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RFID-enabled supply chain replenishment / RFID-enabled real time supply chain replenishment at Unilever HPC NA

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-88). / This thesis explores the potential application of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology as an AIDC (Automatic Identification and Data Capture) mechanism in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. MIT's Auto-ID Center is coordinating a consortium of CPG industry players, channel partners. RFID technology vendors, and consulting firms to encourage the widespread adoption of this technology through collaboration and shared development. Unilever Home and Personal Care, North American Division, is a sponsor and active participant in Auto-ID field tests. In an industry characterized by intense rivalry and formidable buyer power, Unilever HPC recognizes that cost savings enablers are key to survival. Additionally, the information transparency available through the RFID hardware and software infrastructure could mitigate the bullwhip effect, reducing inventory and improving on-shelf availability rates throughout the entire supply chain. Since this technology is still in the ferment stage of its AIDC lifecycle, Unilever and other industry players are unclear about the value creation and capture potential of RFID. This thesis attempts to highlight potential implementation benefits and challenges to enable more informed decisions. Additionally, it discusses how Unilever can leverage the dramatic improvement in information flow to drive paradigmatic change in its supply chain, providing a clear competitive advantage in the CPG industry. / by Jennifer Pararas-Carayannis. / S.M.M.O.T.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:MIT/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/8466
Date January 2002
CreatorsPararas-Carayannis, Jennifer, 1974-
ContributorsErik Brynjolfsson., Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Management of Technology Program., Management of Technology Program., Sloan School of Management
PublisherMassachusetts Institute of Technology
Source SetsM.I.T. Theses and Dissertation
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format88 leaves, 5791727 bytes, 5791489 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf
RightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission., http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

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