The conceptualization, design, and description of a product, its components, the interfaces between components, and the relationships with internal and external entities, as they evolve over time.
Published in Chapter:
Embedded RFID Solutions Challenges for Product Design and Development
Alvaro M. Sampaio (School of Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Portugal & University of Minho, Portugal), António J. Pontes (University of Minho, Portugal), and Ricardo Simoes (School of Technology, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Portugal & University of Minho, Portugal)
Copyright: © 2011
|Pages: 13
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61520-617-9.ch006
Abstract
Full traceability of products is extremely difficult, although it has been sought after for as long as production, distribution and sales chains exist. Electronic traceability methods, such as RFID technology, have been proposed as a possible solution to this problem. In the specific case of RFID, the number of applications that promote innovative solutions in retail and other areas has been continuous growing. However, RFID tags are mostly placed externally on a surface of products or their packages. This is appropriate for logistics, but not for other applications, such as those involving user interaction. In those, not only is the placement of the RFID tag more complex, but it is also necessary that the tag is not visible or not directly accessible, to prevent accidental damage and intentional abuse. This certainly imposes challenges to manufacturing, but mainly creates new challenges to the development of new products and re-design of existing ones. This chapter presents some insights and what we consider to be the two main approaches to incorporating RFID technology into consumer products.