This half day senior management briefing provides strategic and tactical perspective on the business and technology drivers, challenges, benefits and solutions associated with this new, enabling technology. Briefing topics include:

• Why RFID: the business case for adoption
• Key concepts, practices, realities and misconceptions about RFID
• Essential lessons and results from early adopters
• What works today, what’s possible in the near future
• Good practices for getting an RFID program started
  

This one day “jump-start” course is for the mid-level manager, involved in an RFID initiative, who needs to understand how RFID fundamentally works and can add value to an organization. RFID-121 covers the functional business and technology basics of RFID including operational principles, components, applications, value propositions and planning/implementation good practices. The class contains high-level summaries of our five day RFID Foundation. Topics include:

• The business rationale for RFID
• Key concepts and co mponents of a total RFID solution – from sensing to data synchronization
• Differences between RFID and bar code auto-identification technology
• Truths and misconceptions about RFID
• The science behind RFID: different RF frequencies for different types of solutions
• The business proposition for RFID: applications that work today
• Good practices for getting an RFID program started
• Balancing people, process and technology for effective RFID project results

“RFID Essential Principles and Practices” is an operational level course for those who need to understand the essential elements of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and facilitate its practical application for organizational improvement initiatives. This three day class is designed to build RFID technical and business awareness in preparation for participating in an RFID project. Topics covered in this class include:

• The history and rationale for RFID Technology
• Essential RFID Basic Concepts and Components
• The Science Behind Radio Frequency Technology
• RFID Tags, Labels, Readers, Antennas and Printers
• RFID System Performance and Design
• The Role of Middleware in RFID Solutions
• RFID Data Management & Synchronization
• RFID and Enterprise Systems Integration
• Current and Emerging RFID Standards
• RFID Security and Privacy Issues
• Business Transformation and RFID Planning
• Best Practices for Getting Started with RFID

Course RFID-151 incorporates a layered approach to learning RFID. It begins with a look at the historical evolution and business rationale for RFID; it then quickly dives into the core concepts and components of the technology.

As the student begins to build competency with foundation RFID skills, the course incorporates the vital principles of Radio Frequency (RF) physics to develop the discipline for designing systems for real world conditions. Building on these essential science principles, the course progresses through several systems-oriented modules focused on the key aspects of a complete RFID solution, including: tags, labels, printers, readers, antennas, middleware, network and back end systems. This end-to-end solution perspective is further refined through course modules dedicated to systems integration, performance design and RFID data management.

The second part of the course focuses on complementing new technical know-how with business principles and best practices that play essential roles in successfully planning and deploying RFID solutions. Topics covered to help the student participate in an RFID program include: RFID security and privacy, business transformation and effective methods for starting and conducting an RFID program. The course concludes with an open discussion of how people, process and technology considerations must be concurrently addressed to build effective RFID solutions.

The RFID Comprehensive Foundation Program is a five-day, hands-on training “boot camp” for program/project leaders that need a deeper and broader understanding of all the people, process and technology factors involved in managing an RFID initiative. RFID-171 is our most comprehensive fundamentals program designed to build greater technical competency and business awareness in preparation for a lead project planning and implementation role. Topics included in this comprehensive fundamentals course include:

• Why RFID? Business Needs and Solutions
• History of Auto-Identification Technology
• RFID Basic Concepts and Components
• RFID Current and Emerging Standards
• The Science Behind Radio Frequency Technology
• RFID System Performance and Design Issues
• Wireless Communications: Connecting Components
• RFID Tags, Labels, Readers, Antennas and Printers
• The Role of Middleware in RFID Solutions
• RFID and Data Management & Synchronization
• RFID and Enterprise Systems Integration
• Business Process Transformation and RFID Solutions
• RFID Security and Privacy Issues
• Building a Business Case for RFID
• Practical Considerations for Getting Started
• Undertaking an RFID Pilot
• RFID in the Future: Emerging Trends and Technologies

RFID 171 incorporates a layered approach to learning RFID. It begins with a review of what is driving the need for auto-identification solutions and the history of how RFID has evolved from its origins. Course 171 quickly progresses into the concepts , standards , components , and application of the technology. Class room lecture is reinforced with hands-on lab to build the essential educational “bridges” from learning to seeing and then doing.

