SUPPLY CHAIN


to previously rely on barcodes for product identification. This approach has numerous drawbacks however. Firstly, they are only capable of carrying a relatively small amount of information. Secondly, boxed items will need to be taken out and scanned individually at different points within the supply chain, as the reader needs to be in very close proximity to the barcode to permit direct scanning. This clearly proves to be inconvenient and adds to the labor costs involved too. As barcodes need to be scanned using line-of-sight optical methods, labelling with the barcode placed upon it has to be visible to retail/logistics staff. This is an obvious disadvantage though, as that also makes it easy for counterfeiters to find them. Finally, barcode duplication is relatively simple to do, meaning that fake goods with seemingly genuine labelling can then be produced.


RFID is growing in popularity as an alternative to barcode-based logistics, offering numerous superior attributes. Each RFID tag is distinguished by a unique serial identifier that is impossible to duplicate, enabling it to verify the product’s authenticity. Essential logistical data may be linked in the information systems to each RFID tag, creating a product e-pedigree. This can include when and where it was produced, as well as specifying which country/region it is authorised for sale in. The use of RFID tags enables real-time traceability of the products they are attached to as these are passed around the supply chain, and through them it is possible to determine if product movements are not what is actually expected.


RFID tags can be scanned from much further away and at a dramatically faster rate, allowing large batches to be attended to, without needing to be removed from the boxes they have been packed into. This not only reduces the amount of labor required, but also eliminates the potential for human error. In addition, since these tags can be used in a covert manner, it makes them much more difficult for counterfeiters to find and, even if they are found, RFID tags are impossible to make duplicate versions of.


Switching to RFID


Murata’s RFID scanning solutions are seeing a great deal of uptake across a broad spectrum of different sectors, with fashion being among the most prominent. These enable comprehensive authentication and ensure that product integrity is not compromised. The id-Bridge platform enables end-to-end management of RFID systems. It provides a scalable method and cost-effect via which product movements can be examined, with e-pedigree and track-and-trace data being accessed using a highly intuitive dashboard.


Figure 1: Murata’s id-Bridge dashboard can be accessed from handheld devices as well as desktop workstations


The platform is straightforward to integrate into a fashion brand’s existing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, meaning legacy investments are not wasted. Given the savings that can be made, in terms of avoiding lost revenue, implementation of RFID technology of this kind within a company’s supply chain can soon justify the upfront investment made.


RFID in action: Case study example One of the recent success stories where Murata ID Solutions has been able to show its ability to deliver complete product traceability is through the project undertaken for Italian fashion brand Liu Jo. A large-scale RFID system was implemented at the Liu Jo distribution hub in northern Italy. This consisted of fully automated RFID tunnels for high throughput, reading products both at the inbound and outbound stage. The RFID tunnels allow data from 10 to 300 items inside each box to be acquired in a reading cycle of just a few seconds, with close to 99.5% read accuracy being attained. The tunnels interface with id-Bridge 4.0 web-based management software. This software carries out an automatic comparison of products with the list of expected tags, and makes certain there are no discrepancies. If there is a mismatch, then this is flagged immediately.


After initially applying RFID tags to all accessories in its summer and autumn 2022 collections, the operation is now being scaled to apparel. Through id-Bridge 4.0, Liu Jo automatically shares each purchase order (PO) with the service bureaus. These encode and print the RFID tags and generate the


EPCs for each PO. All information is shared in real-time through the id Bridge 4.0 platform, which works as a hub between Liu Jo, that issues production orders, and service bureau providers receive these production orders and then process them. The id-Bridge 4.0 hub allows Liu Jo to have constant visibility and control over the processing status of each order. At the manufacturing sites, the RFID tags are applied to the products before shipping them to Liu Jo’s distribution center. In this way, products are uniquely identified and linked to their destination markets before leaving the production site.


Thanks to engaging with Murata ID Solutions, Liu Jo has been able to make major enhancements to the scope of logistical data it is able to capture, leading to a better knowledge of its product movements and enabling the company to better combat the grey market and product counterfeiting. This RFID solution also led to greater inventory accuracy and a reduction of human resources assigned to such work.


Conclusion


Having RFID-based logistics will be essential to the future of the fashion industry. By leveraging this technology, brands will be able to mitigate the effects that the grey market and counterfeiting have on their livelihood. It will mean that they have a scalable method via which they can gain far greater supply chain transparency while still keeping costs down, thereby ensuring that their goods are being supplied to the correct market, rather than ending up elsewhere. Its use will also mean that inferior quality fake goods can be more easily identified.


FEBRUARY 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS 47


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