Abstract: A low cost, highly reliable system and method for tracking re-usable textile inventory movement is disclosed. The system is adapted for use within a commercial linen processing facility and its customers' facilities suitable for linen or apparel service providers where the linen processing facility company owns, maintains, and leases the inventory used by its customers. The system and method are also suitable for customers who own their own linens and apparel and outsource the laundering. The system employs radio frequency identification (RFID) tags inserted permanently into a pre-determined fraction (e.g., some number less than 100%) of the textile products. In conjunction with scanning equipment and computer software, the system can provide information on inventory movement, use, abuse, durability, and loss. In order to determine the optimal target fraction for each inventory item a number of variables are considered.

Abstract: A low cost, highly reliable system and method for tracking re-usable textile inventory movement is disclosed. The system is adapted for use within a commercial linen processing facility and its customers' facilities suitable for linen or apparel service providers where the linen processing facility company owns, maintains, and leases the inventory used by its customers. The system and method are also suitable for customers who own their own linens and apparel and outsource the laundering. The system employs radio frequency identification (RFID) tags inserted permanently into a pre-determined fraction (e.g., some number less than 100%) of the textile products. In conjunction with scanning equipment and computer software, the system can provide information on inventory movement, use, abuse, durability, and loss. In order to determine the optimal target fraction for each inventory item a number of variables are considered.