As the project lead begins to build competency with basic RFID skills , the course incorporates principles of Radio Frequency (RF) physics and related engineering practices to develop the skills for designing systems for real world conditions. Building on these RFID skills , the course provides several systems-oriented modules to help the student explore key aspects of RFID solution planning , including : wireless communications , middleware , data management and systems integration. This broad foundation in technical know-how is complemented by a series of course modules covering key business considerations including : security and privacy , business transformation and building a business case for RFID.

This one day course covers the unique issues, requirements and methods associated with effective RFID program management. It provides a variety of examples and case studies to encourage good practices, as well as avoid stumbling blocks, during implementation. Topics covered include:

• Essential considerations for working with RFID under real world conditions
• Site assessment and solution planning
• Physical environment challenges and RFID performance
• Determining the appropriate mix of RFID solution components
• Creating an RFID pilot plan
• Designing an end-to-end RFID solution
• Challenges and issues for transitioning from pilot to production mode

Students will be exposed to the variety of solution components currently in the market as well as methods to understand and select the appropriate technology for their organization.

Course prerequisite: Fundamentals RFID-151, RFID- 171 or equivalent.

Among the many hurdles to overcome, with the adoption of any new technology, is business justification. Ironically, the seemingly extensive potential inherent in RFID is matched by its elusiveness to conventional, quantitative ROI analysis and business case development. “Getting ROI from RFID” was developed with this challenge in mind.

Understanding the business rationale for RFID requires looking deep into the enabling characteristics of the technology to understand the linkages between organizational goals, operational performance, work process and new business functionality that can result in value creation. This synergy between new combinations of people, process and technology requires creative and expanded approaches to traditional ROI analysis to substantiate true business value. This course equips the student with new, innovative techniques to analyze and define the business case for RFID. Topics covered in this course include:

• Why organizations are pursuing RFID
• Understanding RFID as an enabler of new business capabilities
• The compelling link between RFID functionality and business benefit
• Leveraging the RFID toolset for operational, tactical and strategic advantage
• Value creation through RFID enabled process improvement
• The impact of RFID Technology Maturity Tipping-points (TMTs) on project value assessment
• New types of business value – new components of RFID justification
• RFID applications and their ROI potential
• Short, intermediate and long term aspects of RFID value creation
• Incorporating new ROI components into your business case for RFID

RFID will create an unprecedented level of additional new data. How does the enterprise deal with this data and turn it info high value information? This one day course addresses the creation of an RFID information management strategy. Students should be business process owners and IT professionals who are responsible for/owners of the data management strategy for the enterprise. Topics covered include:

• Who needs RFID data?
• Owning, manage and ensuring the accuracy of RFID data
• Issues and guidelines for RFID data access and use
• Destination systems for RFID data storage
• Cross enterprise RFID data sharing for the life of a product or a process
• Strategy to secure RFID data
• Trading partners and how they connect/synch up
• Technology vendors: data synchronization approaches and middleware strategies
• Current and emerging standards for RFID data management

This one day course is a process centric program for IT staff and business planners. It focuses on the organizational change aspects of RFID implementation. Topics covered include:

• Identifying business requirements for an RFID enabled business process
• The impact of RFID on organizational processes
• RFID data collection needs based on processes and business requirements
• Time and business constraints impacting the adoption of RFID
• Replacing other data collection technologies (i.e., bar-coding , etc.)
• Integrating RFID functionality into existing applications
• Re-aligning people, process and technology to promote effective organizational change

Course pre-requisites:RFID Fundamentals RFID-151 or RFID-171, and RFID Implementation Principles RFID-201, or equivalent background.

