Assets lifecycle management made easy: Singapore Polytechnic implements RFID with help from Siemens Business Services

The solution installed by Siemens Business Services, a global IT services provider, at the school’s workshop allows the staff to create and store data of assets, record loans and provide maintenance information if the assets are on repairs. Instead of manual recording and allocation, the new solution enables the workshop to use a specially-written Web-based system with the support of Oracle database XE to record and display assets information more accurately, reliably and up to date. The workshop assets are equipped with tags that are developed on a cost-effective hybrid RFID and barcode technology concept.

The system will allocate functional assets to users like staff and students, and these users have to acknowledge the loans in the system using fingerprint authentication. This allows the school to verify the authenticity of the users. The movement and loan history of the assets will also be recorded in the system.

In addition, the system allows cataloging of assets in common groups for quicker and easier search. Furthermore, the system can assign assets to projects by guiding users through a variety of useful information such as the number of assets available for allocation, the number of assets ordered and the assets pending delivery from suppliers. It also allows expendable assets to be written off after projects.

Siemens has more 25 years of RFID experience and has installed 250,000 readers globally. In particular, Siemens Business Services has been in the forefront of RFID implementations with projects awarded by Unilever Italy, SCA, Kuehne + Nagel, Kaufhof Warenhaus AG, Otto, Saarbruecken clinic, and Jacobi Medical Center. The company also launched a RFID prototype for tracking and managing public transports in March this year.

Siemens Business Services is an internationally leading IT service provider. This Siemens Group offers services all along the entire value chain – from consulting to systems integration, right through to the management of IT infrastructures. Thanks to its comprehensive know-how and sector-specific expertise, the company provides measurable added value for its customers. With regard to outsourcing, Siemens Business Services is among the top ten providers worldwide. With around 39,000 employees, the Group posted sales in fiscal 2005 (ending 30 September 2005) of EUR 5.4 billion, 75 percent of which was achieved outside the Siemens organization. For more information about Siemens Business Services Singapore, please visit: www.siemens.com.sg/sbs