The Benefits of RFID for Slab- and Coil-Logistics - Falken Secure ...

Contents
Preface 4
1 Executive summary 5
2 Introduction 6
2.1 Background 6
2.2 Why standardization matters to the
steel industry 6
3 Benefits of RFID in slab and coil
logistics 8
3.1 Perfect Steel case study
methodology 8
3.1.1 Perfect Steel – Business case
assumptions 10
3.2 Asset use 14
3.2.1 Handling equipment 14
3.2.2 Transport vehicles 14
3.2.3 Safety stocks 14
3.3 Operational efficiency 16
3.3.1 Improved stock management 16
3.3.2 Supply chain visibility and insight 16
3.3.3 Detention / demurrage cost
reductions 17
3.3.4 Increased productivity /
simplified labor 17
3.4 Safety and security 20
3.4.1 Improved worker safety 20
3.4.2 Improved process security 20
3.5 Customer service 24
3.5.1 Faster receiving and ability to plan 24
3.5.2 Improved production control 24
3.6 Combined business case for Perfect
Steel 24
4 Challenges for RFID in the steel
industry 26
4.1 Radio-frequency identification and
metals 26
4.1.1 Flag-tag 26
4.1.2 Plasmonic decoupler tag 27
3
4.1.3 Battery-assisted passive spacer tag 27
4.2 Resistance to change 27
4.3 Established bar-coding
infrastructure 28
4.4 Multiple tagging 28
4.5 Identifier attribution 29
4.6 Data interchange 29
4.7 Heterogeneous customer base 29
5 Cost considerations for RFID 30
5.1 Tags 30
5.2 Readers 30
5.3 Antennae and cabling 30
5.4 Installation 30
5.5 Tuning 31
5.6 Controllers 31
5.7 Software platform 32
5.8 Integration 32
5.9 Maintenance 32
5.10 Process 32
6 A vision for an integrated steel
industry 34
6.1 Standards requirements 34
6.2 Introducing the EPCglobal
Network 35
6.2.1 Electronic Product Code (EPC) 36
6.2.2 Discovery and Object Naming
Services (DS and ONS) 36
6.2.3 EPC Information Services (EPC) 36
6.3 The suggested standardization
approach 37
6.3.1 Ground rules for standardization 38
6.4 How steel companies can
participate 38
7 Authors 40
8 Contributors 41
9 Sources 42