Challenges with Barcodes
Radio frequency identification is referred to as a technology that can encode digital data into RFID tags rather smart labels. The labels are read by the reader using radio waves. RFID is similar to barcodes scanning. The nominated organization for which the project plan is implemented is “Nature Herbal Retail Store”. Nature Herbal is an Australia based retail store that sales herbal products. The manufacturer of the herbal products is also the company itself (Gunduz and Almuajebh 2020). The company sales herbal tea, herbal cosmetics and herbal spices. All the items are sold as packaged products. Barcodes labels have been one of the standards in retail stores over 32 years. Alike other retail store, this company also has barcodes scanning technology.
The natural Herbal retail, herbal products manufacturing company requires efficiency, durability and greater security. Through efficient the company would be able to scan multiple numbers of items at a time. Through durability, it can handle exposure of the packaged products to rain as well as sun. With high level security the information stored inside the tags cannot be read by any unauthorized associate.
Barcode is comprised of series of parallel black colour bars that represents identification information. With the use of optical device such as scanner, the barcodes are read. By checking the width of the bars, the information store within the barcodes is decoded. In these days there are many smartphones available those can read the barcodes (Tzitzis et al., 2020). Barcode scanner need a line of sight for scanning individual code. The barcodes do not have any read/write capacity. It cannot event include any additional information. It only contains the products and manufacturer. Traditional barcodes are labour intensive and require individual scanning.
For reading the barcodes, the scanner needs to be very close, not more than 15 ft. The traditional barcodes do not have adequate security. thus, it can be very easily reproduced. Barcodes can be damaged very easily. If the barcode is somewhere found damaged then there will be not alternative way to read the product. The staffs were facing major challenges due to these demerits of barcodes (Moon et al. 2018). In order to overcome these challenges, the management of Nature Herbal has decided to implement The RFID tags to ensure many codes are read at a time.
Barcode scanning requires beam of light for reading the black-white line barcodes. The scanner holds a sensor that can create signals as well as decoder. It transmits the signals into text and sent it to the database. For Natural Herbal company, RFID tags implementation is determined as the most successful one. This RFID tags are beneficial for supply chain and inventory management and asset tracking (Naranje and Swarnalatha 2019). The RFID tags are comprised of an antenna and an integrated circuit. It has been analyzed that, using this system the order tracking process will become easier.
The scope of the project is to implement RFID process within the retail process of Natural Herbal company. The four primary elements to be included to the system include- RFID tags, Reader hardware, supporting software and testing and certification (Dina, Sayedb and Yua 2019). The total time estimated for the implementation of this system is 4 months. The total budget estimated for the system implementation is $150,000.
Benefits of RFID
The aim of the project is to fulfil three technical requirements of Natural Herbals retail store in terms of packaged products tracking, inventory management and validation.
The project objectives are as follows-
- To provide better inventory and supply chain visibility
- To reach customers requirements and keep information highly secured from various unwanted access
- To increase business efficiency by reducing operational time and cost both
The project deliverables are presented here-
WBS |
Task Name |
0 |
Implementation of RFID Systemin Natural Herbal |
1 |
Project initiation |
1.1 |
Scope documentation |
1.2 |
Team allocation |
1.3 |
Feasibility analysis |
2 |
Project Planning |
2.1 |
Problem analysis |
2.2 |
Setting goals |
2.3 |
Electronic circuit design |
2.4 |
RFID reader installation |
2.5 |
Network setup |
2.6 |
System design |
3 |
Project Design And Execution |
3.1 |
Mapping out project process flow |
3.2 |
Identification of accurate hardware and software |
3.3 |
Install readers and tags |
3.4 |
Final interface design |
3.5 |
Readability analysis |
4 |
Prototype Testing |
4.1 |
Unit testing |
4.2 |
security testing |
4.3 |
System testing |
4.4 |
Debug |
5 |
Project Closure |
5.1 |
Resource release |
