In June 2003, e.centre – the national EAN organization in the UK – presented the results of an RFID technology implementation in the music CD supply chain. This implementation was named “Project CD.id”.
The project was implemented in the music CD supply chain, involving the manufacturer EMI, the wholesaler Handelman UK, and ASDA stores. RFID tags were attached to CD packaging, which uniquely identified each CD and allowed them to be tracked all the way to the consumer.
An RFID tag is an electronic data carrier containing a silicon chip where the product’s identification number is stored, and an antenna that allows the transmission of this number to a reading device. This enables real-time information about product movement in the supply chain. This streamlines inventory replenishment and stocktaking, which in turn reduces sales losses caused by, for example, stockouts of certain items.
The tag technology was also used to track returns from the customer through the supply chain to the manufacturer, significantly expanding information about product movement and its current position in the supply chain. The project implementation report showed that achieving such asset “visibility” significantly improves supply chain efficiency and facilitates the management of physical CD movement. It also convincingly proved that RFID technology has a future and that EAN.UCC standards should be applied. The pilot program for implementing RFID technology in the music CD supply chain was managed by e.centre and carried out in cooperation with the UK Home Office, ASDA stores, EMI, Handelman UK, and the system integrator MICROLISE.
“Project CD.id” was unique because it focused on trade between different companies and was based on open EAN.UCC system standards. It utilized both EAN.UCC numbering standards and the international RFID standard developed by EAN International and the Uniform Code Council (UCC). For this reason, the project used passive UHF RFID tag technology (868 MHz frequency).
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 2003/6.