Photo Anodized - Best Product for UID

We are often asked what exactly are photo anodized products and why do we recommend them for with UID applications? Unlike other surface markings (i.e. laser engraving), photo anodized products are produced using a photo imaging process that photographically reproduces the image and through the anodizing process seals the image within the anodic layer of the aluminum. This protects the product from chemicals, abrasion and dirt.

Approximately 90% of the UID nameplates and labels we sell are made of photo anodized aluminum. The fact that durability and longevity are key aspects when selecting a marking method for your UID tracking program is a primary reason photo anodized products work so well and why we are so confident recommending them for UID applications. Of course they work excellent with many other applications too it’s just that durability is a specific requirement for UID products. According to the UID Specification Business Rule 14 states "the physical marks that contain the UII-required elements should remain legible until the item is destructed." Tests conducted on temperature resistance, abrasion and thermal shock clearly indicate the durability of photo anodized products. These test results are available on our website at http://www.idplate.com/.

Do you have any questions about photo anodized products for UID or any other application? We’d love to hear your comments.

UID, UDI, DoD and the FDA

Wow - that's a lot of letters! Believe it or not, they are all related to asset tracking. The first two are mandates/rules for identifying items and the last two are the organizations/governing bodies that are proposing and/or enforcing them. I just returned from the UDI conference last week in Orlando. UDI - which stands for Unique Device Identification - is a new rule being proposed by the FDA. Now this is not to be confused with UID (Unique Item Identification) a mandate set forth by the Department of Defense in 2004.

The objective of both mandates is actually very similar - much like their acronyms - create a unique number which is then used to identify a specific item or device and, in the case of UID, track the item throughout its lifecycle. Both mandates are aimed at improving asset visibility with UDI's focus initially more on the supply chain side.

Having been heavily involved with UID for several years now I found the UDI conference very interesting. It reminded me of the first UID forum I attended four years ago in San Diego when people were just learning about UID and how it would impact them. At that time the UID spec was already out; whereas the UDI spec will not be finalized until next spring so right now people aren't 100% sure what will be required of them. Right now it doesn't appear that there will be a required technology, unlike UID where a 2D bar code is the actual UII mark. Bar code - both linear and 2D were discussed at the conference as well as RFID.

Even though it has been out there for a number of years, UID is still in its early stages with new contracts now including the requirement, some existing contracts being amended to incorporate UID and legacy deadlines in place for various items in 2010 and 2015. It will be very interesting to monitor the growth of UDI and see what other similarities the two mandates have besides their name.

RFID Vehicle Tracking Applications

When selecting or designing an RFID label for your vehicle tracking application ask yourself these questions. Will a passive tag work? Contrary to popular belief depending on required read range passive tags will work for many vehicle tracking applications including access control for secured parking, gated communities, car washes, etc.

Do you want to mount the tag inside or outside the vehicle? Exposing the tag to outdoor elements including UV rays will affect the longevity of the tag and will also require a more durable tag construction.

How will the inlay perform on the glass windshield? Some inlays require an isolator to properly read because of potential RF interference from the metal alloy in the glass. Other inlays are engineered to work in close proximity to the glass and do not need an isolator to act as a stand-off. In fact they perform better without it.

Would you like additional security features integrated into the RFID label? The above illustration shows an RFID label that can be used for vehicle tracking that has security slits in the label design to render the tag unusable if someone attempts to remove it. Would you like printing on the RFID label? What about printing on both sides? Four color printing enhances the overall look of the tag while printing on both sides allows you to print your company logo and advertising message on the backside.

Do you want to include a bar code on the RFID label? Printing a bar code on the tag that matches the information encoded in the RFID inlay allows you to access or track information using either technology or you can track additional information by using the bar code to match up to database information.

