Audio and video discs stick RFID tags to improve supply chain efficiency
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Handleman (HDL) is one of the three major domestic audio-visual entertainment and service distributors in the United States. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, it is a seller of video game and music products, including audio, video, hardcover, paperback, and personal computer software; customers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Mr. Khaled Haram, CIO of Handleman, said, “We have the ability to transform any commodity-based service into a high-quality value-added service by applying technology, speed and intelligence to the service. Handleman has developed a series of RFID technology applications. system to acquire and process audiovisual product information.
Before Walmart issued the RFID mandatory labeling instruction, Handleman had already started to attach RFID labels to audio and video products, and participated in the anti-counterfeiting test of CD/DVD and other commodities based on RFID technology initiated by the British government. More recently, the company has begun using RFID technology to expand and sell its unique systems and programs. This includes incorporating integrated RFID tags into its high-speed distribution facility.
Now, Handleman has installed an RFID-encoded printer and reader at one of its distribution centers in Indianapolis, which will automatically print CDs, console video games, and some promotional items that come off the carousel ( bundling, stacking, etc.) for marking.
The system uses the RFIDTagManager software of epcSolutions, which can automatically encode the unique ID in the RFID tag and associate it with the Universal Product Code (UPC) of the same series. The company’s Electronic Resource Planning (ERP) system for processing purchase orders is integrated with the Program Logic Controller on the fly.
Once the AV merchandise is on the shelf, the system can generate appropriate item associations (ASNs) for each retailer specification—including each item’s unique ID number, or Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), associated UPC number, and The item number on each occasion and the UPC code and GTIN of the occasion. To provide suppliers and retailers with visibility into items along the supply chain process, Handleman has developed an Internet-based portal where its customers can check the status of their shipments.
Separately, Handleman is training employees to use handheld RFID readers to take inventory of merchandise in retail stores. Video stores and distributors can share information and use the same ASN. Handlema suppliers can now be notified when items are expected to arrive in stores. Through RFID technology, Handleman not only enhances the transparency of the supply chain operation process, but also greatly improves the efficiency of management work. This efficiency is especially important during busy periods of business.
Handleman is currently capable of automatically marking RFID tags for 180 to 200 items per minute. Handleman can quickly scale capacity, ensuring the correct label is applied to the correct box and the label is functioning properly.
Handleman has integrated error checking capabilities on its operating system. If the UPC code cannot be matched with the associated RFID code, the box or item will be pinned. If a damaged RFID tag is read, its corresponding box or item will be detected. If there is a problem with the barcode, the corresponding box or item can also be detected. The detected item or box will be shipped to a location where staff can check and correct the error. This ensures that errors are not propagated all the time.
Handleman’s investment in RFID will not only provide AV publishers and retailers with a more flexible and transparent service, but also provide consumer goods companies with a way to expedite product availability at retailers and improve visibility of items in the supply chain. In addition, the use of RFID technology will greatly reduce the time for retail stores to check inventory, and accurate inventory statistics can be obtained within a few hours through a handheld reader.
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