RFID (radio frequency identification) technology is increasingly used in everyday life and business environment. RFID technology is also spreading in Lithuania.

Autepra started working with RFID in 2008 - signed RFID system implementation contract with UAB "Artilux NMF". Through 2009 this system was expanded twice. RFID technology in manufacturing logistics - to track and record the movement of products and raw materials pallets.

In January 2010 signed a RFID system installation contract with "Aurika" - RFID technology will be used to optimize inventory management.

In February 2010 signed a RFID system deployment agreement with AB Freda - RFID technology will be used to track and manage pallets of products in the company "Freda" warehouse.

Experience in the new technology is a very important factor. Only a company having good "know-how" can offer an appropriate solution, choose the best equipment and make the project in highest quality. If you have any ideas to optimize logistics, inventory, fixed assets inventory, accounting or returnable goods processes, please contact Autepra.

One of the biggest problem in the spread of RFID technology is the lack of information about it.

All manufacturers or integrators gives overall information "with RFID can be done this", "RFID accelerates", "RFID gives 100% accuracy of the information", "RFID works" and so on. For the customer, not knowing RFID technology those sentences usually does not show how RFID can solve a particular company problem, what benefits can give RFID for me.

This page provides information about the implemented RFID projects - what problems were solved, benefits for the customer - the answers can be found here.

RFID access control

Many companies have areas to which access is more or less limited. One of the simplest cases of the use of RFID technology is management of access to the territory, the barriers and gates automatic control.

RFID technology allows to identify moving car for up to 8 meters. The distance is enough to open the gate without stopping the car.

How does it work?

• All cars are tagged with passive UHF RFID tags.

• Best place for tagging is rear-view mirror or under the bumper.

• All the lanes has installed RFID UHF antenna.

• RFID UHF antenna makes the scanning continuously. After reading the tag it is checked in the database if that car can enter / leave the territory. If the answer is positive - a barrier is opened.

What are the benefits of RFID access control against the guard control? Security staff requires salaries, a security guard may ill, go for vacations or make mistakes. RFID system does not create additional costs, it operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

What are the benefits of RFID UHF system against a standard access control system? Standard access control system tags (cards) can be read up to 10 cm distance. This means that arrived to the reader, driver has to stop, open the window to identify the card - is often the case that drove too far from the reader, have to get out of the car - all of these makes:

• Inconvenience every time when entering / leaving;

• Die precious time;

• If the weather is bad, when you open the window rain falls in the car, you get wet.

UHF RFID system will identify your car in a long distance, open the gate without stopping, if the area is large, will direct you to the right place using LED display. You will get used to the system quickly and feel no access management.

What additional RFID access control advantages has?

• You will have accurate reports of who and when entered the territory and when left.

• If it is forbidden to enter territory in non working hours or to use company cars in non working time - a system will complete this task in 100%.

• If you have a large fleet of vehicles and personnel can drive only assigned vehicles can be realized double-checking - the driver should match the car.

RFID in manufacturing logistics

Manufacturing cycle finishes when products are packed on the pallet. The following steps are quality control and acceptance in the warehouse. Majority of manufacturers makes acceptance to the warehouse manually. And it has major disadvantages:

• Needed employee to make the acceptance;

• This employee makes mistakes - accepted not existing goods and so on.

• Requires a certain amount of area for acceptance process;

• It takes long time for products to reach warehouse, because the process is split to couple separate jobs.

UHF RFID technology enables to significantly improve the reception of goods from production to the warehouse process.

How does this happen? Adhesive RFID tag is applied on the pallet, after forming it. The tag has unique information and on it can be printed barcode or readable information. Palette is transported through the RFID gate between the production and storage. After reading RFID tag, system verifies if that palette is expected. If the palette is not expected - a mistake, the operator is promptly informed with audible signal or information on display or in other way. If the pallet is expected it is delivered to warehouse without stopping.

Why is it useful?

• Save costs - no more manual labor for accepting process;

• Enlarge store - using the disused accepting area;

• Save time - the product swiftly moved to a warehouse or directly to the loading zone;

• Avoid mistakes – acceptable items are cross-checked with manufactured, the operator is informed immediately about the result;

• Take care of environment - without the use of red and green paper labels in acceptance area you save a tree.

Is it too expensive to use RFID tags for one transaction? Not since the same RFID tags are used in the subsequent logistic chain - Automating pallets loading onto trucks - each loaded pallet before leaving the warehouse is verified if it can be loaded to particular truck. The same RFID tags can be used for inventory, also they can be used in further logistic at customer sites.

Accurately operating company is more valued partner to continuously fallible.

RFID in assets inventory

Assets inventory in manual way is a long work – somebody has to find each item, identify it and mark somewhere. As bigger company as more assets to inventory.

RFID helps to make the inventory in much faster and efficient way – the guy, making inventory does not need to touch the item or to find the sticker with inventory code on it. The items are identified in distance up to 2 – 3 meters and for handheld computer with UHF RFID reader it takes milliseconds to identify the objects around.

Using UHF RFID more efficiently can be made inventory of:

• IT assets in server room;

• IT assets in access control checkpoint;

• IT assets in workplaces;

• Documents and archives;

• Serviceable items;

• Other property, like furniture, tools, special assets.