Auto-ID Technologies Research Articles

Auto Identification Technology and Its Impact on Patient Safety in the Operating Room of the Future

Automatic identification technologies, such as bar coding and radio frequency identification, are ubiquitous in everyday life but virtually nonexistent in the operating room. User expectations, based on everyday experience with automatic identification technologies, have generated much anticipation that these systems will improve readiness, workflow, and safety in the operating room, with minimal training requirements. We report, in narrative form, a multi-year experience with various automatic identification technologies in the Operating Room of the Future Project at Massachusetts General Hospital. In each case, the additional human labor required to make these ;labor-saving' technologies function in the medical environment has proved to be their undoing. We conclude that while automatic identification technologies show promise, significant barriers to realizing their potential still exist. Nevertheless, overcoming these obstacles is necessary if the vision of an operating room of the future in which all processes are monitored, controlled, and optimized is to be achieved.

An architecture for agent-based mobile Supply Chain Event Management

Supply Chain Event Management (SCEM) is an approach aiming to fill the gap between Supply Chain Planning and Supply Chain Execution. The goal of SCEM applications is to monitor the states of supply chains by observing specific events and exceptions in real-time and alerting managers if problems occur. This paper presents an architecture for a mobile SCEM system based on software agents, Auto-ID technologies, and mobile computing. It introduces the main layers and components of this architecture. A special focus is placed on web services, mobile user interfaces, and integration of a multi-agent platform as innovative solutions to improve SCEM.

Technology to improve quality and accountability

A body of evidence has been accumulated to demonstrate that current practice is not sufficiently safe for several stages of central laboratory testing. In particular, while analytical and perianalytical steps that take place within the laboratory are subjected to quality control procedures, this is not the case for several pre- and post-analytical steps. The ubiquitous application of auto-identification technology seems to represent a valuable tool for reducing error rates. A series of projects in Oxford has attempted to improve processes which support several areas of laboratory medicine, including point-of-care testing, blood transfusion, delivery and interpretation of reports, and support of decision-making by clinicians. The key tools are auto-identification, Internet communication technology, process re-engineering, and knowledge management.

PRODUCT-DRIVEN CONTROL IN MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS USING IEC 61499 AND RFID TECHNOLOGY

To achieve re-configurability, reusability and flexibility of manufacturing systems, this paper extends a method for re-configuration of control on machine level by the use of auto-identification technology. The scheduling-based control concepts of Functionality Based Control (FBC) and Scheduler, Selector and Synchronizer (S3) are extended for a setting with RFID-technology (for product identification). Using this combination product-driven control can be achieved. Each product brings its own processing schedule on an RFID tag read by a RFID reader at the machines. Using a drill station as example, the calculation of processing schedules for a machine depending on newly arriving products is illustrated.

Software review: Auto-ID technology in retail and its potential application in marketing

This paper describes the Auto-ID technology and its key components. It explores some of the issues associated with its widespread use. Finally it explores its potential business applications in marketing.

The Impact of Auto-ID Technology in Materials Handling Systems

Auto ID lechnology is a very powerful tool that will open the way for new method, and solutions for handling. In general Materials Handling refers to the necessary tasks to be perfomed in order to move load around the factory floor as well as to store and freight it. This paper highlights the impact that the introduction of Auto-ID technology will have in various industrial Materials Handling Systems. Current limitation s in these systems are analyzed and some examples are presented to out line the importance of Auto-ID in solving specific prohlems.

The growing "magic" of automatic identification

Automatic identification represents a set of technologies that seems to work like magic. It's knowing instantly what's in a crate from 30 feet away; talking or looking into a machine that will automatically unlock a door; laser zapping a simple stamp-sized paper-and-ink symbol that describes an entire truck's contents; or instantly identifying a fingerprint-an unalterable and unique personal key to secure banking. Diverse auto ID technologies have, in fact, become so seamless and transparent to the end user that they do perform business magic for countless corporations and institutions around the world, reducing errors and speeding up processes and delivery by times, resulting in major cost savings up and down the supply chain, and really providing tools that allow people to do their job more effectively. From barcodes, to biometrics and beyond, the future holds exciting challenges and opportunities for the field of auto ID.

Attitudes towards auto-ID technologies within the UK construction industry

Automatic identification (auto-ID) technologies such as bar coding have become widespread within manufacturing, medicine and retailing. Bar coding has also attracted many applications within the US construction industry, providing tangible cost savings through improved speed and accuracy of data entry. However, over the past decade the rate of adoption of auto-ID among UK construction firms has been significantly lower than the US. This paper presents the findings of a UK survey of construction organizations, designed to ascertain key factors which attract firms to use auto-ID, the barriers which have prevented some from doing so, and future developments which are perceived as important in encouraging more widespread adoption of the technology within the UK construction supply chain. Key issues identified include a low level of awareness of auto-ID technologies and the absence of appropriate industry standards. Recommendations include the establishment of a standards body and educational initiatives to promote auto-ID solutions.

Auto-ID application in construction

Auto-ID technologies such as bar coding have been used in the retailing and manufacturing industries for many years, yet their use within the construction industry has been very limited. The technology has improved considerably over the past 20 years and there are opportunities for its application to construction. This paper considers the technology and the barriers to its application in construction. Consideration is given to how other industries have adopted auto-ID and the driving forces of change. A framework for the development of an auto-ID standard in construction is described.

The role of automatic identification (Auto ID) in the computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) architecture

Time availability of manufacturing information in the right place and in a usable format has a direct bearing on how organization resources are used to effect the required value-added activities on a product to impart economic value to the end product. The CIM architecture provides a definition and structure to tail or the knowledge base for easy access and utilization to accomplish organizational goals. Most organizations have pockets of localized information domains stemming from individual or group innovativeness in their efforts to overcome obstacles in any given project. Unfortunately, most of this information is not tapped and further disseminated for use at a later time to solve similar problems. There is thus a need, within the CIM architecture construct, for complete and flexible information flow, capturing the procedures for each task. Once capture, timely distribution is required to enable decisions to be made based on up-to-date information. A number of Automatic identification (Auto ID) technologies exist to aid in dealing with informtion capture and dissemination in an automated manufacturing environment, and thus facilitate implementation of the CIM architecture, to address the time value of information in decision making. This paper will examine how Auto ID technologies such as bar code technology, radio frequency technologies and others fit into the structure of CIM architecture, to provide the informational relationships in an organization to link at the facets of the CIM architecture, and provide the knowledge required for the organization to be competitively productive.