# Digital Technologies' Risks and Opportunities: Case Study of an RFID System
## 4 Case study Simulation: Risks and Opportunities of an RFID System  
To better understand the literature review results, a case study was conducted on an industrial company operating within the automotive field. This company aims to improve its components' feeding flow and control by implementing an RFID system. The first step was to observe the existing flow and identify the weaknesses of the actual system using check sheets, daily follow-up, time measurement and operations classification. These parameters were then affected to the simulation model presented in Figure 6 as inputs. The \"0\" reflected in the simulation model are related to fact that at it represents the model in its initial status (Simulation not yet launched), which means that there's 0 entity at each process. The goal of this simulation is to analyze the behavior of the current system and identify the bottleneck processes and wastes (MUDAs) to be eliminated for a better performance. To define probability lows to be used for each process, we used Input analyzer tool within ARENA software. Results showed that the actual system is impacted by waiting time, overstock, non-added value operations, absence of a control system, absence of a work instruction, no visibility on actual consumption, and no traceability (Consumption vs. available). Once these issues are detected and analyzed, the next step is to identify the most suitable technology. By consulting experts and holding meetings for experience sharing and benchmarking, the company concluded that RFID is the golden ticket to achieving the expected results. Using SAP software, actors of this system will manage to check the needed components and set a feeding list that will be validated once feeding trolley capacity is achieved. This responsibility is given to the warehouse distributor, who can access previously validated lists if needed or print them to make the feeding process easier. In addition, to avoid useless movements back and forth to the warehouse, an in-line distributor can have access  
Figure 6: Simulation model of the current system. to the trolley preparation status so that he only goes to the warehouse once the trolley is completed. Meanwhile, he is responsible for scanning empty boxes by putting them in the RFID structure. These actions are represented by the use case diagram in Figure 7, a diagram that represents the structure of major functionalities needed by each user of a given system [98]. When it comes to the sequencing of these actions, they are presented in the sequence diagram in Figure 8, reflecting the temporal succession of the process and the interaction between the object of the system [98, 99]. Along with line production, the in-line distributor collects the empty boxes and puts them in the RFID structure in order to be scanned, then takes them to the empty boxes trolley. Once the RFID reader scans the label printed in the box, the respective reference is automatically sent to the SAP system as a signal that the concerned component needs to be refilled. A new picking list is created with details of the component's information (Concerned production line, component name and type, quantity needed, number of boxes needed, etc.). The warehouse operator grabs the components and puts them in the feeding trolley, and the SAP system updates the inventory accordingly. This sequence is repeated  
Figure 8: Sequence diagram of the RFID system. Figure 7: Use a case diagram of the RFID system. until the feeding trolley is full, then the actual picking list is validated and a new one is created. A signal is then sent to the in-line distributor that moves the empty boxes trolley to the warehouse, grabs the full boxes trolley and starts the feeding process inside production lines. This cycle is then repeated until the end of the shift. It can also be interrupted in case of urgent need.