While you can use barcodes to track items throughout your work in process system, you will likely face several challenges. Barcodes need to be scanned one by one. So either a worker needs to scan each item as they move throughout the supply chain, or a fixed reader needs to be placed somewhere AND the barcodes must be placed in a way where they are seen and scanned properly. Both options are highly prone to errors and high amounts of manual labor. RFID tags, on the other hand, can be scanned automatically and don’t require the same line of sight as barcodes. If accuracy and visibility are high priorities, RFID is the way to go.