Recently, I read an article about the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers Federation in Canada (wow that's quite the name). It has allocated funding to the study of RFID chips as a traceability tool. They would like to examine the use of RFID (radio frequency identification) chips on maple syrup barrels. It appears the federation is interested in finding a tracking method which could solve a major problem all Canadian producers struggle with.

What is that problem? The Canadian government says it is, "Better readability and identification capacity, and better movement control." This seems like the perfect use for RFID. Well, this unique combination of RFID and syrup piqued my interest. This is mostly because, as a child, my Grandpa would harvest sap in order to produce maple syrup. I have many fond memories from his farm near Traverse City, MI.

I personally know why people love this syrup so much. I can still taste the maple candy my Grandpa would make for me. This caused me to crave a trip down memory lane.

Soon, I found this well produced video from Anderson's Maple Syrup, Inc. showing how maple syrup is produced .... Take a minute to enjoy it. I always like information on how things are made so I asked permission from Steve Anderson to post it here.

Now I know how Grandpa did it....

Are you wondering why the Canadian Federation is considering using RFID to track barrels of maple syrup? Besides the normal supply chain benefits and the point of harvest data, it comes down to one thing. Let me explain.

Last year, barrels of maple syrup started to disappear. Over a half million dollars worth of syrup (in drums) disappeared from warehouses. Many believe it was an inside job, because it represented ten semi-trailers worth of syrup.

All other benefits aside, this shrinkage problem could very easily be the crucial reason for looking into RFID technology.

The moral of the story for you? Always investigate the real problems that companies or institutions needing to solve using RFID technology. Look for the solutions that can save them both money and effort. Then implement the RFID solution which can produce the greatest benefit.

Do you find yourself in a money-pit, unable to keep track of your treasured assets? Or, are you simply getting tired of tracking inventory by hand? A RFID solution could benefit you. Request a Free Consultation with Ron Pulvermacher today.