For years, AIDC (Automatic Identification & Data Capture) technologies such as bar code, UID marking, active and passive RFID, GPS, sensors and SatComm have been helping organizations worldwide enhance their asset management capabilities. Total asset management is the ultimate goal of these organizations, which operate large, complex supply chains.

Automated data collection has the ability to reduce asset data errors, improve asset visibility and utilization, increase efficiency, cut labor costs, and enhance operational readiness and decision making. Asset accountability, including automated inventory checks, is another key benefit of automation, especially as budgets tighten.

The potential is all there, but implementing AIDC is easier said than done.  To be successful, organizations must understand the financial metrics that will justify the investment.  Furthermore, organizations must align existing processes with these new technologies.  The vision has to be there… if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else. But for all of the technological advances and best laid plans, it is often the people who are hands-on with the technology who ultimately determine whether it successfully overcomes asset management challenges.

Organizations investing in AIDC cannot underestimate the “people factor” in facilitating change management.  Quantifiable metrics and  innovative means for leveraging AIDC technology are essential, but it is the people using the technology who will deliver the value at the end of the day.

Tags: AIDC, Asset Management, Automatic Identification and Data Capture, barcode, GPS, Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO), RFID, sensors, SmartChain, Supply Chain, UID, wireless tracking

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 at 5:15 am and is filed under Savi Spotlight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.