Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology plays an important role in supply chains by providing possibilities of improved security, efficiency and visibility of item tracking and management. In order to achieve the expected functionality of RFID technology, it is critical to understand factors that influence RFID transponder performance.The objective of this research was to determine the effect of packaging materials on the performance of passive UHF RFID transponders in a simulated manufacturing environment. Three general-purpose passive transponders were tested when they were attached to four packaging materials. Performance parameters of read range, which is the maximum distance the transponder can be detected by the interrogator, and orientation read rate, which is the percentage of orientations in which the transponder was read, out of the randomly chosen set of orientations evaluated based on rotation, tilt, or incline of the transponder within three-dimensional space, were quantified and analyzed. The results showed that packaging materials had a consistent effect on read range and orientation read rate across different antenna designs of passive dipole antenna transponders. Transponder antenna designs had a significant effect on read range and orientation read rate. Interrogator antenna polarizations had a significant effect on transponder read range but did not have a consistent effect on transponder orientation read rate.
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