Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID)

RFID will become the “Holy Grail” of logistics. RFID tags can be used as a UPC symbol would be used except the difference is that RFID identifies the item even if it is not in you line of sight. An example is when a shopping cart passes through a portal; it will automatically register all items bought in the cart with the associated costs

In the near future, there is going to be a lack of skilled RFID people in logistics. RFID can be used in the following areas:

1. Asset tracking
2. Visibility in the supply chain
3. RTLS – Real time location systems
4. Conventions for people identification
5. Visibility in the supply chain

RFID used the EPC convention, which is called Electronic Product Code. This is demonstrated in the Richard T. Doermer School of Business and Management Sciences RFID prototyping lab in the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC). The following concepts will be demonstrated:

1. Vision Systems
2. Motion Detectors
3. RFID tracking
4. RFID printing of tags
5. EPC Protocol
6. EPC Network
7. Read Field Orientation

RFID is used in the following industries and add real-time visibility:

1. Medical
2. Orthopedics
3. Distribution’
4. Manufacturing
5. Logistics
6. Shipping
7. Yard Management
8. Inventory management

The RFID will be taught in BUFW M575 Advanced Technology Solutions, taught by Robert Palevich.

The class will cover the following areas with certifications of completions:

1. Six-Sigma with a certification after the completion of the project with a company
2. Microsoft Project 2003 with a certification of completion
3. MINITAB
4. Extend Simulation Programming
5. RFID technology with a Certification of completion

The course will cover the topics that industry needs to make their companies more progressive and these are the backgrounds that companies are looking for when hiring new people. The class will do an extensive project for a company and this will give experience that one would need to actually do a six-sigma project.