Successful case of Zhongchuang logistics RFID warehouse management system
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1. Project background
RFID technology in the enterpriseInternal logisticsThe application of RFID is getting more and more attention, and the person in charge of the enterprise has gradually realized that the transparency of supply chain logistics management and inventory turnover rate can be improved through RFID technology, effectively reducing the loss of stocks, and improving the logistics efficiency of the enterprise. The effect of RFID applied in enterprise logistics management is reflected in two points: 1. Fast, fast logistics efficiency, quick delivery of goods, and improve logistics operation efficiency; 2. Accurate, accurate data, accurate collection of goods circulation data in all aspects of logistics management .
Zhongchuang Logistics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Zhongchuang Logistics), whose business mainly covers freight forwarding, station service, ship agency, coastal transportation, project logistics and other fields, aims to build a comprehensive network covering major ports along the coast and inland of China. logistic company. Zhongchuang Logistics has an IT R&D team proficient in logistics business, and has independently developed a comprehensive logistics management platform CML E-Platform with independent intellectual property rights. According to the current status of warehouse management and the feasibility study of RFID technology in logistics management , Proposed to realize the application of RFID system in WMS, the purpose is to improve the advancement and efficiency of logistics management.
Shanghai Shijia Intelligent System Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Shanghai Shijia), combined with the current RFID technology and based on the business needs of Zhongchuang logistics warehouse management, put forward an equipment configuration plan for the application of RFID technology in warehouse management.This plan adoptsRFID electronic labelForklifts, containers and pallets are identified, and advanced RFID data collection methods are integrated into the WMS system to realize the informatization and modernization of enterprise logistics management. In this way, improve the level of enterprise logistics management and management efficiency, and reduce the cost of enterprise management.
2. Introduction to RFID technology
Radio Frequency Identification(Radio Frequency Identification, abbreviation RFID), commonly known as electronic tags, is widely used in fields such as assets, personnel, supply chain, and tool management. Radio frequency identification is a non-contact automatic identification technology. It automatically identifies target objects and obtains relevant data through radio frequency signals. The identification work does not require manual intervention and can work in various harsh environments. UHF RFID technology can identify high-speed moving objects from a long distance, and can identify multiple tags at the same time, which is quick and convenient to operate.
The basic RFID application system consists of three parts: Tag: consists of coupling elements and chips, each tag has a unique electronic code, attached to the object to identify the target object; Reader: read (sometimes The device that can also write tag information can be designed as a handheld or fixed type; Middleware (MiddleWare): plays an intermediary role between the RFID tag and the application system, and is the data inflow and outflow between the application system and the reader Software. The basic RFID application system composition, as shown in the figure:
Figure 1: Basic RFID application system composition
Comparing radio frequency identification technology with barcode technology, radio frequency identification has many advantages, such as long identification distance, no need for visual visibility of tags during identification, ability to use in harsh environments, update content, and ability to read multiple tags in batches , Can identify high-speed moving objects, large amount of information, not easy to imitate, etc.
Radio frequency identification technology is considered to be one of the most promising information technologies in the 21st century. From the current technological development, the RFID field is in the development of the Internet of Things.The forefront of the exhibition is also one of the basic technologies to realize the Internet of Things. RFID technology has a wide range of applications and a high degree of automation, and is gradually internationalized and popularized, such as personnel access management, vehicle management, asset management, production process management, logistics management, cargo tracking management, and so on. The core of its technology is to add RFID tags to make people, vehicles, confidential media or goods become targets that can be identified by the system through artificial identification methods. Through the management of targets and related information, high efficiency, The purpose of scientific management.