5.2 |
Stakeholder’s signoff |
5.3 |
Continuous improvement program |
Figure 1: Work Breakdown Structure For The Project
(Source: created by author)
The total time allocated for the project is 4 months. The project is segmented into 5 stages in terms of initiation, planning, design and execution, prototype testing and project closure. Depending on complexity of each activity specific duration is allocated. Once the duration is allocated it becomes opportunity of each to complete the activity within the duration to avoid delay. The detail timeline is presented in the below section-
WBS |
Task Name |
Duration |
Start |
Finish |
0 |
Implementation of RFID systemin Natural Herbal |
120 days |
Mon 14/03/22 |
Fri 26/08/22 |
1 |
Project initiation |
25 days |
Mon 14/03/22 |
Fri 15/04/22 |
1.1 |
Scope documentation |
10 days |
Mon 14/03/22 |
Fri 25/03/22 |
1.2 |
Team allocation |
9 days |
Mon 28/03/22 |
Thu 07/04/22 |
1.3 |
Feasibility analysis |
6 days |
Fri 08/04/22 |
Fri 15/04/22 |
2 |
Project Planning |
29 days |
Mon 18/04/22 |
Thu 26/05/22 |
2.1 |
Problem analysis |
7 days |
Mon 18/04/22 |
Tue 26/04/22 |
2.2 |
Setting goals |
4 days |
Wed 27/04/22 |
Mon 02/05/22 |
2.3 |
Electronic circuit design |
5 days |
Wed 27/04/22 |
Tue 03/05/22 |
2.4 |
RFID reader installation |
9 days |
Tue 03/05/22 |
Fri 13/05/22 |
2.5 |
Network setup |
5 days |
Mon 16/05/22 |
Fri 20/05/22 |
2.6 |
System design |
4 days |
Mon 23/05/22 |
Thu 26/05/22 |
3 |
Project Design And Execution |
28 days |
Fri 27/05/22 |
Tue 05/07/22 |
3.1 |
Mapping out project process flow |
5 days |
Fri 27/05/22 |
Thu 02/06/22 |
3.2 |
Identification of accurate hardware and software |
4 days |
Fri 03/06/22 |
Wed 08/06/22 |
3.3 |
Install readers and tags |
8 days |
Thu 09/06/22 |
Mon 20/06/22 |
3.4 |
Final interface design |
7 days |
Tue 21/06/22 |
Wed 29/06/22 |
3.5 |
Readability analysis |
4 days |
Thu 30/06/22 |
Tue 05/07/22 |
4 |
Prototype testing |
23 days |
Wed 06/07/22 |
Fri 05/08/22 |
4.1 |
Unit testing |
6 days |
Wed 06/07/22 |
Wed 13/07/22 |
4.2 |
security testing |
7 days |
Mon 18/07/22 |
Tue 26/07/22 |
4.3 |
System testing |
9 days |
Thu 14/07/22 |
Tue 26/07/22 |
4.4 |
Debug |
8 days |
Wed 27/07/22 |
Fri 05/08/22 |
5 |
project closure |
15 days |
Mon 08/08/22 |
Fri 26/08/22 |
5.1 |
Resource release |
3 days |
Mon 08/08/22 |
Wed 10/08/22 |
5.2 |
Stakeholder’s signoff |
5 days |
Thu 11/08/22 |
Wed 17/08/22 |
5.3 |
Continuous improvement program |
7 days |
Thu 18/08/22 |
Fri 26/08/22 |
Figure 2: Gantt Chart For The Project
(Source: created by author)
The critical path for the project is shown in red colour. Network diagram is a diagrammatic presentation that allows the project manager to track each element of a project and ensure it is capable to share the project status to others. The visual presentation of the network diagram is [presented in the below section-
Figure 3: Network Diagram For The Project
(Source: created by author)
Resources are the most vital assets in project management. The successful execution of a project is dependent on performance of the human resources allocated to the project. In order to govern the RFID system implementation project towards the objectives, individual needs to fulfil their responsibilities and roles.
Resource Name |
Roles and Responsibilities |
Project manager |
The project manager is responsible to plan, organize, and direct the project activities towards the objectives preliminarily set. |
Finance manager |
The role of the finance manager is to conduct feasibility analysis to finalize the budget (Mladineo et al. 2019) |
Operation manager |
The operation manager is responsible to check that all the operations are running accurately |
Developer |
The role of the developer ios to develop the system followed by RFID tags installation and internal RFID circuit design |
Technical team |
The technical team’s responsibility is to manage and perform all technical activities |
Network engineer |
The network engineer’s responsibility is to setup and maintain the inter organizational network |
Tester |
The tester’s responsibility is to test the system developed before final launch. |
Resource manager |
The resource manager’s responsibility is to allocate resources to each activity after evaluating individual’s skills and performances |
Three alternatives are the three business benefits realization options. The three options are considered when the potential project is do nothing, do the minimum and do something. The two possible outcomes for the project are categorized into best case scenario and worst-case scenario (Kumar and Ting 2019). The best case and worst can occur for each benefit realization outcomes.
