Contents
List of abbreviations ……………………………………………………………………………..xi
Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………………….xv
About the author …………………………………………………………………………………xix
Chapter 1 Introduction to radio frequency identification…………………. 1
1.1 Introduction to RFID ……………………………………………………………………. 1
1.2 History of RFID ……………………………………………………………………………. 4
1.3 Why RFID ……………………………………………………………………………………. 8
1.4 Application areas ……………………………………………………………………….. 10
1.5 Scope of the book ……………………………………………………………………….. 13
1.6 Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………….. 14
References ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
Chapter 2 Overview of barcode and RFID technology …………………… 19
2.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 19
2.2 Barcode technology ……………………………………………………………………. 20
2.2.1 History of barcode …………………………………………………………. 20
2.2.2 Working of barcode ……………………………………………………….. 21
2.3 RFID technology ………………………………………………………………………… 25
2.3.1 RFID Tag 25
2.3.2 RFID reader …………………………………………………………………… 31
2.3.3 RFID controller ……………………………………………………………… 33
2.3.4 RFID system in operation ………………………………………………. 34
2.4 RFID vs barcode system (technical differences, advantages
and disadvantages) …………………………………………………………………….. 35
2.4.1 Limited information ………………………………………………………. 35
2.4.2 Human interaction ………………………………………………………… 35
2.4.3 Reusability 36
2.4.4 Security issues ……………………………………………………………….. 37
2.4.5 Cost 37
2.4.6 Reliability and range ……………………………………………………… 37
2.5 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………. 37
References ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 38
Chapter 3 Application of RFID in fiber production
and yarn manufacturing ………………………………………………… 41
3.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 41
3.2 RFID in fiber production ……………………………………………………………. 42
3.2.1 Plant fiber production ……………………………………………………. 43
3.2.2 Animal fiber production ………………………………………………… 44
3.2.3 Fiber bale tracking …………………………………………………………. 47
3.2.4 Synthetic fiber manufacturing ……………………………………….. 47
3.2.5 Managing fiber testing …………………………………………………… 49
3.3 Yarn manufacturing …………………………………………………………………… 49
3.3.1 Bobbin management ……………………………………………………… 49
3.3.2 Yarn quality tracking …………………………………………………….. 52
3.3.3 Materials management ………………………………………………….. 54
3.3.4 Managing other components …………………………………………. 54
3.3.5 Machine maintenance ……………………………………………………. 55
3.4 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………. 55
References ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 56
Chapter 4 RFID in fabric manufacturing and chemical
processing ……………………………………………………………………….. 59
4.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 59
4.2 RFID in knitting and weaving ……………………………………………………. 61
4.2.1 Yarn management ………………………………………………………….. 61
4.2.2 Material management ……………………………………………………. 61
4.2.3 Machine maintenance ……………………………………………………. 64
4.2.4 Production and productivity management ……………………. 65
4.2.5 Fabric quality inspection ……………………………………………….. 65
4.2.6 Labor management ………………………………………………………… 65
4.2.7 Fabric storage …………………………………………………………………. 66
4.3 RFID in fabric chemical processing ……………………………………………. 66
4.3.1 Managing chemicals and auxiliaries ……………………………… 68
4.3.2 Routing process path ……………………………………………………… 69
4.3.3 Assisting in pricing ……………………………………………………….. 69
4.3.4 Batch identification ………………………………………………………… 69
4.3.5 Increased visibility ………………………………………………………… 70
4.3.6 Increased labor productivity ………………………………………….. 70
4.3.7 Labor wages and promotion ………………………………………….. 70
4.4 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………. 70
References ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 71
Chapter 5 Applications of RFID in fashion manufacturing …………… 73
5.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 73
5.2 RFID in garment manufacturing ……………………………………………….. 75
5.2.1 RFID in design development …………………………………………. 75
5.2.2 Fabric inspection and storage ………………………………………… 76
5.2.3 Sample (fabric) management ………………………………………….. 76
5.2.4 Fabric spreading and cutting …………………………………………. 77
5.2.5 RFID in sewing floor ……………………………………………………… 78
5.2.6 Marrying of wrong sizes ……………………………………………….. 79
5.2.7 Increasing productivity …………………………………………………. 79
5.2.8 Inventory management ………………………………………………….. 81
5.2.9 Availability of real-time information …………………………….. 82
5.2.10 Resource allocation ………………………………………………………… 82
5.2.11 Maintenance of machines ………………………………………………. 84
5.2.12 Production control …………………………………………………………. 84
5.2.13 Quality management …………………………………………………….. 85
5.2.14 Office management ……………………………………………………….. 85
5.2.15 Labor management ………………………………………………………… 85
5.2.16 Warehouse management ……………………………………………….. 86
5.3 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………………. 86
References ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 88
