RFID Interrogators Grow Up

End Users' Wish Lists
As more businesses, organizations and government agencies deploy RFID to streamline processes, improve supply-chain operations and track assets, they're finding more ways they'd like to use the technology—if only… RFID Journal asked end users what product developments they'd like to see in 2008. Here are their wish lists.


Russell Skinner
VP of business integration
Recall

Last year, the Norcross, Ga., document storage company began deploying RFID in its warehouses to provide audit capabilities for its customers' archived documents. The company plans to roll out the RFID system at its storage warehouses in 23 countries.

"On my wish list are common UHF frequencies and wattage across different countries, because the need to determine, test and commission different readers and antennae for each country is not a seamless process. A more practical wish is components that can handle a broader range of the different frequencies and power settings."


Tom Bradshaw
VP of operations
Wayne Memorial Hospital

The Goldsboro, N.C., hospital has saved more than $300,00 by using an RFID real-time location system to track about 1,000 medical devices, such as infusion pumps, diagnostics machines, computers on wheels, blood warmers and wheelchairs.

"We'd like more utilization data. We're not only interested in locating assets, but also in how much they're being used. With RTLS and utilization data, you can better predict the quantity of equipment you need and take the guesswork out of planning. We'd also like to know the status of the device, whether it's clean and ready to use, and an instant notice, so if an asset is in an area that it's not supposed to be in, an alarm would go off. We'd also like to add patient-flow information, to know how long it takes to get from point A to point B."


Carlo K. Nizam
Head of value-chain visibility and RFID
Airbus

The European jet maker has launched a company-wide RFID program that extends from tracking goods in its global supply chain to manufacturing and in-service operations.

"There are four items on our wish list: a low-cost, simple smart shelf; wearable multifrequency wrist readers; small active tags with two-year battery life that can be used in aerospace tools; and RFID part-marking printers."