10-12-2007, 11:53 AM
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Asia Sets the RFID Standard for Process Improvement
Issue #119 | Oct. 12, 2007 | by Fraser Jennings
I have just returned from making a presentation on standards at an RFID event in Guangzhou, China. This is my second presentation in three weeks in Asia, the other in Seoul two weeks prior. I tell you this only as background for my main point:
Asia is quickly embracing RFID technology. Government involvement and RFID standards are a key element of their strategy.
There is much press around the importance of Asia in the global supply chain because of their role as supplier to the world. While much of Asia’s RFID focus is on improving the efficiency of the global supply chain, the good news is their significant emphasis on the use of RFID technology in other areas.
Looking to RFID for economic growth
From my perspective, Asia is leading the world in adopting RFID technology for process improvement. It is clear that unlike the United States and Europe, Asian governments are willing to invest in RFID technology as a tool for economic growth. While other parts of our globe dabble in implementation, the efforts in Asia are supported by government agencies focused on endorsing/developing standards to improve processes.
Korea is leading the way with numerous initiatives being supported by the government. The world’s most wired country was the first to implement frequency regulations that support the international standards for active and passive RFID. China has initiated funding for numerous pilot projects looking at improving their supply chain, not just internationally, but domestically as well. Japan is funding RFID related pilots within their country and elsewhere.
Japan quickly followed with regulation supporting passive RFID regulation and just this past December passed supporting regulation for implementation of active. The Ministry of Economics Trade and Industry is not only funding RFID-related pilots within their country to drive improvements with supply chain in Japan, they are also conducting pilots in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam to help Japanese companies with operations there improve logistics processes.
China implemented supporting regulations for active RFID in 2005 and for passive RFID this past April. China’s focus is both on their external customers such as Wal-Mart, as well as internal processes. They are endorsing international standards to facilitate the flow of goods internationally while looking at the development of internal standards to improve process such as pharmaceutical accountability. Additionally, they are working closely with the EU in the use of RFID-based security for intermodal containers.
A collective effort
Further Japan, Korea and China have formed a joint working group looking at harmonizing the use of RFID between the three countries. They are looking at using this forum to share lesson learned and developing standardized approaches. These are only the biggest examples of many Asian countries taking clear action to facilitate the implementation of RFID technology.
Each of these countries is involved in international standards developments for both passive and active RFID. Numerous companies have allocated resources to help drive these standards to completion and are committed to adoption. Additionally, they have been key drivers in the EPCglobal Transportation and Logistics Systems initiative and are leading the way to establish an action group focused on using RFID on consumer electronic goods.
For example, Japan is deeply involved in both air interface as well as data structures for ISO SC 31 and has been a key driver in the EPCglobal Transportation and Logistics Systems initiative. Korea has played a key role in the development of application standards such as those developed under ISO TC 104 for freight container monitoring. China’s focus has been primarily on monitoring ISO efforts with the clear intention of adoption while developing national standards such as the implementation of RFID in their national ID cards.
Sensors and RFID
Perhaps the most noteworthy effort is Korea’s Ubiquitous Sensor and RFID Network effort. Through this initiative they are looking at standardizing the use of both RFID and sensors in everything from point of sale to intermodal container monitoring.
These are just the biggest examples of Asian countries taking clear action that will accelerate the growth of RFID. Each of these countries is taking these actions after actively pursuing standards development around this technology. The focus of these countries is the use of RFID to improve both internal and international commerce.
Some may say that social issues such as privacy are less restrictive throughout much of Asia and as a result, technology tends to be implemented faster. I disagree. The reality is that the Asian governments’ initiatives are clearly focused on improvement and have garnered support and acceptance of the importance of making RFID technology “ubiquitous.”
Fraser Jennings is Vice President of Standards and Regulatory Activities at Savi Technology, Inc., a Lockheed Martin Company. www.savi.com
Last edited by AndyKowl : 10-13-2007 at 02:10 PM.
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