RFID in Manufacturing

Dr. Ivantysynova investigates how radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology can contribute to the optimization of production processes. To this end, she presents case studies at six German manufacturing enterprises in which she explores possible RFID scenarios. Based on the case studies, she evaluates seven use cases for RFID. In some of these use cases, bar codes are to be replaced, while other use cases are enabled by RFID technology. Moreover she evaluates which challenges the manufacturer has to face when applying RFID, also dealing with the question of how RFID can be embedded into an existing IT infrastructure. Additionally, the author presents a model for evaluating costs and benefits of an RFID rollout especially concerning the intangible, non-quantifiable aspects of such an investment. Dr. Ivantysynova also looks beyond intra- enterprise applications of RFID in manufacturing and presents important determinants of adopting RFID in supply chains, taking the automotive as an example.