RFID tags, GPS trackers, and how they can benefit Original Equipment Manufacturer's packaging flow

Abstract

The use of smart packaging solutions has increased during the past years where the track and trace technologies have made the packaging easier to track and contributing to a more efficient supply chain. The usage of an RFID tag or GPS tracker attached to a company's assets such as packaging has increased. Together with a good information sharing between actors in the supply chain the knowledge of where everything can be used for more accurate planning in the operations at the actors. There are companies within the automotive industry that own their returnable packaging. One of them is the OEM company that the researchers for this research have been working with. For this thesis, the aim has been to get an understanding of how RFID tags and GPS trackers can be beneficial for an OEM company if the technology was attached to the OEM´s returnable packaging. In order to fulfil the aim, the researchers have done study visits at the different actors to understand the working processes at each actor. Furthermore, interviews with employees at the actors have been made in order to get their views on their work and if they could see if the track and trace technology can be beneficial for them or not. The findings from the study visits were later analysed together with the literature about packaging, track and trace technology, and material flow. From the analysis the researchers state the results and after the conclusion in order to answer the aim. It was shown that track and trace technology can be beneficial for the OEM company however, more investigation is needed to know which type of technology is the best for what packaging type.