during agriculture production, post-harvest handling and storage of raw materials, and in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector consisting of food manufacturing, wholesale trade, food retail and distribution and food services. Food rescue through charities is also a focus of the report. Over 4.2 million tonnes of food waste is disposed to landfill in Australia each year. Around 1.5 million tonnes of this is from the commercial and industrial sector (the focus of this report), costing around $10.5 billion in waste disposal charges and lost product. The largest single contributor in the commercial and industrial sector is food service activities (e.g., cafes, restaurants, fast food outlets), which generate 661,000 tonnes of food waste per year, followed by food manufacturing (312,000 tonnes) and food retail (179,000 tonnes). Most waste in food manufacturing is unavoidable, and almost 90% is already recovered as animal feed, compost or energy

Performance evaluation of a tracking system for intermodal traffic: an experimentation in the Tyrrhenian area

Monitoring shipments along intermodal chains is crucial to ensuring the fast, reliable and secure transport of goods. In this regard, the paper describes the results of a real-life tracking experimentation carried out in June 2018 in the Tyrrhenian area with a twofold objective: 1) to evaluate the performance of a state-of-art tracking system to effectively monitor Ro-Ro freight units moving along intermodal chains; 2) to get an objective view of the intermodal chains currently connecting the two main Italian islands to the mainland. The experimentation was performed by means of a tracking device using the GSM network for data connection and geographical position detection. In addition, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data were used to improve positioning during navigation. Quantitative analyses carried out on the recorded tracking data revealed that a significant share of the total transport time of the monitored transport chains is unproductive time that goods spend waiting at the port and logistics nodes. From a technical point of view, the experimentation raised several problems of the tracking technology employed vis-à-vis real-time tracking, continuous monitoring, signal coverage and positioning accuracy. A discussion of the main detected limitations is provided in the paper along with some possible solutions to overcome them

The process of creating a nation-wide pool system for transport packaging - from vision to decision

After several years of disussions, tests, investigations and additional tests, the suppliers and retailers within the Swedish business sector for food and commodities formed a jointly owned, non-profit company in 1997, which subsequently started in physical operations in 2000. This company, Svenska Retursystem AB (www.retursystem.se), is now responsible for introducing returnable transport packaging into the Swedish food supply chains. The product range includes a family of nestable and interstackable plastic trays and plastic pallets in two sizes. This pool system is unique, since it is the only open, business-wide and national pool system in operation in the world. Planning and implementing an open loop, business-wide national pool system for transport packaging is a complex process. This research project focuses on the driving forces in the entire process, from vision to decision. During 1992-1999, a group of logistics specialists within the Swedish food supply chains took part in a development process that resulted in a great deal of learning. The process contained eight separate missions that are all described in this thesis. This development and decision process is an example of a process where there has been no clearly dominant or driving actor. Instead, suppliers and retailers have worked together in a process based on majority decisions, negotiation and consensus. The collection of data is based on semi-structured interviews with 14 informants. Documents from meetings complement these interviews and support the analyses. The theoretical platform for this research is based on change management in packaging development oriented towards the supply chain. The results obtained show the importance of establishing a common vision at an early stage, where a shared understanding forms a driving force for packaging development. Three "power tools", information, resources and support (Kanter, 1984), must be applied to avoid failure in change processes. One conclusion drawn in this research project is that an additional, fourth tool, gaining acceptance, is required in order to secure the participation of all supply chain actors in a packaging development process. Another conclusion is that all future development of packaging and logistics systems must be based on co-operation and an active dialogue among the actors along the suuply chain. Supply chain transparency is an important driving force, enabling parties to see where costs can be cut and savings can be made. Study visits and pilot tests have been identified as the most efficient methods to acquire new knowledge about logistics development