Contrairement à un système d'identification plus traditionnel tel que le code à barres, la nouvelle technologie RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) utilise des ondes radio fréquence pour transmettre des données entre une étiquette et un lecteur pour pouvoir identifier, localiser ou suivre une entité dans une chaîne d'approvisionnement. Cette propriété lui procure certains avantages (facilité d'accès à l'information, suivi continu, amélioration de l'exactitude des données, détection du vol et de la contrefaçon, etc..) par rapport à d'autres systèmes d'identification et de capture de données. Nous partons du constat que l'utilisation de cette nouvelle technologie permettra aux acteurs de la chaîne logistique de pouvoir partager une information de meilleure qualité, plus exhaustive et fiable concernant le flux physique et le suivi de la localisation produits. Or, l'hypothèse implicite considérée dans la plupart des modèles classiques de gestion de stock est que l'on a une connaissance parfaite du flux entrant et sortant. L'objectif de recherche sera d'intégrer dans ces modèles des dégradations venant fausser le flux nominal et d'en analyser les conséquences (en termes de coût additionnel). Un accent fort sera mis sur le développement de solutions combinant efficacité et simplicité. L'accent sera mis aussi sur le mode de partage du coût de cette technologie entre plusieurs acteurs de la chaîne logistique : serait-il mieux de partager les bénéfices de cette technologie dans un environnement de coordination ou dans un environnement de compétitivité entre acteurs? Les résultas de cette thèse porte sur l'élaboration de modèles théoriques -de type gestion de stock – concernant la production, la distribution et l'approvisionnement dans une chaîne logistique et faisant intervenir et le coût et les gains potentiels de cette nouvelle technologie d'identification automatique.

In a supply chain, a warehouse is a crucial component for linking all chain parties. Automatic identification and data capture (auto-ID) technology, e.g. RFID and barcodes are among the essential technologies in the 21st century knowledge-based economy. Selecting an auto-ID technology is a long term investment and it contributes to improving operational efficiency, achieving cost savings and creating opportunities for higher revenues. The interest in auto-ID research for warehouse management is rather stagnant and relatively small in comparison to other research domains such as transport, logistics and supply chain. However, although there are some previous studies that explored factors for the auto-ID selection decision in a warehouse environment, those factors (e.g., operational factors) have been examined separately and researchers have paid no attention to all key factors that may potentially affect this decision. In fact, yet there is no comprehensive framework in the literature that comprehensively investigates the critical factors influencing the auto-ID selection decision and how the factors should be combined to produce a successful auto-ID selection process in warehouse management. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to investigate empirically the auto-ID technology-selection process and to determine the key factors that influence decision makers when selecting auto-ID technology in the warehouse environment. This research is preceded by a comprehensive and systematic review of the relevant literature to identify the set of factors that may affect the technology selection decision. The Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework has been used as lens to categorise the identified factors (Tornatzky & Fleischer, 1990). Data were collected by conducting first a modified (mixed-method) two-round Delphi study with a worldwide panel of experts (107) including academics, industry practitioners and consultants in auto-ID technologies. The results of the Delphi study were then verified via follow-up interviews, both face-to-face and telephone, carried out with 19 experts across the world. This research in nature is positivist, exploratory/descriptive, deductive/inductive and quantitative/qualitative. The quantitative data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences, SPSS V.18, while the qualitative data of the Delphi study and the interviews were analysed manually using quantitative content analysis approach and thematic content analysis approach respectively. The findings of this research are reported on the motivations/reasons of warehouses in seeking to use auto-ID technologies, the challenges in making an auto-ID decision, the recommendations to address the challenges, the key steps that should be followed in making auto-ID selection decision, the key factors and their relative importance that influence auto-ID selection decision in a warehouse. The results of the Delphi study show that the six major factors affecting the auto-ID selection decision in warehouse management are: organisational, operational, structural, resources, external environmental and technological factors (in decreasing order of importance). In addition, 54 key sub-factors have been identified from the list of each of the major factors and ranked in decreasing order of the importance mean scores. However, the importance of these factors depends on the objectives and strategic motivations of warehouse; size of warehouse; type of business; nature of business environment; sectors; market types; products and countries. Based on the Delphi study and the interviews findings, a comprehensive multi-stage framework for auto-ID technology selection process has been developed. This research indicates that the selection process is complex and needs support and closer collaboration from all participants involved in the process such as the IT team, top management, warehouse manager, functional managers, experts, stockholders and vendors. Moreover, warehouse managers should have this process for collaboration before adopting the technology in order to reduce the high risks involved and achieve successful implementation. This research makes several contributions for both academic and practitioners with auto-ID selection in a warehouse environment. Academically, it provides a holistic multi-stage framework that explains the critical issues within the decision making process of auto-ID technology in warehouse management. Moreover, it contributes to the body of auto-ID and warehouse management literature by synthesising the literature on key dimensions of auto-ID (RFID/barcode) selection decision in the warehouse field. This research also provides a theoretical basis upon which future research on auto-ID selection and implementation can be built. Practically, the findings provide valuable insights for warehouse managers and executives associated with auto-ID selection and advance their understanding of the issues involved in the technology selection process that need to be considered.

