RFID AND WMS warehouse management application

Combining customer project needs and practical application experience in RFID warehousing WMS systems, it can be concluded that a high-quality warehouse management system lies in optimal warehousing resource allocation, precise warehouse operation control, and real-time and effective transparent transmission of warehousing data flow. , Therefore, the construction of the RFID+WMS warehouse management information system platform will mainly focus on six aspects of demand, which are briefly explained below.

1.2.1 Visualized inbound and outbound management

Visualized inbound and outbound management mainly covers the inbound and outbound delivery of goods (pallets). The RFID+WMS warehouse management system should be able to realize the visual management of real-time warehouse data in the management center. Really synchronize physical flow and data flow.

1.2.2 Electronic pallet and storage location management

The electronicization of pallets and storage locations in RFID+WMS warehouse management applications is the basis for realizing visual and intelligent warehouse management. The goods in the warehouse are transferred and Stored in units of pallets. By realizing the electronic pallet, the identity of each pallet can be realized, and the storage and transfer location can be tracked in real time, combined with electronic (digital) storage location management. , which can provide the necessary data basis for visual warehouse management.

By dividing the physical space of the warehouse into regions, each physical space is assigned a label to effectively locate the goods in the warehouse and quickly retrieve them.

1.2.3 Real-time inventory

By using a handheld machine (or mobile inventory machine), the physical objects on site are scanned and identified, physical information is generated, compared with ERP data, and an inventory information table is produced to ensure that accounts and objects are consistent.

1.2.4 Goods search

When you need to find a certain cargo, enter the relevant cargo information into the handheld device and scan the cargo within a certain range. When the cargo is scanned, the RFID+WMS warehouse management system will issue a prompt sound to facilitate the quick finding of the cargo.

1.2.5 Related system (MES/WCS/SAP) interface

The warehouse management system should not be an independent system. The relevant data should be able to interact in a timely manner with the company's existing production management (MES), EPR (SAP), customer system (WCS) and other related systems through certain interfaces to meet the needs of The actual management needs of the enterprise.

1.2.6 Unify information flow and physical flow

Traditional warehousing management, due to limitations of technical conditions, inevitably faces real-time data lag and cannot accurately reflect warehousing inventory and logistics conditions in real time, resulting in a serious disconnect between information flow and physical logistics. Moreover, manual identification of cargo information is not only inefficient and error-prone, but also requires a large workload. The ultimate goal of building an RFID+WMS warehousing management system is to introduce effective technical means to ultimately realize the information flow and physical flow in enterprise warehousing management. Unification to achieve real-time visual warehousing and Logistics Management.

2. Technical background

2.1 Introduction to RFID technology

RFID is a new type of information technology that can realize non-contact and rapid transmission of data and information. It has been widely used in RFID manufacturing, RFID anti-counterfeiting traceability, RFID logistics and supply chain management and other fields. It has brought great technological innovation to these fields, especially in the field of RFID warehousing and logistics. Because of the characteristics of the technology, it will be extremely Greatly improve the collection speed of logistics information and the efficiency of logistics operations.

2.2 Technical advantages

The biggest feature of RFID technology is non-contact high-speed identification. It communicates wirelessly. RF tags can be read without exposing electrical contacts. Therefore, even if items with such RF tags are placed inside packaging materials, they can be identified. RFID The identification system can also identify multiple radio frequency tags and high-speed moving radio frequency tags at the same time, which can achieve high efficiency in the item circulation process. The specific advantages are as follows:

Contactless reading and writing

As long as the reader of the RFID system can read the information directly into the database without contact, this has a great advantage over the original entry of information by a special document clerk, and various information about the logistics processing status can be written into the tag. This saves a lot of information collection time for the next stage of the process.

Reading multiple tags at the same time

The RFID Reader can read multiple RFID tags at one time, and transmit the data from the reader to the computer network system at one time. The speed of data collection and acceptance of items is ten times faster than the speed of scanning barcodes one by one. Times, it is much faster than the traditional method of collecting data using document entry and checking the name of the goods to accept the items. Through the multi-readability of this RFID reader, efficient and rapid circulation of items can be achieved.

Good penetration

Items affixed with RFID radio frequency tags can be normally recognized by readers if the packaging materials are non-metallic or non-transparent materials such as paper, wood and plastic. It has good penetrability, so there is no need to remove the items from the It can be identified quickly and conveniently by taking it out of the packaging material.

