Multinationals push the technology into global supply chain

Multinationals such as Wal-Mart and Boeing have been instrumental in driving the implementation of RFID technology into global supply chain management systems.

The United States retailer issued a mandate in 2003 to its top 100 suppliers to become RFID-enabled by last year.

Boeing recently announced that 300 suppliers in its next-generation Dreamliner programme would apply 64-kilobyte tags to all parts - with serial number, manufacturer, country of origin and repair history - to raise maintenance efficiency. Toulouse-based Airbus is following suit.

Experts predict that other industries with distributed manufacturing, such as the automotive industry, will be next to follow. The wide application of RFID technology in the consumer space is regarded as an even bigger opportunity for the industry, which is expected to grow from US$1.4billion in 2003 to US$10.9billion by 2009.

It was announced last week that British theme park Alton Towers will be tagging and tracking visitors and identifying them on cameras. The theme park authorities said the technology could be used to boost security, but the main purpose was to create personalised DVDs of the visitors' day for purchase on exit.