M&S tests RFID delivery for suppliers
Retailer fast tracks product delivery
Marks & Spencer is extending use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in its food supply chain to fast-track the receipt of products from suppliers.
The retailer has started trials of a delivery system for suppliers that already have an RFID infrastructure in place, to improve its stock accuracy.
M&S head of food supply chain and logistics Ian Mumby says if suppliers can scan information using RFID as stock leaves their production centre, the firm can be 100 per cent certain the dispatched stock is accurate.
‘The most advanced of our suppliers have already installed RFID readers as part of their production processes,’ he said.
‘If a supplier can provide information on an RFID tag confirming it has dispatched the correct stock, then instead of scanning the stack of pallets we can just scan the whole tray once and fast-track the delivery.’
Mumby says the system will increase efficiency at depots and prevent the over- or under-supply of stock.
‘RFID has presented a great opportunity to increase speed, accuracy and visibility in our supply chain,’ he said. ‘The next generation is using the technology to benefit the suppliers as well.’
M&S started tagging trays and pallets in 2002, working with BT and Intellident to develop trials. It uses rewriteable 13.56MHz tags and has tagged more than five million trays.
‘Making a business case for asset management is easier as it is simpler to implement, because M&S and its suppliers operate in a closed loop system,’ said Gartner managing vice president John Davison.
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