Benefits of RFID Tags - Essay Example

Chapter 1 QuestionsArticle 1:A. The benefit of RFID tags is that they store unique numerical identification codes that are able to be scanned within a certain range. The purpose of this is so that a company can track merchandise as it moves through the supply chain. This helps firms to make informed decisions about demand and supply. The new system is different in that the actual items will be able to be scanned. Employees will be able to track each individual item, which assists when decided how much stock to order.B. The main privacy concern with this technology is that the electronic tags cannot be removed.

Because of this, a piece of clothing can be tracked to a specific location. Some critics of the new electronic system claim that criminals will be able to determine what products someone has bought recently, which may lead to an increase in crime. Additionally, some people are concerned that retail stores will be able to scan people when they walk through the front door. A new form of ID card contains radio-frequency tags. The new system may be used to match a customer's license with their credit card, making it easy to tell when they enter and exit the store.C. In order to clam the concerns of customers, it may be possible to attach the electronic tags to hang tags, which of course are removed once the customer has made the purchase.

This provides the perfect compromise because customers are able to keep their identities yet the store can track each item that is sold.Article 2:A. For American companies, globalization provides them with cheaper labor costs, which in turn result in higher revenues. Overseas workers are willing to work for less than the average American worker. Many Asian countries, such as China and Vietnam, have large populations where the economy relies on manual labor work.B. The potential threats that American companies are facing because of globalization are lower wages and cheap materials.

Third world countries have access to vast amounts of materials and for cheaper prices than found in America. C. Apple was one of the last American companies to begin sending jobs overseas. While labor costs are often identified as the reason for outsourcing, Apple admitted that the cheap parts available for its products in Asia were the biggest motivation to shift jobs away from America. Additionally, the supply chains in Asia are far more efficient than those in America.D.