As an extremely efficient, fast and convenient identification technology, RFID technology is widely used in various industries. Cigarette factories have introduced RFID technology into the tobacco industry logistics system, mainly to improve the efficiency of their tobacco industry production and reduce production costs. Application of RFID technology in tobacco logistics.

Use RFID technology and combine it with the current situation of tobacco companies. Realize tobacco warehousing automation and efficient warehouse management. The system uses middleware as the supporting platform, attaches RFID tags to cigarette boxes, pallets, and shelves, installs an RFID access control system at the receiving area, and sends the actual receiving and warehousing information to the backend, and the backend system arranges the warehousing. At the same time, the on-board computer terminal is installed on the forklift, connected to the RFID reading and writing device, and the information of the front-end system and the back-end system is transmitted through the wireless LAN to realize data exchange and update, and the system locates the position of the forklift in real time to facilitate the dispatch of the forklift.

In the entry and exit operations of the three elevated warehouses, a semi-automatic method is adopted, and certain automation technology and machinery are introduced, supplemented by manual operations, to achieve a balance between efficiency and cost.

Deploy electronic tags at the bottom of pallets and tobacco stem boxes, and deploy readers correspondingly in the sorting lanes, storage entrances, exits and sealing machines, combined with the "Tobacco Industry Cigarette Production and Operation Decision Management System Project (i.e. Project No. 1) )" regulations can realize "one dozen and two scans" - cigarette industrial enterprises will affix a bar code issued by the competent department to each piece of cigarettes produced, and scan the code when leaving the warehouse and scan the code when the cigarette commercial enterprises enter the warehouse, so that Tobacco authorities can timely grasp and effectively control the purchase, production, and sales information of tobacco companies, collect information and reasonably connect it to the warehouse management system, and transmit data information to the warehouse management system for storage through a combination of wired and wireless methods. , analysis, and processing to achieve the purpose of rapid and transparent logistics control.

In order to carry out effective positioning, the cargo location must first be coded, and the coding information is written into the warehouse management system WMS, generally using address coding.

(1) Warehousing business process design

When raw materials and tobacco accessories are put into storage, a forklift is used to place tobacco leaves, tobacco stems, tobacco materials, etc. on pallets with electronic labels. The reader at the storage entrance scans the electronic label of the pallet with the code plate completed, and the process is completed. Match pallet information and product information, and transmit the matching information to the warehouse management system. The conveyor then sends the goods to the tunnel stacker, which carries out the warehousing operation.

When finished cigarettes are put into storage, they must first be sorted into cigarette categories through the sorting lane. An RFID reader is installed at each sorting crossing. When a piece of cigarette passes through, the RFID electronic tag on the cigarette box is scanned to quickly identify its type. If it matches the type, the side push device pushes the piece of cigarette into the lane, and then The ABB robot performs palletizing. After the palletizing is completed, the conveyor will send the entire pallet of cigarettes to the storage port. The RFID reader will scan and record the pallet, and then the conveyor will send it to the stacker station for storage. .

The warehouse management system (WMS) determines the storage location of this type of goods and allocates storage locations based on preset storage strategies (such as classified random storage), cargo location assignment principles (such as first-in, first-out), cargo inventory status, etc. The information is transmitted to the warehouse control system (WCS), which drives the conveyor and lane stacker to complete the warehousing operation.

(2) Outbound business process design

When there is a request for outbound goods, the warehouse management system WMS determines the location of the goods that should be outbound based on the inventory status and outbound rules, and transmits the outbound information (such as the name, quantity, storage location, etc.) of the outbound goods to the warehouse control system WCS. The warehouse control system WCS drives the tunnel stacker to take out the goods and send them to the outbound platform through the conveyor. The RFID reader automatically scans the goods or pallet labels for confirmation and completes the cargo location information update. If correct, the goods are transferred to the shuttle, forklift or AGV. Deliver the goods to the designated location. The outbound operation is completed.

After leaving the warehouse, the pallets are fed into the palletizer manually or automatically. The warehouse management system WMS allocates empty cargo slots to the empty pallet group and transmits the information to the warehouse control system WCS. The warehouse control system WCS drives the conveyor and stacker. Return the empty pallet group to the designated location in the warehouse, and then automatically leave the warehouse for use next time.

Application of RFID in tobacco logistics

RFID quickly interacts with system information

(1) Information interaction with WCS system. Upload the material or pallet information through RFID and send it to the WCS control system. WCS can issue control instructions to specific logistics equipment through PLC. After the logistics equipment receives the control instructions issued by the WCS system, it can accurately The materials or pallets are transported to the designated target location, and then the RFID performs final confirmation, and the confirmation information is fed back to the WCS to complete the information interaction between the RFID and WCS systems. In this interaction process, RFID played the role of information collection and initiator, and finally served as the confirmer and feedbacker, ending this information interaction.

(2) Information interaction with WMS system. After RFID feeds back the completed interaction information with WCS to WCS, WCS then transmits the results to WMS. Through WCS, indirect information interaction between RFID and WMS is realized. By summarizing and analyzing this information, WMS can understand inventory information, cargo location information, material classification, types and quantities of materials that need to be replenished, etc. in real time. This information will directly guide the allocation and procurement of materials and directly affect production. normal operation. Through this information, the WMS system can issue specific instructions to the WCS system to indirectly guide the operation of the equipment.

Therefore, RFID plays a very important role in the entire WCS and WMS systems. It is both a collector of information and a confirmer of the final information. It plays a vital role in the entire information flow process. RFID is the core and soul of the tobacco industry warehousing and logistics system.

With the help of RFID technology, electronic tags on tobacco leaves, tobacco accessories, finished products and in-process products allow production planning managers to quickly locate them and understand the consumption of tobacco leaves and tobacco raw materials, which will greatly improve the efficiency and quality of production; at the same time , RFID technology can also collect and process product information, helping production personnel easily grasp the operation of the entire production line and the production progress of the product. Furthermore, due to the read-write characteristics of RFID, it can provide a continuously updated real-time data stream, which is complementary to the manufacturing execution system. The information provided by RFID can be used to ensure the correct use of labor, machines, tools and components, thereby achieving paperless production and reduce downtime, promoting smooth production logistics.

Combining RFID with existing manufacturing information systems such as ERP and MES will form a more powerful information chain platform to achieve timely transmission of accurate data at accurate times. This will enable various online measurements and quality control to improve asset utilization. Increase productivity. The use of RFID technology for the overall integration of warehouse management can not only meet the requirements of the distribution operation mode in modern logistics, but is also suitable for large-scale busy logistics distribution to ensure high-quality data exchange in the supply chain; at the same time, by starting from the enterprise production line Tracking and improving transparency in the supply chain can effectively curb or even eliminate extracorporeal circulation and play a huge role in tobacco monopoly management.