Aug. 6, 2008 – RFID Switchboard is pleased to work with the Berlin Institute of Technology to increase the response of their survey (at end of this interview). Our own German speaking, managing editor Stefanie Karp asks Eugen Truschkin about their goals.

Tell us about the goal of Ko-RFID.

There are three main goals to achieve. First, is the visualization of the potential of RFID applied in supply chains and logistic processes, mainly in the area of production and trade. Second, we intend to gather information about inter-corporate collaborations, enhanced by RFID. Third, we want to achieve the development of decision support tools for collaboration in RFID driven value chain networks.

We understand the project is government funded. What is the government's interest in this research?

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology is supporting Ko-RFID as one part of the research program, Next Generation Media.

The governmental support they provide mainly refers to the various opportunities of RFID’s application in inter-corporate supply chains and logistic networks, because this leads to more efficient and secure, as well as more transparent, processes in different industry sectors. Not only big industry and trade companies can take advantage of this, but also small and medium sized businesses.

A governmental concern is to support the use of RFID on this level. The help of a hands-on environment such as in Ko-RFID can improve the usage of RFID’s potentials. This is mainly through the transfer of knowledge between research and development, towards the integration and implementation of RFID related technologies in the companies.

What do you hope to have as an end-product, at the conclusion of your research?

We believe that the true benefits of using RFID can be attained only by using the technology collaboratively.

The project aims at developing a benchmark and best practices for inter-corporate use of RFID. By the end of the project, the industrial partners will have implemented specific RFID applications. The main objective of the project is to achieve the collaborative use of RFID by project partners, such as fashion company Garry Weber and automaker Daimler.

Let me list a range of other results we hope are obtained. For example, this should become a cost-benefit analysis tool, that will help companies determine if it makes sense to join a network of RFID users.

We look for RFID based logistics and event management, which will allow the partners to react to events, or delays and mistakes, in a more timely and accurate manner. We shall look at data security aspects in RFID-based environment and analyzing the state of RFID-related standardization.

Who will benefit from this research project?

Industry partners will benefit from the integration of fundamental knowledge and research. All industries would benefit from best-practice solutions; better decision support mechanisms; the cost-benefit-sharing tools and event-management-systems that RFID can enable.

We are glad to provide your open survey (see link below) aimed at companies with previous experience using RFID as part of their logistics. How do you hope companies will approach responding to this survey?

Companies that plan to or have already implemented an RFID-based solution are invited to share some of their learnings. Until today, more than 80 participants worldwide have completed the web based questionnaire.

Each of the participants will receive an exclusive Management Summary of the survey results. This report will allow them to compare their implementation approach with leading RFID users from different countries. Addressing the implementation of RFID from a very holistic point of view, instead of focusing single aspects such as costs or technology issues, we hope to gain even more companies willing to contribute to our research.

Many leading RFID organizations such as RFID Switchboard, RFID Journal and GS1 have supported our research by posting a call for participation in their newsletters.


EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are interested in taking part, please follow the link: Studie "RFID in der Logistik - Aspekte einer erfolgreichen Einf�hrung"*- Ko-RFID

For further information about the survey, please contact
Eugen Truschkin
Berlin Institute of Technology
E-Mail: truschkin@logistik.tu-berlin.de
Web: Fakult�t VII Wirtschaft & Management: Bereich Logistik

For general information about the project KO-RFID, please contact
Gerrit Tamm
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
E-Mail: tamm@wiwi.hu-berlin.de
Web: Willkommen*- Ko-RFID