3. System Architecture
According to the WMS RFID management requirements of Zhongchuang Logistics, the target system will be composed of three subsystems: smart RFID handset system, smart RFID vehicle terminal system, smart RFID identification channel terminal system, middleware/interface system, and WiFi/LAN network together to form RFID storage Terminal management system. That is, smart RFID handheld system, smart RFID vehicle terminal system, smart RFID identification channel terminal system, middleware/interface system, access and operate WMS system database through WiFi/LAN network to realize the intercommunication and sharing of data required for warehouse management. The network topology diagram is as follows:
Figure 2: Hardware network topology diagram
4. System solution
Zhongchuang Logistics applies RFID technology to its warehouse management, focusing on solving two problems: standardize the warehouse management process and improve the efficiency of warehousing and exit. Specifically, the following management objectives must be achieved:
l Warehouse management of pallets, forklifts and containers identified by RFID tags;
l When the goods are received and coded, the RFID tag of the pallet is associated with the logistics information of the loaded goods;
l Through the smart RFID handheld machine, realize the code wheel, the receipt and delivery confirmation, and the inventory check;
l Intelligent RFID vehicle-mounted terminal system, which realizes efficient identification and inspection of storage, storage, loading and other links;
l Through the intelligent RFID identification channel terminal system, it realizes the counting, checking and automatic updating of inventory.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned WMS management goals, this program focuses on how to use RFID equipment in logistics management from two aspects: label selection and equipment selection, so as to better utilize the technical advantages of RFID.
4.1. Management process and equipment selection
4.1.1. Labeling and labeling
There are three main types of RFID tags that Zhongchuang Logistics needs to use: pallet/cargo tags, container special tags, and forklift tags.
l Pallet label
There are various types of logistics pallets with different shapes, and the materials are mostly wood and plastic. Paper self-adhesive RFID logistics tags can be used.
There are two label printing methods: one is to print the bar code through the electronic label printer and write the basic information of the label at the same time, this method is simple to implement but the equipment cost is higher; the other is to use the existing bar code printer to print the bar code and other information first, then use the bar code Scanning gun + desktop reader (product model: SC-3200B) or smart handset (product model: SC-6700) reads the barcode and writes the information into the EPC storage area of the electronic label.
The general form of the paper self-adhesive RFID logistics label can be seen in the figure below:
The labeling method can be selected according to the characteristics of the labeling object. Pallet types can choose the pasting method. For turnover pallets, the pre-printed labels must be pasted on the two ends of the pallets with the same information before receiving the goods; for irregularly shaped goods such as pallets, you can choose to hang labels or paste, etc. Method, paste the pre-printed label on the specific position of the goods when receiving the goods.
l Container label
The container label is specially made according to the needs of the packing process of Zhongchuang Logistics.It is composed of backplane, RFID tag and photoelectric reflector.The back plate can be attached to the inside of the container door by magnetic attraction or hooks, etc. The RFID tag is used to identify the container to be loaded, and the photoelectric reflector is used for the photoelectric sensor on the forklift.Provides a photoelectric trigger signal, which is the tag reading function that can be triggered by the forklift reader when entering the container to read the container tag to determine whether the packing is correct. The label printing method is the same as the tray label printing method.
The schematic form of the container label can be seen in the figure below:
l Forklift label
Forklift tags are installed on specific locations of forklifts, and anti-metal tags are required. Adopt the fixed installation method, the label can be directly fixed with screws or 3M adhesive paste on the forklift. The forklift number and other information can be written in advance through the desktop card issuer (product model: SR-3200B). The form of the forklift label can be seen in the figure below:
4.1.2. Warehousing
The business operations completed with RFID equipment in the warehousing link include: receiving the code tray and completing the information association between the goods and the pallet, and the forklift and pallet warehousing verification and warehousing confirmation.
1. Receiving code plate
The association between the pallet and the goods is completed during the operation of the code tray. When receiving the code plate, the receiver randomly picks a pallet and places the goods on the pallet. At the same time, enter or scan the logistics number of the goods with an RFID handheld device (recommended model: SR-6700) for each goods on the pallet, and then use it The handheld device reads the RFID tag of the pallet to realize the association between the pallet and the loaded goods, and uploads it to the management system. When loose parts and irregular goods cannot be loaded into pallets, the operation method is similar.
2. Warehousing confirmation
When entering the warehouse, the forklift reads the RFID tag of the forklifted pallet through the smart RFID vehicle terminal (Note: the smart RFID vehicle terminal is composed of an RFID forklift read-write device and a vehicle computer terminal, and the two communicate and interact through the serial port). , The vehicle terminal obtains the location information that should be placed from the WMS system through the WiFi wireless network and displays it on the vehicle terminal screen; the forklift passes through the intelligent RFID identification channel at the entrance of the warehouse gate (customized on demand, in the form of a gantry, plus photoelectric sensor , When the forklift passes through, the tag reading is triggered to prevent misreading of tags around the site), the warehouse monitoring terminal will automatically read the forklift and pallet tag information, combined with the details of the current warehousing task list, and display its warehousing task list in real time At the same time, compare and verify the warehousing task list and the read pallet label information, and give an alarm when abnormal. When warehousing is normal, upload the forklift and pallet label information and the passage time to the WMS system, and update the inventory information.
