Impact of radio frequency identification on life cycle engineering

Abstract

In this study, impact of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies on life cycle engineering of time and temperature-sensitive chemicals (TTSC) is presented based on a case study. The case study includes three levels of applications, integrated hierarchically as supply chain operations, manufacturing facility level inventory management, and station level operations in the manufacturing facility. The impact of RFID deployment on various performance measures in regard to these applications is discussed. The study shows that when combined with effective decision-making schemes, RFID technologies facilitate operational visibility; thus improve productivity, reduce inventory levels, and enable reduction of environmental impact within the scope of life cycle engineering. The case study presents the impact of RFID at three levels in an integrated way: (1) supply chain, (2) manufacturing facility, and (3) stations in the manufacturing facility. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.