RFID in practice

But can RFID asset tracking actually deliver on this promise? Are the tags reliable and robust in production environments and just what is the possible maximum range between tag and RFID reader?

The first decision organizations need to make is whether to opt for Active or Passive RFID tags. Passive tags are significantly cheaper – around $.50 as opposed to $40 – $60 per Active tag. However, they have a limited read range and do not hold much information, constraining the development of a single source of all fixed asset history.

The Active tags by comparison have their own internal power source, which broadcasts the response signal to the reader. As a result, these tags have a far longer read range, typically more than 300 feet. In addition, Active tags hold far more information about the asset, enabling organizations to transform the depth and accuracy of fixed asset history.

The additional functionality offered by Active tags convinced leading fast moving consumer goods manufacturer, Unilever, to deploy this form of RFID technology to track 20,000 fixed assets across several production lines at its manufacturing site in Gloucestershire, England.

With each piece of machinery comprising many distinct components, the ability to scan hundreds of fixed assets simultaneously from a distance is a major benefit; many of these components are extremely hard to reach and would require the production line to be turned off to undertake a physical audit.