WAL-MART Essay -- essays research papers

Over the last few years the cost declines of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, combined with improvements in sensitivity, range and durability, have enabled widespread RFID use in the logistical planning and operation segments of supply chain management processes. Specifically, areas such as security and access control, tracking, and monitoring/management will strategically be enhanced from the use of this technology. An RFID tag consists of a microchip and an antenna, often in the form of a tiny ribbon that can in turn be packaged into many forms, such as a label, or imbedded in between the cardboard layers in a carton. On the microchip is stored information about the product that the tag is affixed to, which can then be â€Å"read† when the tag passes within proximity of an RFID â€Å"reader†. This information is almost instantly relayed back to a computer system that updates the location status of the associated product. This procedure enables great efficiencies and cost reductions with respect to inventory management and control in a physical product environment, and also enables innovative applications in locating and tracking people and assets in a services environment. (Hagans, Andy, RFID Magazine)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This environment changed dramatically last June when Wal-Mart Stores announced that it would require its top 100 suppliers to put RFID tags on shipping crates and pallets by January 1st 2005. Earlier this month, Wal-Mart announced that i...