Avery Dennison RFID pilot cuts scanning labor by up to 99.9% while boosting sorting accuracy to 99%
AVY•Avery Dennison’s RFID pilot with two apparel brands cut scanning labor by 95.9% and 99.9% and boosted sorting accuracy to 99% versus manual rates of 89% and 72%. The system captures Electronic Product Codes and material weight to support compliance while improved precision could offset initial investment costs.
1. Pilot Overview
Avery Dennison partnered with two major apparel brands to embed RFID tags in garments using the atma.io cloud platform to capture, store, manage and share life cycle data. The pilot compared traditional manual processing with an automated system assigning unique digital identities to each item.
2. Efficiency and Accuracy Gains
RFID tagging reduced scanning labor hours by 95.9% for one brand and 99.9% for the other, while sorting accuracy climbed to 99% compared with manual rates of 89% and 72%. Automation enabled high-volume processing with minimal manual intervention, facilitating single-item Duty Drawback claims at a fraction of traditional labor costs.
3. Cost Offset and Compliance Benefits
The system captured Electronic Product Codes and material weight to support external reporting and compliance requirements. Analysis indicated that improved precision and efficiency can more than offset initial investment costs associated with implementing RFID-enabled processes.
4. Adoption and Future Outlook
Broader adoption depends on embedding RFID tags at the point of manufacture, enabling efficient recycling, resale and end-of-life processes. The pilot demonstrated a data-backed path to scalable, profitable and sustainable circular fashion operations.
