Wireless technology provides a unique number for each item and a powerful means of tracking and tracing products
RFID (radio frequency identification) is a wireless technology that uniquely identifies any product, carton or container as it moves from the factory to the end-user and beyond.
RFID tags contain a microchip less than 1mm wide, combined with a wireless circuit and an antenna. When a tag is triggered by a wireless signal it responds by emitting an identifying number, which is used by a computer to update a record of that product, which can include its destination and complete specification.
While the barcodes used for product ID often have to be scanned by handheld readers, RFID tags can usually be read automatically by static wireless readers, which cuts costs. And RFID can provide a unique number for each item, which provides a much more powerful means of tracking and tracing products.
The United States Department of Defence has used RFID for 15 years, and retailer Wal-Mart has asked its suppliers to fix tags to all products by the end of this year.
The chief architect of RFID standards body EPCGlobal, K.K. Suen, said: 'Worldwide, high-value products most easily justify the cost of RFID and products with a wide range of models or specifications can benefit most.