MHEDA Journal analyzes data collection technology.

Press Release Summary:



Third Quarter 2010 issue of The MHEDA Journal features article by Cynthia Bellian, senior marketing communications manager for The Kennedy Group, about the similarities and differences between bar codes and RFID tags. Key considerations for determining which is best include nature of processes being optimized, nature of supply chain environment, impact on human capital, improvement yields, need for data accuracy, need for tracking, service life, and budgets.



Original Press Release:



Bar Codes Or RFID Tags?



The MHEDA Journal analyzes which data collection technology fits the application.

Dewitt, NY - The Third Quarter 2010 issue of The MHEDA Journal (http://www.TheMhedaJournal.org), the leading online magazine for the forklift, conveyor, storage & handling, and general material handling equipment industries, features an article by Cynthia Bellian, senior marketing communications manager for The Kennedy Group, a manufacturer of identification technology based in Willoughby, Ohio, about the similarities and differences between bar codes and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

According to Bellian, each technology has its advantages and disadvantages. Key considerations for determining which is best include the nature of the processes being optimized, the nature of the supply chain environment, the impact on human capital, improvement yields, the need for data accuracy, the need for tracking, service life and budgets. She then goes on to compare each technology based on twelve points of comparison.

The primary advantages of bar codes are lower cost, longer service life and better understanding among users, while advantages of RFID include the ability for unit-level scanning, speed and distance of the scan. "Bar codes may be better suited for closed loop supply chains and process manufacturing where liquids and metals are part of the equation, since liquids and metals cause interference with certain radio frequencies," she writes. On the other hand, RFID "may be the preferred choice for a more complex supply chain that's not closed loop, with high-volume transactions because of its superior read rates."

For more details or to read the full article, visit the Third Quarter 2010 issue of The MHEDA Journal. The Third Quarter issue is the first to be showcased on a newly launched, redesigned website at www.TheMhedaJournal.org. The new look allows for more frequent updates and better reader interaction. The MHEDA Journal is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. For more information, contact Chris Powers, editor of The MHEDA Journal, (315) 445-2347, e-mail: chris@datakey.org.

About MHEDA

Founded in 1954, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education and networking. Through its member journals (www.TheMhedaJournal.org), e-magazines, newsletters and industry wiki (www.wikimheda.org), MHEDA connects the manufacturers of storage and handling, lift trucks and conveyor equipment and distribution leaders for the purpose of delivering optimal solutions to the users of those products. MHEDA publications are the industry's voice for all matters related to the latest technology and the most up-to-date processes spanning the movement and storage of all materials. A 501(c)3 organization, MHEDA members span all of North America.

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