Have you ever experienced this- You spend hours in the lab and you think you know the place like the back of your hand? Then you have to find some item or tell the new lab technician to retrieve certain chemicals but you get stumped. You cannot recall where the container is.
Well, that is the thing about chemical management. Since there are hundreds of chemicals that engineers like you use, it is hard to keep track of all of their locations. The solution lies in finding an automated system that can help track these chemicals within your lab.
There is some good news, since with the help of RFID chemical inventory you can track the places where you store the chemicals.
But, how does this RFID technology work in the chemical inventory space?
Let’s find out.
Role of RFID As A Chemical Inventory Tracking Solution
The RFID system has three main components. They are:
- RFID tags
- An RFID reader, and
- An RFID inventory management computer software
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) operates with the help of radio transmission. First, manufacturers or experts attach small tags to each chemical container. Each RFID tag transmits a unique ID number. This is recorded in a database that contains information about the item. Such information could include details like chemical name, expiration date, manufacturer details and more.
Industry workers can read these industrial RFID tags using handheld RFID scanners which also use radio frequency to “read’ the tags.
How It Works
When tagged items come within the range of RFID scanners, the scanners “read” the ID number on the RFID tags. This means you do not need to scan each container. This allows you to carry out your inventory checking in a fraction of the time than manual means.
Usually, RFID chemical inventory is more expensive than barcoding. However, it is more convenient and reliable, which makes it worth the investment.
Next, we will discuss how automation works in this industry.
Automate Your Chemicals
Chemical management is easiest when you have full visibility with one single source. However, if you try to create it manually it takes much more time and is impractical. That is why you need RFID tag applications.
With such applications you can outfit your laboratory with cutting-technology, allowing you to know exactly what you have throughout your space. It does not matter if it is there to one room or a vast storage unit.
RFID chemical inventory software allows you to keep track of important information that makes it easy for the lab staff to know what their work is daily and in times of emergency. These things include:
- Auditing chemical inventory
- Properly disposing of hazardous materials
- Using chemicals in order of their expiration dates that RFID devices simplified and,
- Chemical inventory management system
This helps to have real-time visibility of:
- The name and grade of each chemical printed on the label
- Chemical hazard of each item in stock so you can meet the hazard standards
- Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number
- Container type
- Expiration dates
- Hazard classification
- Where inventory items are located
Having all these items in the RFID chemical inventory makes the inventory process streamlined and easy for all the workers. So, let’s see the advantages it has to offer.
4 Benefits of RFID Chemical Inventory
Chemical tracking RFID technology is transforming the supply chain industry one step at a time. Here’s how.
1. Accuracy
RFID tracking is not surprisingly more accurate than manual barcode scans. As it automatically scans containers, the RFID readers remove any potential for manual errors. So, you do not have to worry about typing in numbers correctly or reading each barcode. The RFID reader does it for you.
It also reduces the chances of missing out on inventory items. But how does it do so?
Unlike barcodes, RFID tags do not need to be visible to get scanned. This means even if the tags are inside the products or packages, hidden from view, the scanner will detect it.
On average, companies that adopt RFID see their inventory accuracy go from 63% to 95%.
2. Real-Time Inventory Visibility
Even with accurate inventory, it can become difficult to locate a specific container in a lab or storage. However, RFID technology can streamline this process as it enables precise and efficient container tracking.
Once all the containers have tags, handheld RFID readers can function like a metal detector to locate specific containers. All you have to do is enter the tag ID for the container you need. The reader will alert you when you’re in proximity to the tagged container.
Think of all the time it would save you.
RFID chemical inventory makes management easier in real-time. It strategically places scanners near disposal areas so you can track the transition of containers from “active” to “disposed” status. With it, you can monitor inventory levels, optimise purchasing and reduce waste.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
RFID offers huge benefits when it comes to cost and time savings. According to studies by Auburn University, it is evident that the use of RFID expands inventory count rates from 200 to 20,000+ items in an hour.
To simplify that, employees can complete their inventory counts 100x faster. Think how this could impact your chemical inventory!
But the good news does not stop here.
Recent Researches on RFID
Until recently, RFID chemical inventory tags were a luxury that only retail giants could use. But now it has grown in popularity and become more inexpensive and more accessible making it a more cost-effective solution for labs.
As per McKinsey, the cost of RFID readers has fallen by nearly 50%. A few other suggestions to keep costs low:
Choose RFID chemical inventory tags featuring printed IDs and optical barcodes to optimise cost-effective inventory management. Utilise affordable barcode scanners for regular tasks, reserving costly RFID readers for group use in reconciliation or container locating.
Consider deploying a chemical RFID solution selectively, focusing on high-hazard or diverse chemical areas. SciShield’s ChemTracker software seamlessly integrates RFID, barcoded, and non-labelled containers, ensuring efficient tracking across inventory segments.
4. Improved Compliance
RFID technology provides real-time visibility into chemical storage and quantities, facilitating adherence to regulations. This enhances compliance. Tags on containers enable precise tracking, ensuring accurate records of chemical locations and adherence to storage, handling, and disposal rules.
Monitoring chemical levels prevents duplicate purchases and regulatory breaches. Using RFID chemical inventory aids in removing consumed or discarded chemicals from inventory, mitigating overreporting errors that can falsely indicate non-compliance with hazardous material limits.
This comprehensive approach streamlines inventory management, ensuring regulatory compliance and safety standards will meet the desired standards efficiently.
FAQs: Efficient Management with RFID Chemical Inventory Technology
Why is RFID better than barcode?
Barcode scanners require visibility to scan each code. With the RFID tags, the codes remain hidden and the scanner will still detect the tag. It helps to fast-track multiple processes in the supply chain.
What is the cost of RFID tag per unit?
Passive UHF RFID hard tags cost INR 10 onwards going up to 150 INR per tag.
How does RFID improve customer service?
With the tags, companies and supply chains stay apprised of an item’s location at all times. They can share this information with their customers, making the communication and transparency between both parties much clearer.
What is RFID data?
This type of data uses radio frequency waves to identify objects. The reader device reads the data from a tag enabling remote scanning. It does not require direct scanning or line of sight.
Conclusion
Enhance your RFID chemical inventory management with Qodenext. With precise tracking and real-time visibility, streamline your inventory processes. Ensure regulatory compliance effortlessly. Experience the accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and improved compliance that we offer with our RFID solutions.
