Please use the following two slides as a template for your presentation at NES. The Power of a Tag: How the Right Technology Can Benefit You Steve Doerfler, President Julia Deets, VP Sales & Marketing Metalcraft, Inc.

What This Presentation Will Cover Steps to take when selecting tracking technology Possible alternatives for ID Pros and cons Benefits of a dual technology tag Transitioning from bar code to RFID Asset tracking case studies

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 1: Define Objective of Application –What do you want to accomplish? Implement tracking system Expand existing system Improve efficiencies of existing system –Maximize power of tag by matching right technology to application Does not always mean using newest technology

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 2: Assess Environment –Determine level of exposure to: Sunlight (UV rays) Chemicals, i.e. caustics and acids Solvents Temperatures – both hot and cold Abrasion Other environmental factors, i.e. salt water

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 3: Assess Asset Composition –Material composition Is it metal? Impacts RFID, but not as much of an issue as previously thought Does it contain liquid? Is the surface flat or curved?

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 3: Assess Asset Composition –Material composition High surface energy or low surface energy? –Painted surface? –Oily surface? –Smooth or rough surface? How will ID be attached? i.e., does surface allow for holes with mechanical fasteners?

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 4: Further Qualification of Application –How long should the ID last? <1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, 5-10 years, 10+ years –Are the assets fixed or mobile? If mobile – do they move within a facility or to different facilities?

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 4: Further Qualification of Application –What is the expected read range? Near field: inches Short range: up to 2 ft. Medium range: > 2 ft to 10 ft Long range: > 10 ft to 40 ft Extended range: > 40 ft

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 5: Estimated Timeframe and Budget –How far out is the project? –Is there a budget for this project? –Do you have a projected ROI?

Selecting a Tracking Technology Step 6: Determine Tracking Technology –Bar code –RFID –Bar code and RFID?

Possible ID Solutions Pre-printed bar code products On-site printable bar code products Pre-printed RFID tags On-site printable RFID tags

Pre-Printed Bar Code Products Wide variety of substrates available –Aluminum –Stainless Steel –Polyester –Polycarbonate –Destructible/Tamper Evident Materials “Specialty” options available –Teflon® Coating –Intensification –Paint-resistant laminates –Destructibility

Pre-Printed Bar Code Products Various attachment methods available –Adhesives matched to application surface (high/low surface energy) –Design with holes for mechanical fasteners –Both adhesive and holes Timeframe – lead time could be an issue Anticipated quantities – higher quantities equals lower cost per label

On-Site Printable Bar Code Products Many different methods, i.e. thermal transfer, ink jet, laser engraved, photo composed, etc. Timeframe – if have materials on hand, can get products instantly Anticipated quantities – smaller quantities may make sense

On-Site Printable Bar Code Products Personnel – who will run equipment? –Training –Maintenance Matching technology to substrate –Lasing on different materials Investment in equipment –Initial investment and ongoing costs

Pre-Printed RFID Tags Different types of tags –Not locked into one format, size or construction –Standard, hang tags, etc. Different inlays –Use inlay that works best for application Testing –Samples to test prior to investing –Prototypes –Pilot testing

Pre-Printed RFID Tags Data management –Association files, TID, etc. –Having the data managed for you Quality (performance) –Production process which assures performance expectations Custom printing –Colors and graphics –Two-sided registered printing

On-Site Printable RFID Tags Timeframe –How quickly are they needed? –How frequently are they needed? –Is information known ahead of time? Anticipated quantities –Is this a one-time thing or ongoing?

On-Site Printable RFID Tags Programming the tags –How to do it? –Who does it? Verification of good incoming inlays Verification of produced RFID label Inlay inventory

Benefits of Dual Technology Tag Minimal additional investment for bar code Not all locations may be able to support RFID infrastructure –Mobile assets Integrate bar code information into RFID tag Triple redundancy with RFID, bar code and human readable number

Transitioning from Bar Code to RFID Should you transition? –Has original objective changed? Keep it simple Make connections on back end using software (license plate approach)

Transitioning from Bar Code to RFID Consult an integrator –RF analysis and site survey Continue to use bar code information until new infrastructure is ready –Transition facility by facility

RFID Case Study Problem –High-volume producer and distributer of dairy products and fruit losing millions from theft and other factors each year. –Production stored in central freezer – thousands of crates sent through freezer on conveyor to outgoing trucks. –Inventory and dispatch was manual process.

RFID Case Study Solution –After bar code pilots didn’t work; company turned to RFID solution for identifying and counting every crate entering and leaving the freezer. –RFID tags put on top of product crates which are read as they enter the freezer on the conveyor.

RFID Case Study Solution –System automatically determines height of crate and RFID tag’s EPC to identify amount and type of product that is stored in database. –RFID tags manually removed before crates placed in trucks to be reused.

RFID Case Study Results –Database driven reports controls dispatch of products based on expiration dates. –More reliable and controlled dispatch of products, reducing loss from spoilage, theft and other causes. –Savings total millions annually.

Bar Code Case Study LensRental.com Problem –Manual entry of serial numbers to track nation’s largest rental inventory of cameras, lenses, etc. Stocks 8,000 copies of 700 different items Increased potential for errors Increased time for processing orders – 3 hours daily Sell every camera and lens after two years of rental use so high turnover of assets Some items very small need unobtrusive solution

Bar Code Case Study Solution –Tagging all assets with two-dimensional bar code tags containing unique serial number 2D bar code fits on smaller tag Serial number linked to all information they have on particular item in inventory –For rental transaction tag scanned and item pulled from inventory software When item returns scanned again to return to inventory

Bar Code Case Study Result –Greatly reduced time for order process making smoother rental transaction for customer. –Ensured accuracy with inspection and testing of equipment.

Thank you!