Unitech
Unitech MiliTags RFID Solution
Unitech MiliTags RFID Solution is the Complete RFID Solution
meets all military shipping requirements according to the US DoD
Suppliers’ Passive RFID Information Guide, Version 8.0. You don’t
need to change your current barcode labeling system, just add an
additional RFID tag, encode it and ship.
- Complete Low-cost RFID System
- Reads, Encodes, Verifies
- Versatile and Portable
- No Installation or Training Fees
- Unlimited Free Support
The MiliTags RFID System is
EASY
Easy to install!
Easy to learn!
Easy to use!
Unitech and MiliTags partner to
create RFID solutions for DOD suppliers
MiliTags is an Indiana Department of Defense contract supplier who
packages and ships all types of military supplies (Hummer parts,
field supplies, office supplies, building supplies, etc.) to the
Defense Department.
The Department of Defense has established a mandate that all of
their contract suppliers use RFID tags on shipments to DoD depots.
Although there has been a phased rollout, all contracts will
included the RFID requirement on cases shipped to DoD depots by the
final deadline of January 2007.
The contract supplier ships supplies to Army, Navy and Air Force
depots and some of their new contracts include the mandate to use
RFID tags on their shipments. If they want to bid on those
contracts, they must have an RFID system in place in order to meet
the specifications of the contract.
Challenge
When shopping online for RFID systems, the contract supplier found a
variety of solutions, from pre-printed, pre-encoded tags to
full-sized systems that included an RFID printer, label software, a
handheld reader, and RFID software to make it all work together. The
prices for other entry-level systems ran form $8,000 up to $15,000.
For a small company, the cost to implement a total RFID system
was just too great. Purchasing individual pre-encoded RFID tags on
the internet was an option that did not allow any room for
flexibility. They might order too many tags and have them sitting on
a shelf for extended periods of time, or they might not order enough
tags and have to expedite an order and overnight-ship new tags at a
premium price. Another issue was that the contract quantities might
change, and the label needs to match the contents of the shipment.
Bottom line- the supplier needed a better way to 'be in control' of
their shipping labels.
An additional challenge was uploading the information contained
in the tag to the military website called the Wide Area Workflow
(WAWF). The Department of Defense guidelines requires that the
contract suppliers type the 24-digit hexadecimal number into the
military website for each case they ship. To do this manually would
take a great deal of time and would also be prone to typographical
errors.
Solution
Very little installation and no RFID experience was necessary. They
installed and trained the supplier to use the MiliTags RFID System
in one hour.
It was low-cost and easy to use, and allowed the supplier to be
in charge of their RFID labeling. The Unitech PA962 provided the
perfect solution in a handheld terminal. It's rugged design and
open-architecture platform allowed for seamless integration with the
MiliTags software. The Unitech PA962 also verifies RFID tags that
are properly encoded. No prior RFID experience was necessary, as the
MiliTags system literally walks you through the easy process of
encoding and reading tags.
The MiliTags RFID Solution also fills the needs of contractors
who ship to Wal-Mart and other stores requiring standard EPC RFID
labels.
Future upgrade: The supplier will soon be testing the desktop
version of the MiliTags Software System. This upgrade will allow
them to easily and automatically upload the files that were encoded
on the RFID tag to the WAWF site, which will further streamline and
improve their shipping operations.
MiliTags™ RFID FAQ
Q - Why is the military requiring
their suppliers to use RFID technology for shipping products to the
DoD?
A – To increase their efficiency and to improve their supply
chain: for supply management, maintenance, distribution, disposal,
to reduce outages and overstocks, and for future planning.
Q – MiliTags only uses a handheld
reader/encoder. How can you print an RFID label without an RFID
printer?
A – By using a barcode label printer to print a barcode tag and
our handheld encoder to write information to an RFID tag.
Q - Can suppliers use two separate
tags or labels on DOD shipments?
A – Yes, it is allowable to use one tag for RFID shipping
information and one tag for barcode shipping information under
section 3.8, Tag Placement in Version 8.0 of the US DoD Supplier’s
Passive RFID Information Guide. "The transponder (RF tag) may be
integrated with the shipping label (RFID - enabled labels), or may
be an independent entity (where a separate shipping label would also
be necessary)."
