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 50C
 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



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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

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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??