Tag storage data capacity is large

The data stored in RFID radio frequency tags is much larger than that of barcodes. The data stored in barcode technology can only represent the type of item, but cannot express the individual items of each type. However, RFID radio frequency tags have a large storage capacity and can store detailed descriptions of items. information.

Strong ability to adapt to the environment

If the paper is dirty, you may not be able to see the words written on the paper. The barcode scanner cannot scan the barcode information in a dark environment. The magnetic card cannot be swiped without magnetism. However, RFID technology has strong environmental adaptability. RFID radio frequency tags have strong anti-pollution properties against water, oil, drugs and other substances and strong immunity to light. In dirty or dark environments, the information in the radio frequency tags can still be easily collected. digital information.

Labels are reusable

The data stored in RFID is electronic data, and the carrier for storing data is an electronic chip. This chip has a repeated writing function and can be reused, reducing the one-time investment cost of the project.

Miniaturization and diversification of label shapes

Reading RFID radio frequency tags is not limited by size and shape. It does not need to match the fixed size and printing quality of the paper for reading accuracy. This has a greater advantage than the application of barcode technology on items that needs to be combined with the shape and size of the item. . In addition, the miniaturization of RFID radio frequency tags can be more flexibly used in production lines to control product production.

System and data security of RFID technology

Transferring product data from the central computer to the workpiece will provide security for the system, avoid reading data directly from the system and greatly improve the security of the system, and use encryption methods to protect the data in the RFID tag. It is guaranteed that the data will not be read

2.3 The significance of RFID+WMS warehouse management

After years of development, RFID technology has made great progress at home and abroad, both in terms of technology itself and application level. Especially in the field of logistics and warehousing, due to its perfect standards, high technology and application maturity, significant effect on improving the level of warehousing and logistics management, and the gradual reduction of RFID application costs, it is becoming one of the standard application technologies for modern efficient warehousing and logistics. At the same time, RFID technology is also one of the key technologies in the development of modern Internet of Things technology. In recent years, with the support and vigorous promotion of national policies, it is developing rapidly. The Internet of Things has made great progress in many fields including manufacturing. And gradually become the inevitable choice to solve the information management problems in the production, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics and other aspects of the enterprise.

The RFID Warehouse Management System (WMS) solution uses RFID technology as the key technology in the warehouse management system, which can significantly improve the technical level of warehouse and logistics management, and companies can obtain good returns on investment. For the present, the project has demonstration significance and will be used in the future. It can also effectively avoid and reduce duplication of investment in enterprise information upgrades.

3. RFID+WMS warehouse management system solution

3.1 RFID+WMS warehouse management solution design principles

Applicable to actual effects, personalized application

Combined with the actual conditions of different warehouses and on the premise of grasping the general direction, the design of the RFID+WMS warehouse management plan will fully consider factors such as the site, operation mode, management mode, and actual warehousing requirements, so as to ensure that the actual application effect is applicable. Avoid unnecessary functional design. In particular, the development of RFID+WMS warehouse management software system should fully meet the actual management needs of the warehouse and achieve personalized application to avoid incompatibility and impracticality.

Management mode can be copied

The design of the RFID+WMS warehouse management system will focus on several major main lines in warehouse management, but the needs for future warehouse expansion and expansion can still be fully considered. The RFID+WMS warehouse management model should be easily copied and defined, and can quickly adapt to the improvement of management needs of other warehouse areas in the future.

Investment costs are controllable

On the basis of meeting management needs, investment costs should also become a key consideration. Maximize investment efficiency. It is necessary to avoid unnecessary waste of investment, avoid duplication of investment in the future, and avoid high investment that does not significantly improve management efficiency, so that the construction cost of the RFID+WMS warehouse management system can be controlled.

Application risks are controllable

The design of RFID+WMS warehouse management system should ensure that application risks are controllable. Application risks mainly include new technologies and new management models, as well as management risks brought about by changes to existing management models. The existing management model, operating procedures, personnel quality, informatization level, etc. should be fully studied, and while improving operational efficiency and management effectiveness, try to achieve a gradual and smooth transition. Avoid the negative impact of changes in management methods on business operations.

Support future expansion

The RFID+WMS warehouse management system should fully consider future management development needs in terms of equipment configuration, technology application, and software system. When management needs increase in the future, it should be able to support future system function expansion and smooth transition.