Q - What is a UID?
A – The UID is a ‘Unique Identifier’, and it pertains to ‘item
level tracking’ on any item or asset that costs over $5000.
According to section 3.3 of the DoD RFID Information Guide, the UID
pack currently requires a barcode tag, but new contracts will
require an RFID tag on all contracts issued after January 1, 2007.
Q - Who is the target market for
MiliTags?
A – The target market is the Department of Defense contract
suppliers, small to mid-size, who are shipping fewer than 100 cases
per day. The system can also be used by large Prime Contractors for
portable RFID use in vehicles or in remote sites, also out in the
field, etc. MiliTags is not limited to any area.
Q – How difficult is MiliTags to use?
A – It virtually takes a few minutes to install MiliTags and
learn to use this unique RFID system. It is ‘by far the simplest
RFID system on the market today. We have trained dozens of people
from all disciplines to use MiliTags every person has learned to use
MiliTags in a matter of minutes.
Q – What about uploading shipping
information to the WAWF site—how easy is it to fill out the shipping
information on WAWF?
A - Contract suppliers need to make sure the WAWF site is filled
out accurately so they will be able to receive payment in a timely
manner. The RFID information can be transferred to the WAWF in one
of three ways: Cut and paste from the Log File to the WAWF site, by
using EDI, or by using FTP. MiliTags will upload to the WAWF
automatically in an upgrade to be released in the near future.
Q - In what way is the MiliTags
system ‘scalable’?
A – MiliTags can be used as an RFID starter system for any type
and size of company. You can add RFID printers and RFID readers and
handhelds as the business grows and as more DOD RFID contracts are
awarded. Also to receive an ROI, you can plug in an RFID inventory
tracking system in order to improve your own internal business
processes. Section 6 of the DoD Guidelines states, "We strongly
encourage suppliers to investigate RFID benefits and applications
within their organizations as soon as possible."
Q - What type of information needs to
be included on the DOD RFID tag?
A - There are four fields that need to be populated on the RFID
tag. The Header includes information about the tag type, the Filter
shows whether the tag is for a pallet, case, or UID, the next area
contains the CAGE Code, and the last area includes a unique serial
number.
Q – Is there an advantage to
purchasing pre-encoded RFID tags from a suppler?
A – The cost of the pre-encoded tags run from 4 to 50 times more
than our RFID tags, and shipping costs are running very high ($15 to
$65), especially if the order needs to be expedited. The contractor
should complete a cost comparison to see which method is more
expensive over an extended period of time. Also, the contract
supplier (according to the RFID Guidelines) is responsible to see
that the tags are encoded properly and can be read at the time of
shipment. The contractor risks a delay in payment if the RFID tag
cannot be read properly.
Unitech MiliTags Specifications
Kit Components
Complete RFID kit suitable for small to mid-sized suppliers who ship
fewer than 100 cases per day.
Unitech PA 962 RFID Reader (Compatible with Class 0, Class 1, and
Gen 2 Tags)
Charging cradle, cord
Militags RFID Software
One roll Gen 1 915 MHz RFID tags (4” x 2”)
Unitech PA962 CE.Net Portable
Terminal
Powered by Micosoft WinCE.NET 4.2 Professional Plus
Intel X-Scale Processor@400 MH
Reflective TFT Color Screen provides brilliant & vivid display
19 key keypad includes numeric key, alpha key, function key
User controllable LCD and keypad backlight
User accessible PCMCIA Type II slot and CF Type I/II
Double-cell rechargeable Li-Ion bat pack 7.4v 1850mA
IP54 sealed against rain & dust
Survives 1.2 M free drop to concrete
Gen 1 RFID Tags
Size 4 x 2 inches high
Plain paper, 915 MHz RIFD tag
Meets all military specifications
MiliTags RFID Software
Built to meet military DoD specifications
One year free support/upgrades
Also meets Wal-Mart and EPC mandates
Excellent RFID ‘starter kit’ for any industry
Software patent pending
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