Improvement in the tracking of special loads by using a three-level RFID system

Abstract

Manufacturers usually control the quality of their products from raw materials reception till the delivery of final goods. Products should also be controlled along the distribution and transportation phases, although this is not always feasible. In this work, the goods whose features need to be preserved while going through the previously mentioned phases are considered as special loads. Non-homogeneous loads, which are the combination of different products, will be also considered. The errors made when using the actual product tracking systems involve additional costs and inconveniences. An auto managed three-level based RFID system is proposed in this paper in order to provide an efficient solution for the real-time monitoring (RTMS) of special loads. It has been implemented by means of RFID passive and active tags, plus wireless readers inside the items, pallets and containers, which allow a three level division of the supply chain. At the highest level, a wireless network connecting all the readers using ZigBee technology has been implemented to provide real-time localization of products (RTLS) all over the world as it is also connected to a GPRS system. Finally, the proposed system is applied to two different industrial scenarios: a bottling company for perishable beverages and high-quality wines, and the manufacturing and delivery of pre-fabricated concrete panels.