3.2 RFID+WMS warehouse management system architecture

RFID+WMS warehouse management application

Schematic diagram of RFID+WMS warehouse management system architecture

Warehouse physical layer:

RFID+WMS warehouse management The physical layer of the warehouse includes warehouses, storage locations, pallets, forklifts, goods, on-site operations, etc. On-site operations include goods entry, exit, inventory, sorting, allocation, splitting, warehouse transfer, etc. All valid storage locations (storage areas) and pallets in the warehouse are required to be equipped with RFID electronic tags to achieve refined management of pallets in a single storage location (storage area).

Collection and interaction layer:

Contains various on-site data collection and user interaction equipment, including RFID handheld terminals, RFID fixed readers, etc. Mainly provides user operation guidance, on-site data collection, data entry, etc. Provide real-time on-site data collection and interactive operation guidance for the RFID+WMS warehouse management system.

RFID data service layer:

Manage RFID equipment and related equipment in the RFID+WMS warehouse management system, collect, cache, and filter collected data, and control the collection and distribution of instructions and related data. The data service layer runs on the system server as a system software service, providing data services for RFID data and related control instructions in the user application layer and data collection interaction layer.

Enterprise application layer:

Provide computer software user management interactive interface to warehouse dispatch management center and remote management center, and also provide report and data query services. The RFID+WMS warehouse management center's planning, management control, and data monitoring of warehouses and goods are all provided through the enterprise application layer.

Installing electronic tags in each cargo space (no shelves can be buried underground) can physically divide separate areas to uniquely identify the identity of the cargo space. Install a pallet electronic label on each pallet to uniquely identify each pallet. Each single item of goods can be equipped with an electronic tag to identify the identity of the goods. Each driver carries an electronic tag to identify the driver (optional). Install RFID fixed readers at the door/channel of each warehouse, and install detection antennas on both sides of the door or channel to automatically detect incoming and outgoing pallets and driver identities. According to the on-site terrain layout, it can assist infrared, vehicle detectors, reader-writer pairing, etc. to realize vehicle entry and exit status detection.

3.5.1 Goods warehousing process

RFID+WMS warehouse management application

1. When goods are purchased and received or finished products are put into storage, an electronic label is made. The label is written with enterprise-defined information such as the purchasing unit, specifications and models, and is pasted on the goods to complete the initialization of the goods information. At the same time, a pallet electronic label is installed on the pallet to identify a specific pallet information;

2. After entering the warehouse, the forklift tranSports the goods through the warehouse door. The reader installed on the warehouse door automatically collects the RFID tag information on the goods and the electronic tag information on the pallet, and reads the information and sends it directly to the data center, and realizes the goods information in the background. Binding with the pallet, completes the warehousing scan and binding, realizes automatic scanning and automatic binding, and automatically completes the warehousing operation without manual intervention;

3. The forklift continues to transport the cargo pallets to the free shelves. The shelves are equipped with shelf RFID electronic tags. During the shelving process, the forklift RFID reader will read the pallet tags and rack tags, and read the information directly. Send it to the data center, and the background automatically completes the binding of the pallet information and the rack information, that is, completing the shelving operation of all the goods on the pallet, achieving accurate management down to the shelf.

3.5.2 Goods moving process

RFID+WMS warehouse management application

During the warehouse moving operation, the forklift client can directly initiate the warehouse moving operation. The forklift will directly remove the pallet that needs to be moved. When the forklift collection system reads the cargo pallet label information, RFID+WMS

The warehouse management system automatically unbinds the pallet information and the previously bound rack information. When the forklift takes the goods to the new rack and completes the process of putting them on the shelf, the forklift reads the RFID+WMS warehouse management system and reads the new rack information and uploads it to the data center. The system completes the binding of the new rack. , and update inventory in real time.

3.5.3 Goods delivery process

RFID+WMS warehouse management application

1. When leaving the warehouse, the forklift first removes the cargo pallet from the material rack. The forklift reading system reads the pallet information and sends it directly to the data center. The RFID+WMS warehouse management background system completes the verification of the outbound information. If it is correct, After completing the removal operation, the RFID+WMS warehouse management system automatically unbinds the pallet information and the rack information; if it is incorrect, it will issue an early warning;

2. After the goods are removed from the shelves successfully, the forklift transports the goods through the warehouse door. The reader installed on the warehouse door automatically collects the RFID tags and pallet tags on the goods, and reads the information and sends it directly to the data center, RFID+WMS warehouse management background. The data center completes the verification of cargo labels and pallet labels. If correct, the outbound operation is completed. The RFID+WMS warehouse management system automatically updates the inventory. If it is incorrect, an early warning is issued.