Inventory Control in StoresDec05-09

Team: Jeff Benson Frederick Brown Christopher Reed Brian Wagner

Date: December 6, 2005

Client: ISU Senior Design ProgramAdvisor: 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 (15%) 3 Technology Selection (30%) 5 End Product Design (40%) 4 Project Reporting (15%) 5

Overall (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??