The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has evolved rapidly in the past few years, due to great industry and scientific community investments. This paper has as its main objectives the complete descriptions and the performance comparison of the anti-collision algorithms of signals coming from the tags of the ISO 18000-6 and EPCglobal Gen2 standards. In our knowledge none of previous work in the literature emphasizes this point that is very important and has great impact to the industry, new researches and new developments. For each type of the standard ISO 18000-6 (A, B and C) a new anti-collision algorithm is specified. Through the algorithm study it was concluded that under certain circumstances the detection (reading) of all tags present in the same place is not guaranteed.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an analytical and experimental research for the development of an innovative product designated RFID environment (RFID-Env). This software is designed for the use of professionals in computer systems and plant engineering who are engaged in research and development (R&D) of ultra high frequency (UHF) passive radio frequency identification (RFID) systems as applied to the management and operation of logistic supply chains. Design/methodology/approach -The RFID-Env makes it possible to simulate on computer screens a complete RFID-Env by processing user data on the technical and physical characteristics of real or virtual RFID-Envs. Information outputted can include descriptions of the performance to be expected from a given configuration and detailed reports as to whether that particular configuration will succeed in reading all the RFID tags flowing through a defined system. Findings -The paper shows the models and methods on how these simulations can be performed, and this is the major scientific contribution of this work, i.e. what are the logical and physical models that enable the development of software simulators for RFID-Envs. Research limitations/implications -This work will be continued to introduce more consideration of the physical environment, such as the interferences produced by the tagged products themselves by scattering the radio frequency (RF) signals, and the models, positioning and focusing of the antennas. New RF prediction models shall be created along the continuation of this paper, with the purpose to rise the amount of environments that can be simulated. Practical implications -The product is intended for use by developers in computer sciences, and by engineers doing R&D for the solution of RFID problems, and makes it possible to simulate a complete range of virtual RFID-Envs so that R&D can proceed in a non-factory atmosphere. Originality/value -There are only a few related papers that consider in an isolated form some of the problems approached here, but it was not found models that proposed as an integrated form all the processing to an RFID-Env simulation like here presented.

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In line with the emerging Industry 4.0 technologies and their challenges for implementation, this study presents the results of research that developed a novel industrial integrated information system based on open source and low-cost technologies. The proposed Control System via RFID for Online Monitoring and Optimisation of Production Lines (CSR-OMO-PL) uses hardware and software to analyse the production system flow and performance. A longitudinal in-depth case study in a manufacturing plant exposes the empirical challenges to developing and implementing intelligent manufacturing systems towards Industry 4.0 in practice. Findings demonstrated that the proposed system enables industrial information integration through supervision and generation of information from the shoop-floor contributing to the managerial decisionmaking process in real-time. Implications for practitioners and academics address some of the current challenges for implementing Industry 4.0 technologies and industrial information integration. This study extends the knowledge of industrial integration and RFID implementation within Industry 4.0 by presenting a real-life application based on open source and low-cost technologies. The insights and lessons gained in this study can 3 potentially be generalised for future efforts across industry manufacturers with similar shop-floor.

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