Main difficulties during RFID implementation: an exploratory factor analysis approach

ABSTRACT

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) systems are meant to increase accuracy and velocity in objects identification, supporting Industry 4.0. However, there are challenges that need to be faced. This paper aims to identify and analyse the main difficulties regarding RFID systems implementation. We combined both systematic literature review and survey methods with ninety RFID experts. Data was analysed through Exploratory Factor Analysis. Empirical evidences have led to three main factors explaining most of the variance: operational difficulties, planning difficulties and employee difficulties. This corroborates the literature with recent data sets and provides quantitative analysis for prioritisation during RFID implementation. Professionals can use these research results as a guide to RFID systems implementation to create preventive actions during implementation initiatives. In the context of the Internet of Things and Fourth Industrial Revolution, RFID is considered an emerging topic nowadays, but no similar studies exist in the scientific literature.

KEYWORDS:

• RFID systems
• implementation difficulties
• survey
• exploratory factor analysis

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Espaço da Escrita – Coordenadoria Geral da Universidade – for the language services provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Eduardo de Araujo Moretti holds B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at University of Campinas (UNICAMP). He has experience in Production Engineering, with emphasis on Production Management.

Rosley Anholon is currently Professor of the School of Mechanical Engineering – University of Campinas – experienced in Quality Management, Production Systems and Entrepreneurship. He holds B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD at University of Campinas (UNICAMP).

Izabela Simon Rampasso holds B.Sc. in Economic Sciences at Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. She holds M.Sc. at School of Mechanical Engineering – University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Currently, she is a PhD candidate of the School of Mechanical Engineering – University of Campinas (UNICAMP).

Dirceu Silva has experience in Administration and Education, with emphasis on quantitative methods for numerical data analysis and multivariate statistical analysis. He holds a B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, a M.Sc. in Physics and a PhD in Education at University of São Paulo (USP). Currently, he is Professor at University of Campinas (UNICAMP).

Luis Antonio Santa-Eulalia is currently Professor of the Université de Sherbrooke, École de Gestion, Canada – experienced in Operations Management. He holds B.Sc. at Federal University of São Carlos, M.Sc. at São Paulo University and PhD at Université Laval. He is co-director of the IntelliLab.org research group; researcher at the PRISME research centre. He is also a researcher of the Pan-Canadian VCO (NSERC Strategic Nework on Value Chain Optimization).

Paulo Sérgio de Arruda Ignácio holds B.Sc. in Production Engineering at the Methodist University of Piracicaba, a M.Sc. in Quality Management at Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Scientific Computation (UNICAMP) and PhD in Civil Engineering (UNICAMP). Currently, he is Professor and Associate Coordinator of the Production Engineering Course of the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FCA), at University of Campinas (UNICAMP).