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Ask the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Expert: Scheduling Assistance
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Benefits beyond RFID implementation ...

Asked on Apr 25 2005 11:31:23:000AM

Q

We've looked at RFID and determined that without major warehouse and information system changes, it is simply not going to work for us. Should we move on to something else?

Rolfe, Seattle
A

You've hit the first milestone in a proper RFID readiness assessment! The question to ask now is "Absent RFID, would the required changes to warehouse layout, equipment, processes and systems yield benefits in their own right?" Quantify and value the benefits in terms of potential incremental improvements in throughput, order cycle times, labor cost, etc. Is there a business case? If so, move forward with the changes. No amount of technology will fix flawed layouts, processes or systems. Repair the infrastructure before moving ahead with RFID.

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Meet the expert

John M. Hill

Principal, ESYNC

John advises clients on strategies for implementing bar code, RFDC & RFID, warehouse and transportation management systems. Prior to joining ESYNC, John was COO/CEO of a number of automatic data collection and supply chain execution systems firms. He is also a co-founder of the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) Trade Association and a charter member of AIDC 100, a non-profit association of automatic identification / data capture (AIDC) professionals. John is also former president of the Material Handling Education Foundation Inc. and the Material Handling Institute Inc., and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA). He is also a co-founder of MHIA's Supply Chain Execution Systems & Technology Group and is a faculty member of The Logistics Institute at Georgia Institute of Technology.
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