Using RFID tagging in a mining industry maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supply warehouse: A case study

The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been shown to be successful by reducing operating costs in the retail and manufacturing industries, but has never been considered in the literature for a mining industry maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supply chain. This field study was conducted to determine whether or not the technology would be accepted in the mining industry and if there is a perceived viability for using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags in a mining industry supply chain. In this particular study a key component of perceived viability was whether there is a similarity between the warehouse operations of a non-mining industry company utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and the MRO warehouse operations of a mining company which does not use any form of electronic data capture (EDC) technology. The purpose was to determine the feasibility of adapting the RFID technology to the mining industries' warehousing operations. This research project used focus group interviews and individual interviews from warehouse employees, supply chain professionals, and experts in the field of RFID. The interview data was then analyzed and compared for similar themes and processes. The results of this project indicated that there was a perception of viability for adapting RFID technology to the mining industry's warehousing operations.