In the early 2000s, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) rode a wave of growth that was initiated by large retail companies such as Wal-Mart, JC Penney’s, and Target. RFID tags are small integrated circuits that have many of the characteristics of a bar code; they contain a unique identifier or alphanumeric code that is used to identify a product, a case of products or even a pallet of cases. Instead of a laser scanner, an RFID tag is read by a specialized reader called an interrogator.

Problems with RFID include being read at long distances (active RFID tags can solve this; an active tag uses a battery to boost transmission distance) and the expense of the tag itself. While not widely adopted as originally thought, RFID can be used to solve unique manufacturing problems. RTLS or Real Time Locating Systems use RFID tags and specialized readers to track expensive equipment or parts through a facility in real time. This means a case of expensive parts or an expensive piece of equipment is visible to management at all times. ADC Integrated Systems designs, configures and installs RFID tracking systems in manufacturing and distribution.

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