RFID project Fresh Link

Discovering the possibilities ofRadio Frequency Identification

Cambridge UniversityIng. Rover A.A.M. van Mierlo M.B.A., C.P.I.M.

Director Central Logistics & Innovation

Why does Schuitema Invest in RFID?

• Consumer benefits• Gaining know-how and

experience• Taking a lead

Fresh Link – the Objectives

• Improving the quality of freshly cut produce

• Improving shelf availability• Reducing losses further down the

chain• Creating transparency in the

supply chain

Fresh Chain

Freshlink

1st European project to test RFID throughout the entire chain of freshly cut produce

Project USPs

• Freshly cut produce across the entire chain

• Using the EPC global standard to test the information exchange within the chain.

• Linking RFID technology to temperature measurements in order to monitor product shelf life

The Challenges

• EPC Global architecture (world-wide standard)

• Sharing information throughout the chain

• Tracking & Tracing combined with temperature logs

• From data to intelligent information• 120 crates to be read at once -> 99.9%

read rate!• Challenging environments (iron and

damp)

The Preparatory Stage

• Project kick-off in 2005• Ambitious plan• High expectations• Strict time frame• Start test in actual practice end

of September 2006How did this happen ?

Tag :EPC Gen 2

• Release Gen 2 tags 6 months delayed

• 1st Antenna design did not work • Multiple tag positions on the

crate• Falling Tags : 3 methods for

attachment • Readers and portals could only

be developed when tags became available

EPC architecture

• EPC standard still being developed

• Fresh link influences the standards itself

• challenging hard- and software environments

The preproduction stage was a true voyage of discovery

Practical Rollout

Start film in which we show how in actual practice the crates are registered at Heemskerk and then monitored throughout the entire process from Heemskerk to DC Breda until the Schuitema lorry.

Read performanceTagRead-%

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20

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120

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TagRead-%

Performance of Tags Declines

• Oxidation in tags • Tags are not laminated• 25% of the tags is

underperforming by now• Yet we do know what the

solution is lamination

Temperature registration in the chain

7-11

-06

7:59

7-11

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8:59

7-11

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9:59

7-11

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10:5

9

7-11

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11:5

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7-11

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12:5

9

7-11

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13:5

90

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Vers Schakel meting 7 november 2006

Templogger 1 (onderop de pallet)

Templogger 2 (boven in de pallet)

Vertrek Heemsker - DC Breda Schuitema

Ontvangst DC Breda Schuitema

Tijd

Tem

per

atu

ur

Monitoring the Crate Pool

For the first time we can see exactly where in the chain the crate is, at any given point.

On to the Next Link in the Chain

Ambition : From reactive to proactive!

Real time dataError in delivery or

deviation in data = ALERT

Immediate actionTransparency for all

parties

Can RFID be Called a Success?

ABOLUTELY!

The successful use of RFID within the chain provides transparency and ensures that information can be shared throughout the chain allowing for better operational control.