A framework for RFID applications in product lifecycle management

Abstract

This study introduces an overall framework for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications in product lifecycle management (PLM). Recently, with emerging technologies related to product identification and wireless mobile tele-communication, PLM provides a new environment that enables lifecycle actors to gather and analyse product lifecycle information, and make efficient decisions without spatial and temporal constraints. However, previous research has paid little attention to how to apply the emerging technologies into PLM. To cope with this limitation, in the current study, RFID applications in PLM are dealt with from technical and business viewpoints. To this end, an overall framework for RFID applications in PLM is proposed. It contains the definition of a product embedded information device (PEID) that uses RFID technology, its specification and operation scenarios for each application. Furthermore, application issues and their overall procedures are introduced for each lifecycle phase.

Keywords:

• RFID
• PLM
• product identification technologies
• product embedded information device

Acknowledgements

The work reported in this paper was based on the PROMISE project (FP & IP 507100 and IMS 01008) that is currently under development (www.promise.no; www.promise-plm.com). Therefore, we wish to express our deep gratitude to all PROMISE partners.