UID Going Strong at Orlando Forum

Last week I attended the UID Forum held in Orlando, Florida. Hard to believe it, but this is the 12th UID Forum that has been held since 2005 and Metalcraft has exhibited at every single one of them. Personally, I hadn't been to one since 2007 so I was pleasantly surprised at not only the sheer number of people - unofficially their largest one ever at over 1,000 attendees - but also at the maturity of the questions people were now asking. Yes, there were still some people who were new to the concept of UID - and that is to be expected. However, there were also those who realize they need to be UID compliant for compliance-sake, but also wanted to be able to use the data for their own purpose taking it "beyond compliance." Many of these people had been doing some form of asset tracking for their internal use and now want to tie it into UID. That's the great thing about databases - they can be tied together on the backend with a like field and in this case the like field can be the unique identifier. Used in this manner the asset tracking program provides more value to the user. Obviously this is not a new concept - it's not even the first time I have heard it at one of the forums. Usually, however, it is the vendor and/or presenter that is suggesting it. I think it is excellent that the users themselves are trying to incorporate this into their UID/asset management strategy. It truly does show how far we have come since that first forum in 2005.

The Economic Impact of Asset Tracking

You can’t turn on the news these days without hearing about how the economy is affecting one thing or another. I would like to take a radical glass is half full approach and look at how today’s economy could potentially have a positive impact on something – asset tracking. We all know budgets are tight and a lot of new equipment purchases are being delayed. Isn’t that the perfect time to do an internal inventory of the equipment you already have?

Let’s look at the objectives of an asset tracking program. First, it should make a company more efficient – allowing them to know where a specific piece of equipment is and other pertinent information, i.e. maintenance information, etc. Now look at the alternative – companies spending thousands of dollars in manhours alone searching for lost assets; purchasing unnecessary replacement equipment only to find the “lost” equipment later. In addition, unused assets may be an unnecessary tax liability and cause a company to overpay insurance premiums.

Implementing an effective asset tracking program is not terribly difficult. Different technologies are available, i.e. bar code and/or RFID depending on the needs of your specific company. Metalcraft’s Property Management Guide helps companies implement an asset tracking program.

We all need to be careful about how we spend our money these days. Companies with an effective asset tracking program will be ahead of the game when the economy turns around (and, yes, it will turn around). And seriously, who wouldn’t want that?

Happy Belated Birthday Bar Code!

I recently read an article commemorating the anniversary of the first commercial bar code usage. Did you know that the first item that was scanned using bar code technology was a 10 pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum? This historic event took place June 26, 1974 at Marsh’s Supermarket in Troy, OH. For those of us in the Auto ID industry this was a pretty significant event.

This same article goes on to state that today over 1,000,000 companies in more than 100 different countries utilize bar code technology for some type of tracking and/or controlling application. I would agree with those numbers – in fact, I would estimate the number of companies employing bar codes is well over 1,000,000. Our own customer database represents all different kinds of companies, schools, hospitals, governmental institutions, manufacturers, service providers, and the list goes on and on. The benefits of using bar code technology are universal and stretch beyond the confinements of any one particular industry. New uses for bar code technology are still being discovered every day. And now with the combination of RFID labels and bar code the applications are almost limitless!

So, although I missed the anniversary this year I will go ahead and mark it on my calendar for next year to commemorate as the bar code turns 36. Who would have thought that a simple pack of gum could have such a lasting impact? Just in case you wanted to know what happened to the historic pack of gum - it is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

Taking UID "Beyond Compliance"

Many people familiar with the UID mandate from the Department of Defense understand compliance with this mandate is very important. However, what people may not realize is that so much more can be accomplished with this information other than just becoming UID compliant. Unique Item Identification is the foundation for larger policy goals aimed at improving logistical readiness across DoD such as Serialized Item Management (SIM) and Joint Total Asset Visibility (JTAV).

Until recently I didn’t understand these concepts, but then I had a “light bulb” moment. The overriding objective for any asset tracking program is to be able to gather information about them and then make decisions based upon that information which either improves processes, saves money or both. Why should that be any different when dealing with UID? Actually, given the nature of what is being tracked, shouldn’t it be even more essential to UID?

Total Asset Visibility (TAV) is a term we are hearing more and more, but what we are not hearing enough about is how that concept can be achieved through UID data. DoD's unique identifiers become a key component in facilitating overall increased asset visibility across the military supply chain by identifying precisely where an item is at and how it is being used. Logisticians can then use this source of information to adjust and manage inventories strategically minimizing the possibility of running out of a critical component.

UID is truly a key enabler of many other efforts that can yield customers a very real return on investment. It really goes beyond compliance to an integral part of military strategy. What do you think? We’d love to hear your comments on UID and TAV.