Controlling the authenticity of a product in the supply chain has been a struggle formanufacturers, and increasing complexity of the chains intensifies the imitation andcounterfeiting threats. Indeed, counterfeiting is absent from effective control in supply chainand manufacturers are looking for a technology to supply this control. The ability of RFID toprovide a tagged item with unique electronic code, it’s characteristic to hold some historicaldata about the item and supply automatic, immediate and accurate data about the tagged itemattracts manufacturers to use RFID technology to provide the effective control throughout thesupply chain. In line with this issue, SToP1 (Stop Tampering of Products), an EU foundedproject, aimed at developing an anti-counterfeiting solution based on auto-identificationtechnologies for consortium companies concerned with or affected by fake products. SToP iscommitted to establish the business cases, do research and at the end issue applicationguidelines for using RFID technology against counterfeiting in particular business contexts.Under SToP’s umbrella, this master thesis is initiated with the purpose to design a practicalguideline for choosing an appropriate RFID system for anti-counterfeiting in the aviationindustry that is one of the affected industries.The conclusion of the thesis consists of a number of sections, which altogether fulfill thepurpose of the thesis. The thesis forms a base for continues challenge of implementing RFIDas an anti-counterfeiting device focusing on the aviation industry, proposes solution scenariosbased on RFID technology, suggests applicable standards and proposes a secure RFID methodto prevent counterfeiting specially in the aviation industry. Jointly, these sections fromguidelines as a foundation for decision-making for kind of RFID system for anti-counterfeitingapplication in the aviation industry. / Uppsatsnivå: D

Making market stands more accessible by using DAISY-technology, vendors can easily catalogue their products each week and use our services to fully automatically generate a DAISY book that contains the product-list that can be downloaded thereafter by interested users as a podcast. Additionally, a market stand can use RFID-technology to make the available products easily identifiable.

This master thesis deals with improving of the storing in the Delta Electronics (Slovakia). Initially, an analysis of effectiveness of the current system was prepared. The main goal of this paper is to recognize the major drawback of the current system and propose a way to remove them and improve the overall storing system and goods expedition.

