University Professors Find Empirical Evidence of RFID Benefits

Nov. 20, 2009
Two Bryant University professors have shared the results of a new study that reveals quantifiable supply chain improvements resulting from the use of RFID.

“Empirical Evidence of RFID Impacts on Supply Chain Performance” identifies measureable reductions in waste as well as labor and inventory costs and increases in efficiency, reliability, quality, responsiveness, operational flexibility and throughput.

The paper, co-written by Bryant University’s John K. Visich, associate professor of management, and Suhong Li, associate professor of computer information systems, appears in the latest issue of International Journal of Operations and Production Management. Basheer M. Khumawala of the University of Houston and Pedro Reyes of Baylor University also contributed to the study.

“This study will be especially useful for organizations proposing to introduce RFID technology into the supply chain,” says Visich. “For managers, the empirical evidence presented can help them identify implementation areas where RFID can have the greatest impact. The data can be used to build the business case for RFID and therefore better estimate ROI and the payback period.”