RFID 308 is a technology centric, one day course for implementers. It covers the software implementation and systems integration issues essential to building a sound RFID-enabled operating environment. Topics to be covered include:

• RFID systems integration challenges and approaches
• Enabling WMS, Transportation and Logistics, Merchandizing and other enterprise systems with RFID
• Integration based on EPC Global - Network Services model
• The new role of edgeware and middleware in an RFID enhanced IT infrastructure
• Data management in an RFID enabled systems environment

This course is for recommended for IT project staff. Course prerequisites: RFID-151 or RFID-171, RFID-201 and RFID-307, or equivalent.

This one day course explores how RFID can be leveraged by retailers for various business performance improvement projects that can lower cost, improve productivity and create competitive advantage. Topics covered include:

• How to enhance the customer experience and take merchandising to the next level
• Using RFID for the Retail Supply Chain-- reduce out-of-stock , increase supply chain visibility and manage the logistics flow
• Retail from the back of the store to Point of Sale – how to use RFID to support store operations , improve productivity, reduce pricing errors and improve stocking and inventory management
• How suppliers can get value from customer mandates—electronic proof of delivery , in store visibility , managing returns , etc.
• RFID in unique commercial/merchandizing scenarios
• Demonstrations and sample RFID equipment for discussion
• Case studies

This one day class provides a solid foundation for those interested in learning the key elements of RFID and its practical application to the Pharmaceutical, Biotech and Medical Device industries. The course takes the attendee through a series of learning modules designed to build technical competency as well as business awareness of various types of industry challenges and RFID solutions.

The morning session immerses the attendee in RFID concepts, scientific principles, system components and the application of the technology for a complete end-to-end perspective of an RFID-enabled system. The afternoon program builds on the attendee’s new technical awareness and examines specific Life Sciences business challenges driving the need for RFID solutions. Topics covered in this class include:

• Essential RFID principles with specific applicability to the pharmaceutical & medical equipment and devices
• How RFID deployment can enhance the product life cycle in manufacturing processes, the supply chain and the healthcare provider network
• RFID and manufacturing process improvement
• RFID enhanced packaging challenges & benefits
• Using RFID for high value asset tracking and management
• How to plan and undertake an RFID initiative
• Demonstrations and sample RFID equipment for discussion
• Key insights into leading edge RFID Life Sciences projects

This one day course focuses on the use of RFID to track and record location, temperature and other types of sensor related status information of pharmaceutical products as they flow through the Pharmaceutical/Biotech manufacturing and distribution supply chain. Topics covered include:

• Essential RFID Cold Chain principles and components with specific applicability to the pharmaceutical & biotech industries
• Understanding the synergies between radio frequency identification, sensors, and wireless networks
• Utilizing RFID active tagging for Cold Chain process improvement
• Understanding an end-to-end RFID Cold Chain solution
• Challenges, benefits and approaches to RFID-enabled Cold Chain solutions
• Demonstration of sensor-based, active tag RFID solution components
• Case studies: projects in progress today, capabilities planned for tomorrow

This one day course addresses the use of RFID in hospital and related clinical settings, including specifics on suitable applications, safety issues , benefits , etc. The course also explores the complex information system environment in place in clinical settings and how the data captured through RFID can be integrated with legacy and future applications. Topics covered include:

• RFID principles and components with specific applicability to Hospitals, Healthcare providers and Medical Devices Manufacturers
• Understanding the differences between RFID and bar code auto-identification technology
• Key challenges and benefits of RFID use in a clinical setting
• Understanding the ROI from RFID in health care
• Exploring RFID-enabled clinical process improvements, including
• Patient monitoring and tracking
• High value asset management
• Pharmaceutical dispensing control
• Facilities management
• Case studies – what’s being done today, what’s in the works for tomorrow
• RFID for Health Care solution demonstration