Colleges form RFID collaboration

RFID may sound like another technical buzzword these days. But unknowing to most people, RFID is becoming part of many things they own or use every day. There is no need to look far and wide to learn about the technology: North Lake has become the first and only college in Texas to offer a certificate program in RFID.

RFID, or Radio Frequency Identifi cation, uses microchip-embedded tags that can be attached to products, animals or even humans to transmit wireless signals to an electronic reader linked to a computer.

In industries ranging from aerospace to manufacturing to retail, RFID has found applications in areas as diverse as sharing of technical data, handling of library books, prevention of counterfeit products and tracking of hospital patients. Primarily, however, it has revolutionized inventory management for tracking products from factory fl oor to supermarket checkout.

Recently, RFID received a major boon in activity when the U. S. Department of Defense and giant retailer Wal-Mart issued mandates requiring their major suppliers to use RFID technology. RFID Journal reports that the U.S. Department of State plans to begin issuing RFID-embedded electronic passports in August 2006. According to the RFID market analyst IDTechEx, the total value of RFID market is projected to grow exponentially from $2.71 billion in 2006 to $26.23 billions in the next decade.

Given RFID's potential for growth, it is no coincidence that North Lake seized the opportunity to offer the first state-approved RFID certificate program.

“The primary objective for offering the RFID program is to give our students the opportunity to receive knowledge about a growing technology that is becoming a necessity not only in the Dallas metroplex, but around the world,” said North Lake's logistic technology professor, Ruben Johnson, who is in charge of the program.

Johnson was first exposed to RFID in 2001 while working as a warehouse manager. He and North Lake's computer science coordinator Brian Koontz conceived the idea of creating the RFID certification program in 2005. The first RFID class was offered in spring 2006.

“North Lake College is the focal point of several new emerging or re-emerging technology programs, so there is a natural fit between an RFID technology program and our existing logistics program,” Koontz said.

In fall 2005, along with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and University of North Texas (UNT), North Lake formed a collaboration to create a world RFID training center for the United States.

UTA oversees training to test governmental and private industry software and hardware, and makes recommendations to the national RFID standard board. UTD trains senior management from a business leader perspective to understand the need and value of RFID. UNT trains managers in the use of RFID in the supply chain, and North Lake conducts field testing of software, equipment, policies and procedures.

“We're trying to do educational research for new processes and new applications,” said UTA's professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering Dr. John Priest. “We are looking at applications for the future while North Lake looks more at today's applications.”

Johnson said the North Lake program is focused on the end-user applications. “We train the students how to utilize an RFID program, how to implement considerations to buying one for their organizations, and how it can be employed in warehousing, transporting, shipping, and inventory.”

By all appearances, opportunities in RFID will continue to blossom and consequently, the labor market demand for RFID professionals will continue to increase.

“The program will increase our visibility, value, and voice in the community. We want to become a go-to institution for RFID consulting for the local logistical industry,” Johnson said.