Chapter 6 Application of RFID in fashion
logistics …………………………………………………………………………… 91
6.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 91
6.2 Scope of RFID in Logistics …………………………………………………………. 95
6.3 Application of RFID in fashion logistics …………………………………….. 96
6.3.1 Warehouse management ……………………………………………….. 96
6.3.2 Loading and unloading of cargo ……………………………………. 99
6.3.3 Inventory management ………………………………………………… 100
6.3.4 Out of shelf but in stock – shelf
replenishment ……………………………………………………………… 100
6.3.5 Out-of-stock replenishment …………………………………………. 101
6.3.6 Return/exchanged goods inventory
control 101
6.3.7 Identifying the goods …………………………………………………… 102
6.3.8 Self-replenishment of stock ………………………………………….. 102
6.3.9 Reducing shrinkage …………………………………………………….. 102
6.3.10 Use of RFID in textile logistics …………………………………….. 103
6.4 RFID sample working process in logistics ………………………………… 103
6.5 Benefits of RFID in fashion logistics …………………………………………. 104
6.5.1 Higher data storage ……………………………………………………… 105
6.5.2 Increased performance speed ………………………………………. 105
6.5.3 Utilize real-time information ……………………………………….. 105
6.5.4 Reduced shrinkage ………………………………………………………. 106
6.5.5 Reducing repetitive manual task …………………………………. 106
6.6 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 106
References ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 107
Chapter 7 Application of RFID in fashion retail …………………………… 111
7.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….111
7.2 Description of fashion retail ………………………………………………………113
7.3 Application of RFID in retail ……………………………………………………..114
7.3.1 Product tracking ……………………………………………………………114
7.3.2 Retail management ………………………………………………………..115
7.3.3 Merchandise replenishment ………………………………………….116
7.3.4 Information to customers ………………………………………………117
7.3.5 Reducing shrinkage ………………………………………………………118
7.3.6 Theft detection in fitting room ………………………………………119
7.3.7 RFID for brand segregation …………………………………………..119
7.3.8 RFID used in fitting room ……………………………………………. 120
7.3.9 RFID tags for care labelling …………………………………………. 120
7.3.10 Customer relationship management ……………………………. 121
7.3.11 Product accessibility in retail store ………………………………. 122
7.3.12 Consumer self-checkout ………………………………………………. 122
7.3.13 Managing returns ………………………………………………………… 123
7.3.14 Traceable warranties ……………………………………………………. 124
7.3.15 Customer behavior and product assortment 124
7.3.16 Counterfeit prevention …………………………………………………. 124
7.3.17 Fashion show ……………………………………………………………….. 126
7.3.18 Decisions on markdown ………………………………………………. 126
7.4 Opportunities and threats of RFID in retail ……………………………… 126
7.5 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 127
References ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 128
Chapter 8 Case studies of RFID adoption by famous
fashion brands ………………………………………………………………. 131
8.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………… 131
8.2 RFID: Examples from fashion industry ……………………………………. 132
8.2.1 General situation ………………………………………………………….. 132
8.2.2 Impact of RFID …………………………………………………………….. 133
8.3 Fashion companies that use RFID …………………………………………….. 135
8.3.1 Inditex group & Zara …………………………………………………… 135
8.3.2 H&M 136
8.3.3 Moncler 137
8.3.4 Adidas 138
8.3.5 Burberry 138
8.3.6 Nike 138
8.3.7 Thomas Pink ……………………………………………………………….. 139
8.3.8 Macy’s 139
8.3.9 Myer 140
8.3.10 Costco 140
8.3.11 Ance Studio and RFID application……………………………….. 140
8.3.12 Lululemon 141
8.3.13 Salvatore Ferragamo ………………………………………………………141
8.4 Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………….. 142
References ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 142
Chapter 9 Challenges and future directions
of RFID technology ………………………………………………………. 145
9.1 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………… 145
9.2 Challenges to RFID ………………………………………………………………….. 146
9.2.1 High investment cost …………………………………………………… 146
9.2.2 Security and privacy issues ………………………………………….. 147
9.2.3 RFID attacks by hackers ………………………………………………. 148
9.2.4 Information tracking ……………………………………………………. 148
9.2.5 Disabling the tags ………………………………………………………… 148
9.2.6 Cloning of the tags ………………………………………………………. 149
9.2.7 Side-channel attacks …………………………………………………….. 149
9.2.8 Tag damage ………………………………………………………………….. 149
9.2.9 Compatibility ………………………………………………………………. 150
9.2.10 Data management ………………………………………………………… 150
9.3 Technological disadvantages ……………………………………………………. 150
9.4 Lack of standardization ……………………………………………………………. 151
9.5 Ethical issues ……………………………………………………………………………. 152
9.6 Research on RFID …………………………………………………………………….. 152
9.7 Future trends of RFID in fashion supply chain ………………………… 153
9.8 Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………… 155
References ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 156
Index …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 159