RFID in the consumer goods supply chain: as major retailers such as Wal-Mart demand that their suppliers implement RFID tagging, companies struggle to understand this evolving technology and the role it will play in their future.(smart packaging)

Packaging Digest, January, 2005 by Shutzberg, Larry

The following industry white paper excerpts, authored by Rock-Tenn Company (www.rocktenn.com) on REID, makes recommendatiom for a sane path through the RFID quagmire.'

Addressing REID mandates

RFID mandates require consumer goods suppliers to apply RFID tags to cases and pallets before shipping and require suppliers to transmit electronic product code (EPC) data via the Internet to a centralized service, to consumer goods manufacturers, to retailers, or to any combination of those companies.

Companies have several choices on how to address RFID mandates, from less costly slap-and-ship models to more costly, integrated models that incorporate RFID technology into many, and eventually all, production lines. Regardless of the strategy,...

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