Radio frequency identification technology (RFID) has during the past decade seen an upwards trend among logistics companies in the supply chain. With increased e-commerce, demand for new and more efficient solutions are ever-increasing. RFID is a technology which Schmidt, Thoroe & Schumann (2013) call the next ‘evolutionary step for auto-identification technology’. The purpose of this research is to investigate and describe how previously found barriers for RFID adoption are perceived by Swedish logistic companies. The significance of barriers often accompanies the choice of investing or not. This thesis was conducted with mixed qualitative research design and used multiple case studies as a pilot study as well as a survey based on the results from the qualitative study to look at different logistic companies in Sweden. The authors collected data using semistructured interviews with a purposive sampling technique. Through thematic analysis, predetermined barrier themes emerged and that were strengthened by coding and categorising the transcripts. The survey data has been collected and analysed in IBM SPSS. The findings in this thesis conclude that RFID has matured over the last decade, and that cost is no longer the most significant barrier when it comes to implementing RFID technology into logistic processes. The most significant barrier now is lack of understanding and the popularity of barcodes. Lack of business case and an extensive knowledge gap surrounding RFID impedes Swedish logistic companies to adopt the technology. Another significant barrier was the popularity of barcodes. It has long been the industry standard, and companies are heavily invested in the infrastructure developed for barcodes. The target group for this research is both companies thinking of investing in RFID technology and RFID solution providers who want to know what challenges logistic companies face regarding RFID. For future studies, researchers should try to investigate how postal services could feasibly adopt this technology or analyse and compare barriers between different logistical segments within the supply chain.

Computer technology is increasingly being implemented into objects other than the standard desktop computer, be it for keeping existing products current in our digital age or simply exploring the possibilities within the field of embodied interaction. The present paper investigates the emotional-motivational state of curiosity by discussing the design process and results from “Quizzerfid”, a design exploration on the use of RFID technology on a tangible puzzle. A short background on curiosity, embodied interaction, RFID technology, and other related projects will be given, to finally investigate the potentialities of the artefact in regards to stimulating student curiosity. A detailed description of the design of the Quizzerfid prototype will be presented, followed by an extensive process description and review of the performed user testing. The aim of this paper is to explore the design of the Quizzerfid puzzle framework in regards to its success in sparking curiosity and exploratory behaviour through embodied interaction, contributing to the design of future tangible interfaces and possibly even pedagogical aids.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to focus on the challenges with the implementation of technical solutions for automation of warehouse operations for the movement and tracking of goods. Additionally, the focus is on the similarities and differences between the identified challenges in theory and practice. MethodologyThis study employs a qualitative research strategy with a cross-sectional research design. A qualitative analysis of the challenges for the automation of warehouse operations is done, with the help of semi-structured interviews of 9 different companies.TheoryThe theory chapter starts with an introduction of warehouse management systems (WMS) and the differentiation between the main and supportive warehouse processes, whereby the focus is drawn on the supportive processes. The supportive processes are differentiated into the movement and tracking of goods. For the movement of goods automated guided vehicles (AGVs), Automated forklifts and Automated conveyor systems are analyzed. For the tracking of goods Barcodes, QR-Codes and RFID technology is examined. These two areas are also analyzed regarding their identified challenges. AnalysisThe analysis is based on the identification of the challenges from theory and empirical data for the tracking and movement of goods within a warehouse. Therefore, the empirical perceived challenges are processed and merged together. Afterwards, the theoretical and empirical identified challenges are compared for each of the technical solutions for automation for the movement and tracking of goods. Additionally, a comparison between the degrees of importance of the perceived challenges is drawn.Conclusion Technical solutions for automation for the movement and tracking of goods perceived in theory and practice are analyzed in this thesis. The conclusion of this study is that there are differences and similarities between the challenges for the movement and tracking of goods. Regarding the movement of goods, theory is more directed to see challenges after the implementation in contrast to the focus of practice on the pre-implementation challenges. For the tracking of goods, the perceived challenges in practice are more about the usage and not as technical oriented as the theory.

Making market stands more accessible by using DAISY-technology, vendors can easily catalogue their products each week and use our services to fully automatically generate a DAISY book that contains the product-list that can be downloaded thereafter by interested users as a podcast. Additionally, a market stand can use RFID-technology to make the available products easily identifiable.

This thesis is focused on explanation of RFID technology. The first part analyses its historical development, describes the basic elements needed for its operation and standards enabling its spread into the supplier-customer chains. Furthermore are summarized its common applications such as systems for real-time location, traceability and identification of persons. Finally is summarized its usage in particular economic sectors. The end of the thesis is focused on suitable procedures for implementation of RFID technology into the enterprise, with respect to a feasibility of the project, which is determined in the initial study based on the methodology MMDIS.