Study
Commercial ProductionHigh ImpactStrong effect

Integrated QR Code and RFID for Cost-Effective Food Supply Chain Tracking

Combining QR codes and RFID tags offers an economical yet effective solution for real-time tracking and tracing in prepackaged food supply chains.

Industrial Management & Data Systems · 2017

01

Key Findings

  • 01The IoT-based platform is highly effective in tracking and tracing prepackaged food throughout its supply chain.
  • 02The integration of QR codes and RFID tags is economical and ensures real-time data collection.
  • 03XML facilitates efficient information sharing among all stakeholders.
02

Application

Design takeaway

When designing supply chain management systems, consider hybrid identification technologies like QR codes and RFID to balance cost and functionality for real-time tracking.

How to apply

Implement a system that uses QR codes for general product information and batch tracking, complemented by RFID tags for high-value items or critical checkpoints requiring rapid, automated scanning.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how different identification technologies can complement each other in a product's lifecycle.
  • 02Evaluate the cost-benefit of integrating multiple tracking methods for a design project.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo develop and evaluate an economical and effective IoT-based platform for real-time tracking and tracing of prepackaged food within its supply chain.
MethodCase Study
ProcedureA layered, service-oriented architecture was developed for the tracking and tracing platform. An integrated solution using both QR codes and RFID tags was implemented to reduce costs while enabling fine-grained tracking. Extensible Markup Language (XML) was used for information sharing among applications and stakeholders. The platform's effectiveness was then evaluated through a case study.
ContextPrepackaged food supply chain management

Variables

IV["Integration of QR code and RFID technologies","Use of IoT platform","Use of XML for data sharing"]
DV["Effectiveness of tracking and tracing","Implementation cost","Real-time data collection capability","Information sharing efficiency"]
CV["Type of product (prepackaged food)","Supply chain structure","Stakeholder involvement"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Addresses a practical and economically relevant problem.
  • +Proposes a novel integration of existing technologies.
  • +Evaluates the solution through a case study.

Limitations

A real-world supply chain is complex; this study's case may not capture all potential issues like network connectivity in remote areas or the impact of damaged tags.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity is supported by a case study demonstrating the platform's effectiveness. Reliability could be further enhanced by repeating the case study in different supply chain contexts or with variations in the technology implementation.

Think critically

How might the choice of specific RFID frequencies or QR code encoding impact the system's performance and cost in different environments?

05

Design Principles

"Leverage integrated identification technologies to achieve granular supply chain visibility cost-effectively."

This approach addresses the critical need for transparency and safety in food distribution by providing granular visibility. By integrating two distinct identification technologies, businesses can achieve robust tracking capabilities without prohibitive costs, benefiting all stakeholders from producers to consumers.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Using both QR codes and RFID tags together makes tracking food in the supply chain cheaper and more efficient, helping everyone know where the food is and if it's safe.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the implementation of tracking systems in your design project, particularly regarding cost-effectiveness and technological integration.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2017). IoT-based tracking and tracing platform for prepackaged food supply chain. Industrial Management & Data Systems. https://doi.org/10.1108/imds-11-2016-0489 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/27574e2c-02a6-4789-948f-be1f214dd26f/integrated-qr-code-and-rfid-for-cost-effective-food-supply-chain-tracking

Paragraph starter

The integration of complementary identification technologies, such as QR codes and RFID, offers a robust and economical solution for real-time tracking within complex supply chains, as demonstrated by its application in prepackaged food distribution (Li et al., 2017). This hybrid approach enhances data accuracy and accessibility for all stakeholders, contributing to improved product safety and operational efficiency.

09

Source

Industrial Management & Data Systems

IoT-based tracking and tracing platform for prepackaged food supply chain

journal · 2017

View source

Questions about this research

What does the research say about integrated qr code and rfid for cost-effective food supply chain tracking?
When designing supply chain management systems, consider hybrid identification technologies like QR codes and RFID to balance cost and functionality for real-time tracking. Evidence: Industrial Management & Data Systems (2017).
Why does "Integrated QR Code and RFID for Cost-Effective Food Supply Chain Tracking" matter for design?
This approach addresses the critical need for transparency and safety in food distribution by providing granular visibility. By integrating two distinct identification technologies, businesses can achieve robust tracking capabilities without prohibitive costs, benefiting all stakeholders from producers to consumers.
How can designers apply this research?
When designing supply chain management systems, consider hybrid identification technologies like QR codes and RFID to balance cost and functionality for real-time tracking.
What were the main findings?
The IoT-based platform is highly effective in tracking and tracing prepackaged food throughout its supply chain.. The integration of QR codes and RFID tags is economical and ensures real-time data collection.. XML facilitates efficient information sharing among all stakeholders.
What research method was used?
Case Study.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2017 journal from Industrial Management & Data Systems.
What should I do differently in my next project?
Implement a system that uses QR codes for general product information and batch tracking, complemented by RFID tags for high-value items or critical checkpoints requiring rapid, automated scanning.
What are the limitations?
The study's findings are based on a single case study, and the scalability to very large or complex supply chains may require further investigation. The specific performance of QR codes and RFID in diverse environmental conditions was not extensively detailed.
Is there evidence that supply chain affects design outcomes?
An IoT platform using a combination of QR codes and RFID tags, along with XML for data sharing, effectively and affordably tracks prepackaged food through its supply chain, benefiting all parties involved. This approach addresses the critical need for transparency and safety in food distribution by providing granular v Source: Industrial Management & Data Systems (2017).
Where does this food supply research apply?
Prepackaged food supply chain management It sits within commercial production research on designdex.org.

Related research topics

supply chain design research · evidence on supply chain · does supply chain improve design outcomes · food supply studies for designers · supply chain and food supply findings · commercial production research evidence