Optimization of RFID System Coverage in a Manufacturing Environment

<p>This paper compiles existing ideas, theories, and experiments across multiple disciplines to provide guidance for a company looking to implement an optimal RFID system in their production facility. The desire is to maximize the information received by the system while minimizing the cost. Four potential layouts of RFID antennas, two with overlapping antenna coverage and two with non-overlapping layouts, are first analyzed to understand the special coverage and the number of antennas required. The value of information is then quantified to determine whether higher coverage layouts are worth the additional costs associated with the higher number of antennas required. It was found that the non-overlapping network of antennas in a hexagonal lattice formation, which covers 90.7% of the production floor area, provides the highest amount of benefit when considering the system’s implementation costs. However, some companies prefer or even require a system that provides perfect information throughout the production process, so implementing an overlapping network may be considered optimal for some companies, even with the higher up front costs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS in Industrial Engineering

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Malatesta, Scott D

Contributors dc:contributor

• Tali Freed

• RFID
• Optimization
• Coverage
• Manufacturing
• Industrial Engineering
• Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering

Identifier

10.15368/theses.2016.36

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.calpoly.edu:theses-2760