## 5 Supply Chain Operations with RFID  
The RFID operational environment required replacing and upgrading the traditional Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system in both facilities (processing and distribution). Before the introduction of the RFID technology, the EDI system was not present in the processing facility, but it was working via a wired LAN in the distribution facility. The introduction of RFID systems implemented the EDI over a wireless LAN connected with the facility management system. In this phase, traditional batch checking and paper notes are shifted into a paperless communication. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**VCOR Block** & **RFID Tags Location** & **Reading System** & **KPI** \\ \hline \multirow{4}{*}{Acquire} & \multirow{4}{*}{Receiving warehouse} & \multirow{4}{*}{Flash card in laptop} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{Fruits inventory level time} \\  & & & - & For fresh process \\  & & & - & For cooking process \\  & & & & Silos location time \\  & & & & Inventory Level time (number of bags) \\  & & & - & Fresh \\  & & & - & Cooked \\ Build & Central warehouse & Hand reader & Packaging time \\  & & & & Warehouse cycle \\  & & & - & Palletizing time \\  & & & - & Transportation and sorting time \\  & & & - & Quantity registering \\  & & & - & Inventory updating \\  & & & Warehouse cycle \\ \multirow{2}{*}{Fulffill} & \multirow{2}{*}{Shipping warehouse} & \multirow{2}{*}{RFID portal} & \multirow{2}{*}{-} & \multirow{2}{*}{Quantity check} \\  & & & & - \\  & & & - & Picking, Sorting and transportation \\  & & & - & Docs issuing \\  & & & - & Inventory updating \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 6: Devices locations and KPI definition. Then, the re-engineering of warehousing operations was conducted. The additional requirements by the side of the operators regarded and additional training on the use of the new technology and for the new packaging and palletizing procedure, in particular the additional training have been made for:  
* All operators on the use of the laptop RFID location interface for the processing facility;
* Operators of the central warehouse for the RFID sticking and bags packaging;
* EDI employee on RFID management and maintenance. Figure 2 shows the inbound process at the receiving warehouse. The procedure is similar for outbound operations. In Figure 2, the continuous and dashed lines indicate material and information flow, respectively, while blue dashed lines indicate the new RFID information flow. The introduction of the RFID technology affects the receiving tasks under operators' perspective. The new procedure includes the following steps:  
* Fruits arrive to the processing facility;
* The quantity is checked and registered into the information system;
* The operator moves the fruits to the selection/manual checking area;
* The selectors verify the quality of chestnuts and classify them according to the process to perform (fresh treatment/cooking);
* The warehouse operator identifies the silos where to store the fruits through the software installed on a laptop;
* The silos are then mechanically filled;
* The operator updates the RFID labelling the silos and the inventory level in real time. Figure 2: Receiving process with RFID. Figure 3 shows how the implementation of the RFID system affects the operations within the central warehouse or distribution facility. This warehouse is typically managed according to a push approach. Due to the uncertainty of the fruit-selection process, the quantities of the two types of fruits available at the receiving warehouse may vary with the season and the supplier. As a consequence, processing operations and the shipping to the central warehouse are push-managed with regard to silo availability.