BIN CARD vs RFID

What is a Bin Card?

Inventory in the earlier days used to be managed by a system known as Cardex System. Bin cards were printed and kept in every bin location. Whenever inventory was put into the bin or removed, the card had to be updated. Apart from the bin cards, books or registers were maintained to note down the transactions and reports were prepared manually.

As to date, the Bin Card is still available being used in Malaysia. It will record and prepared by the storekeeper at the moment of issuing and receiving the materials. It is maintained by the storekeeper for physical verification with accuracy and effectiveness.

Normally Bin Card Consists of the information like Quantity Received, Quantity Issued, Minimum Stock Level, Maximum Stock Level, Reorder Level, Re-Order Quantity, Closing Stock, Opening Stock etc. Maintenance of Bin Card System is part of perpetual inventory accounting system.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

RFID is a tracking system that uses intelligent bar codes to track items in a store. RFID is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects. 

The tags contain electronically stored information. Some tags are powered and read at short ranges (a few meters) via magnetic fields (electromagnetic induction). Others use a local power source such as a battery, or else have no battery but collect energy from the interrogating EM field, and then act as a passive transponder to emit microwaves or UHF radio waves (i.e.,electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies). Battery powered tags may operate at hundreds of meters. Unlike a bar code, the tag does not necessarily need to be within line of sight of the reader, and may be embedded in the tracked object.

RFID tags are used in many industries. An RFID tag attached to an automobile during production can be used to track its progress through the assembly line. Pharmaceuticals can be tracked through warehouses. Livestock and pets may have tags injected, allowing positive identification of the animal. Since RFID tags can be attached to clothing, possessions, or even implanted within people, the possibility of reading personally-linked information without consent has raised privacy concerns.