UC Irvine Extension Offers Rare Certificate Program On Radio Frequency Identification Devices
Courses Highlight Technology Now Mandated by U.S. Department of Defense and Wal-Mart
IRVINE, Calif. – December 13, 2005 – UC Irvine Extension is introducing a certificate program on Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID), specifically designed to explore this cutting-edge tracking technology and its ability to solve business issues. UC Irvine Extension’s winter quarter will feature two unique courses: Solving Business Problems with Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID), which will meet for four sessions from January 26, 2006 to January 29, 2006, and RFID Technology - Principles and Practices, which will run for four sessions from March 2, 2006 to March 5, 2006.
With organizations like the U.S. Department of Defense and Wal-Mart now mandating that their suppliers use RFID tags on their products, UC Irvine Extension believes this technology will become an important factor in the long-term success of any company doing business at these levels.
“With top institutions now mandating that their suppliers use RFID tags on their products, it’s clear that this technology is here to stay and will become an important factor in the long-term success of anyone doing business at these levels,” says Brian Millsap, Vice President for Hampton Products International. “The implementation of RFID technology will enable businesses to increase their efficiency across the supply chain.”
Existing methods for tracking products, packages, pallets, and other items through a supply chain or for scanning identification cards or tags can require employees to scan barcodes or even read printed information on the sides of packages or other items. RFID technology makes item tracking more efficient because it eliminates the need to physically approach each item in order to capture information about it.
Current real world applications of RFID include point-of-sale transactions (Mobil SpeedPass™), toll road metering (FasTrak™), smart ID cards, luggage handling systems for airports, and more.
“Because the use of this technology is relatively new, few universities or education providers offer courses on the topic,” says Stefano M. Stefan, Assistant Director of Business, Management, Legal and IT Programs for UC Irvine Extension. “Our program is the first and only one of its kind in the country dedicated to the business benefits of this emerging technology. This program is designed for CIOs, directors, supervisors, managers, and logistics personnel needing to understand the business processes and implications of RFID technology and whether it would benefit their companies.”
The RFID Certificate Program will help students understand the potential impact of RFID on business processes and determine return on investment. UC Irvine’s certificate program will feature:
- A high-level overview of RFID for solving business problems
- Technology concepts including the basic physics of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation, antennas, and RF propagation characteristics
- Business processes that RFID can enable
- Tools for managing an RFID implementation project
- Information on open vs. closed system implementation projects
As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. For more information on this seminar please contact Jackie Badwah at 949-824-3413. For more information about UC Irvine Extension visit extension.uci.edu.
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