RFID Implementation: Test Your Technology Under Real-World Conditions Prior To Implementing RFID

Consumer goods manufacturers, retailers and distribution centers should carefully balance application requirements and budget with the capabilities and costs of RFID technologies when planning in-house RFID labeling operations. Initial decisions typically involve selecting an RFID label inlay¾the label part containing the RFID antenna and microchip¾that best fits the application, determining the optimal label location on targeted items and selecting equipment to print and/or accurately apply the labels to cartons, pallets and packages. Speed and label placement accuracy are key criteria for RFID label print/apply equipment. Factors such as RFID signal power and distribution must also be weighed.

Consider partnering with an RFID technology supplier that offers research and testing services, and which can meet all of your label and label production requirements. A full service supplier can often simulate real-world RFID labeling environments to plot RFID label and label equipment performance at different pallet or container locations and at various distances from label readers.

Test results can confirm initial findings and identify possible problems before RFID implementation, simplifying your company's decision-making process.

Dan Williams is marketing manager for Avery Dennison Printer Systems. He can be reached at Dan.L.Williams@averydennison.com. PH: 215-728-8054.

About Avery Dennison Printer Systems
Avery Dennison Printer Systems is a business unit of Avery Dennison's Retail Information Services Division.

Avery Dennison's Retail Information Services Division brings to industry a powerful, global offering of information management, brand identification and solution-enabling products. Brand identification products include fashion-inspired woven and printed fabric labels, heat transfers and embellishments for tag-free labeling, graphic tags, integrated bar code tags, leather and leather-like patches, sock bands, size stickers . . . and more. Among the company's Information management products are RFID and bar code price tickets, and carton and pallet labels; web-enabled order entry systems; and the InfoChain Express™ supply chain management solution, which tracks purchase orders and assists users in meeting the US Customs' 24-hour Manifest Mandate. Solution enabling products include RFID printers and print/apply systems, bar-code printers, heat-transfer bonders, molded plastic fastening and application devices, anti-counterfeiting and diversion tools. The organization operates product ID ticketing centers and service bureaus in 35 countries and maintains mature, highly reliable global distribution processes throughout Asia, North and South America, Europe and Africa. Major markets include retail, apparel, softlines and hardgoods.