We are about to have a real problem

[Old Partner]

Software Giant SAP to Work with UA MIS Researchers

By University Communications
December 21, 2006

Contact Information
Linda Herrick, Eller College of Management
(520) 626-2590
[email protected]


When a company chooses to go beyond its walls for new ideas, it makes sense to select researchers from a top-tier university. When SAP Americas, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP AG, selected UA Eller College’s Management Information Systems (MIS) department, it created an alliance for leading-edge research.

The Eller College of Management’s top-five ranked MIS department and SAP recently reached an agreement to collaborate on a research project that aims to revolutionize supply-chain efficiency. This is the first time that SAP, the world’s largest business software company, has tapped an Arizona university to engage in such a research-development partnership.

For the next 12 months, Eller College researchers will be working to develop a method to uniquely identify objects using radio frequency identification (RFID)/universally unique identifier (UUID) technology. This project is led by MIS professor Sudha Ram. She and a team of student researchers will work to develop what has been termed by Paul Hofmann, director of external relations/SAP Research Americas, a “DNA for objects.”

The purpose of the unique identification system is to trace what happens to objects in a supply chain. When the technology is fully developed, any manufactured object will be able to communicate its history, status and whereabouts back to the manufacturer, consequently enabling events such as recalls to become more precise. This effort is part of SAP’s leadership in RFID technology solutions that enable adaptive business networks and help global companies improve their supply chains to be best-run businesses.

 

[Manedwolf]

Don't worry too much. The only real use I see this happening in is GOOD uses, like medical devices, which should be tracked anyway.

A lot of hospital stockroom/supply chain people are inattentive and will give long-expired goods like surgical repair mesh and stents to surgeons to implant in patients. It'd be nice if the manufacturers could, at a glance, see which of their products in various stockrooms were expired. It saves patients and keeps things out of the courts.

 

[308win]

I wouldn't be too concerned. This is old technology and SAP isn't an innovator.

 

[S.P.E.C.T.R.E.]

About once a month we get a post about RFID, which has been around for at least 20 years. It's not a tracking device. It is easily defeated, even if put under the skin by JBTs. The range is incredibly short. It can be blocked with tinfoil (you know, the same stuff used to block your brain from being scanned by spy satellites).