When the forklift moves the pallet to the designated cargo location, the warehousing is completed after confirming that the cargo location is correct through the on-board read-write terminal.
4.1.3. Delivery
1. Picking
When leaving the warehouse, the forklift smart RFID vehicle terminal obtains the outbound task list from the WMS system through the WiFi wireless network, and reads the pallet RFID tag after picking up the pallet to confirm whether it is the pallet that will be out of the warehouse.
2. Outbound confirmation
When the forklift passes through the intelligent RFID identification channel at the warehouse gate exit (customized on demand, using gantry form, plus photoelectric sensor, the forklift triggers to read tags when it passes to prevent misreading of tags around the site), the outbound monitoring terminal will automatically read The taken forklift and pallet label information, combined with the details of the current outbound task list, displays the inbound status of the outbound task list in real time; at the same time, compare and verify the outbound task list and the read pallet label information, and give an alarm when abnormal. When the warehouse is normal, upload the forklift and pallet label information and the passage time to the WMS system, and update the inventory information.
3. Packing
Before the forklift enters the container, the intelligent RFID vehicle-mounted terminal of the forklift reads the container tags on both sides of the container door to confirm whether it is the container to be loaded. Alarm when abnormal, and when correct, upload the forklift and pallet label information and the packing time to the WMS system to complete the packing.
Since there is a working condition where the loading and unloading workers move the goods into the container instead of the forklift directly entering the container, the warehouse tally needs to use the RFID handheld machine to confirm the operation before and after the packing.
4.1.4. Move library
When moving in the warehouse, the forklift intelligent RFID vehicle-mounted terminal obtains the moving task list from the WMS system through the WiFi wireless network, and reads the RFID tag of the pallet after picking up the pallet to confirm whether it is the pallet to be moved. An alarm is issued when it is abnormal. When it is correct, after moving the pallet to the correct position, upload the forklift and pallet label information and the time when the warehouse is moved to the WMS system, and complete the warehouse move confirmation.
4.1.5. Inventory (suspended)
According to the inventory task list in the WMS system, the smart handset (product model: SR-6700) is used to obtain the inventory task and read the RFID tag information of the entire pallet or the goods, and then send the read tag information to the The ERP system completed the inventory operation.
? Special Note:
In the above logistics process, for goods that cannot be loaded and unloaded on pallets, or when the RFID forklift read-write device cannot read the goods tags, smart RFID handhelds are used as a substitute means to realize the logistics process management in and out of the warehouse.
4.2. System features and implementation benefits
System Features:
Use RFID tags to identify pallets, containers, and forklifts as the basic units of logistics process management to realize automatic data collection;
Integrated application of multiple data collection methods, through wired/wireless communication methods, to realize data collection and upload by smart RFID identification channels, smart RFID handsets, smart RFID forklift reading and writing devices, barcode label printers and other reading and writing devices;
Complete warehousing management process, covering warehousing, outgoing, inventory, inventory management, etc.;
Accurate inventory management, automatic correction of inventory in and out of the warehouse, and timely warning of illegal in and out of the warehouse.
Implementation benefits:
Complete cargo logistics process management function, timely alarm for errors in and out of the warehouse, and greatly improved the ability of real-time dynamic management of cargo;
Real-time management, fast operation, detailed records, and complete management links.
Improve the accuracy rate of warehouse entry and exit, making inventory counting more efficient;
The real-time data collection and recording of the whole process, through the centralized management of information, achieves information sharing, reduces labor links, and saves time; through statistics, analysis and processing of data, various data required for management are provided, and a reliable basis is provided for decision makers.
The flexible and easy-to-use RFID middleware technology can easily expand the RFID data collection method in the existing management system, and fully protect the existing investment of the enterprise.
5. Introduction of main equipment
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