Inventory Control in Stores Dec05-09
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Transcript Inventory Control in Stores Dec05-09
Inventory Control in Stores
Dec05-09
Team: Jeff Benson
Frederick Brown
Christopher Reed
Brian Wagner
Date: December 6, 2005
Client: ISU Senior Design Program
Advisor: Dr. Degang Chen
Presentation Outline
Introductory material
Project activity description
Resources and schedules
Closing material
Definitions
GUI – Graphical user interface
RFID – Radio frequency identification
RFID scanner/reader – A device used to
communicate with the RFID tags.
RFID tag – A small object that can be attached to, or
incorporated into a product that is used to store and
retrieve data.
RS232 – Recommended Standard IEEE 232
[computer serial interface].
SQL – Standard computer language for accessing
and manipulating databases.
Acknowledgement
The team would like to thank:
Professor Degang Chen
Professor John Lamont
Professor Ralph Patterson III
Adam Mishler
Jason Warschauer
Problem Statement
Barcode technology is the leader in inventory control
Current technology is flawed which limits its effectiveness
Issues include:
-Amount of data stored in a barcode
-Need for human intervention
-Necessity for line-of-site to transfer data
Solution Approach
Research current trends in inventory
control systems
Research possibilities of different
technology
Identify issues that can be resolved using
different technology
Create DVD rental store
Operating Environment
DVD rental store
High traffic areas
Temperature range of 0 to 50C
Little or no humidity
Intended User(s)
DVD rental store manager
Trained staff members
Inventory manager
Intended Use(s)
Track inventory and sales
Order supplies that are out of stock
Obtain information on tagged products
Obtain customer information
Assumptions
Able to obtain RFID equipment
Able to interface with RFID reader
Software will be windows compatible
Proof of concept
One reader has to perform all tasks
System will not be completely stand alone
System will require some human interaction
Limitations
Team’s lack of experience with RFID
Must cost less than $150
Time available to learn RFID software
and hardware
Scan distance
Only have one reader
End Product and Other
Deliverables
Demonstration including a working model
of a sample system that shows:
-how a tag is scanned
-what info can be collected
-how info can be linked to database
Present Accomplishments
Obtained reader and tags
Completed design for GUI and database
Generated connection between reader,
database, and GUI
Software completed
Project Activities
Research
Design
Implementation
Testing
Research
Input device
Manual input, barcode scanner, RFID reader
Input device communication type
Serial, USB
Interface software
C++, Java, C#
Data storage method
MySQL, SQL Server, Access
Barcode vs. RFID
Barcode
Requires line of sight to
scan codes
Can only read one bar at
a time
Cannot scan entire pallet
RFID
Doesn’t require line of
sight to read each tag
Can scan many tags
simultaneously
Can scan all cases on a
pallet with single pass
through
Writeable tags
Serial RS 232 vs. USB
Serial RS232
Slower transfer speed
Widely used among
RFID interfacing
Serial source code
USB
Faster transfer speed
Uncommon in RFID
applications
More complex to
program
Java vs. Visual C#
Java
Previous experience
SQL source code
Platform independent
Many developer
environments
C#
Serial source code
Fast GUI construction
Powerful developer
environments
SQL database
Simple search queries
Easily upgradeable
Open source
Many examples
What the team chose
TI RFID reader
Visual C# express
MySQL database
http://www.ti.com/rfid/docs/products/readers/RI-H4R-S5H3.shtml
Further Research Activities
RFID technology
Interface connections
Inventory control systems
System Flowchart
Design Activities
Below are the software components of the
inventory system:
Inventory database
Customer database
GUI
Different Screens
Add/Update DVDs
Add/Update customers
Customer history
Check-out/Return
Inventory Flowchart
Customer Flowchart
DVD Inventory
Inventory Data
DVD Checkout
Implementation Activities
Original
Setup system using
write-able tags
Develop code using
Java
Revised
Setup system using
just readable tags
Develop code using
C#
Testing and Modification
Activities
Check to see if reader communicates
with the software
Check to see if the database
communicates with the software
Add tables to database
Other Significant Project
Activities
RFID reader
Checksum errors
Interface
Connecting GUI with database
Connecting reader to the system
Resources and Schedules
Personal effort requirements
Other resource requirements
Financial requirements
Project Schedules
Personal Effort
Requirements
Other Resource
Requirements
Financial Requirements
Project Schedules(Original)
Project Schedules(Revised)
Closing Material
Project Evaluation
Commercialization
Recommendations
Lessons Learned
Risk and Risk Management
Closing Summary
Project Evaluation
Milestones
Project Definition
Technology Selection
End Product Design
Project Reporting
Overall
(15%)
(30%)
(40%)
(15%)
3
5
4
5
(100%)
4.25
(5 – Success)
(4 – Very Good)
Commercialization
There are no current commercialization
considerations
Proof of concept
Recommendations For
Future Work
Set up an inventory system using
writeable tags
Enhance security and reliability
Set up a network using multiple inventory
systems
Develop fully implemented system for
client
Lessons Learned (1)
What went well
Good team communication
Stayed on task
What didn’t go well
Defining the project
Obtaining a reader
Lessons Learned (2)
Technical knowledge gained
Learned C# and MYSQL database
Non-technical knowledge gained
Learned about the possibilities of RFID
technology
Learned how inventory control systems are
set up
What to do differently
Define project more concretely
Start designing database and GUI
sooner
Risk and Risk Management
Anticipated Risk
Loss of a team member
Loss of code
Unanticipated Risk
Reader doesn’t communicate with PC
Unable to obtain RFID reader
Closing Summary
Team goal is to develop a functional
inventory control system focusing on a
DVD rental store in order to prove that
the methods will work successfully.
Questions??