The potential benefits for each situation will be different those are implemented with better analysis. The nominated project for which the potential benefits are analyzed is “implementation of RFID tags”. The detail is presented in the below section-
Best Case Scenario |
Worst Case Scenario |
|
Doing nothing |
· The cost of barcodes is costly · Physical damage may hamper the process · Information can be accessed by unwanted users · The system security band information can be impacted (Gladysz et al. 2020) |
· The cost of barcodes is costly · Physical damage may hamper the process · Information can be accessed by unwanted users (Lamprou and Vagiona 2018) · The system security band information can be impacted |
Do the minimum |
· RFID will give better control over production and delivery · Give access to in-depth management information (Takagi and Varajão 2020) |
· System safety · Data accuracy will get increased |
Do something |
· Inventory management · Better packaged product tracking · Operation time and cost will be saved · Improved data accuracy and improved availability |
· The herbal products can impact the signals · Something may not be as good as scanner · The process can be highly expensive (Dimitriou et al. 2019) |
In order to design and complete the project, both physical and human resources are required. For both the types of resources individual budget are finalized. The budget details are presented in the below section-
The total budget estimated for the project is $150,000 the detail budget statement is presented in the below section-
Risk is defined as an unwanted event that may occur during the project cycle. A risk register is developed in the below section considering the potential risks, their impact on the project and mitigation strategies. The risk register is presented in the below section-
Risk ID |
Risks |
Impact |
Probability |
Score |
Response strategy |
1 |
Overshooting project budget |
Major 4 |
Possible 3 |
High 12 |
The finance manager needs to conduct feasibility analysis |
2 |
Selection of wrong pilot testing approaches and tools |
Major 4 |
Unlikely 2 |
Medium 8 |
Exact pilot testing platform and tools are needed to be selected |
3 |
Problems inside the electronic internal circuit board |
Minor 3 |
Possible 3 |
Medium 9 |
The circuit board has to be prepared accurately followed by each electronic feature and function (Garmendia et al. 2021) |
4 |
Delay to complete and deliver the project |
Rare 1 |
Unlikely 2 |
Medium 8 |
A detail time management plan has to be developed according to project time planning |
5 |
Lack of experiences and skills among the project team members |
Major 4 |
Possible 3 |
High 12 |
Before appointing project team, individual’s skills and performances should be evaluated (Patil et al. 2020) |
6 |
Lack of communication among the project team members |
Rare 1 |
Unlikely 2 |
Low 2 |
The project manager should arrange open communication approach and prepare periodic meetings for better communication |
- The appointed resources will have enough skills and experience
- All the project information will be well documented
- Formal communication will be conducted throughout
- All the stakeholders will be engaged to the project throughout
For managing the quality of this project, the stages to be considered are quality plan, quality assurance and quality control. The project manager should test the system considering different aspects (Ali, Akbar and Wachani 2021). Whether the system can manage inventory, track asset, save time, give better production control or n0ot must be traced.
Scope of the Project
The KPI to be considered for the system are-
- Revenue growth profit margin
- Customer’s satisfaction
- Information security
- Client retention rate
- The proposed project should be completed within estimated time and cost
- The resources assigned must be utilized accurately
- The PM should implement adequate technologies for maintaining information security
- The RFID system must improve the inventory management system
Conclusion and Recommendations
From above discussion it can be concluded that, successful completion of the project will give huge beneficial opportunities to the staffs and customers as well. The RFID tags are defined as tracking systems which uses smart barcodes to identify items more accurately. The radio waves will help to transmit data from tag to the reader. After that, the information is further to RFID computing program. Packaging unit with unique chip are read through ports, which again processes information in terms of location, numbers of units. Through this system, proper data will be always available to the staffs and operators. The RFID is one of the most cost-effective ways of tracking products. This will give measurable benefits to the Natural Herbal company. The recommendations are elaborated here-
- The project manager must arrange effective training program
- PM should implement measurable security measures
- High gain antennas are to be installed
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