Managing Automation - March 2009 - (Page 31)

of IDEAS? To facilitate retailer mandates, RFID technology providers created industrial track-and-trace applications — and then many turned their attention to the lucrative consumer market. Have they left a void in manufacturing? BY CHRIS CHIAPPINELLI or years, RFID technology has suffered from an image problem in manufacturing circles, where retailer mandates forced the technology’s introduction and left some plant managers and operational folks with a bitter aftertaste. As the industrial adoption rate has ticked sluggishly upward, some RFID technology providers have headed for more lucrative shores, spending their R&D dollars on consumer- and healthcare-focused applications, such as pet tracking and medical equipment tracking. In the wake of those defections, questions emerge: Is RFID in manufacturing at a standstill? Have providers covered all the terrain they’re going to cover with applications for work-in-process, tools, and people tracking? The answer to both questions is an emphatic “no,” according to experts. That’s probably to be expected. After all, analysts who cover the RFID industry have tended to display a relentless optimism, even during periods of stagnation. From the analyst ranks, the outlook for RFID is almost unerringly upbeat, a fact that has contributed to the technology’s image problem. Indeed, a recent study by RFID researcher Burnell Reports found that prospective RFID customers “are harder to influence than ever before,” and that “eight of the 10 most recognized RFID leaders had their recognition rankings decline from the original industry leadership study conducted in 2006.” Still, the rah-rah forecasts stem from a belief that the technology works, and works well. The truth is, RFID remains a rugged frontier, with many areas of adoption still unsettled. For a balanced view of RFID, it may be helpful to look at recent innovations. Outside the world’s factories, RFID tags are finding their way into many novel deployments — drivers’ licenses, fresh seafood, the family dog, and others. Inside the manufacturing sphere, we hear a familiar tune: work in process tracking, asset Photo: Michal Szota 31 March 2009 ma

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - March 2009

Managing Automation - March 2009 Contents Take 1 Sober Outlook, Cost-Cutting Techniques Dominate at Automation Conference Sale Canceled, i2 Searches for Its Focus Accenture Unveils a Service for the Factory Floor Solar Is Bright Spot for MES Player Eyelit Other Industries Outspent Auto on Robots in 2008 Integrators to Play a Bigger Role at ILS Technology Notes Deep Dive Supply Chains Reader Poll Technology Directions Expert Q&A User Resources Special Report Transformation Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - March 2009

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