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GE Makes Significant Progress with RFID Technology

October 05, 2005

EVENDALE, OH - GE-Aviation has successfully launched RFID (radio frequency identification) technology in its shipping and receiving logistics for aircraft engines spare parts. 

GE-Aviation began testing RFID technology on its spare parts several years ago and began operating its first system earlier this year. "In February 2005, we became one of the first aerospace manufacturers to successfully operate a closed-loop RFID system," said Teo Ruscin, RFID Program lead. "This means that we are shipping RFID-enabled spare parts from our Lynn (Massachusetts) Flight Support Center to the Erlanger (Kentucky) Distribution center, where the RFID tags are read when the materiel is received. The RFID technology provides productivity gains by eliminating manual bar code scans and has prepared us for compliance with the Department of Defense's RFID policy that goes into effect in early 2006." 

GE is also testing RFID technology with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which manages the stocking and distribution of assets for the U.S. Armed Forces. "Since June 2005, GE has shipped RFID-enabled spare parts to the DLA's Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, facility," said John Hamilton Manager, leader of GE-Aviation's Logistics Operations. "RFID has become a demonstrated information technology tool that we will leverage to new or existing logistic processes to meet evolving customer requirements." 

Beyond the shipping/receiving logistics of spare parts, GE-Aviation is also investigating additional usage of RFID technology. "We realize RFID technology can have a significant impact on our productivity," said Ruscin. "We are running several pilot projects, using the technology further up the supply chain. RFID has the potential to increase productivity, improve inventory control and asset location, and reduce working capital. We view the technology as more than just a way to reduce costs, but as an enabler to improve business processes and proactively help our customers." 

GE-Aviation, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also is a global provider of maintenance and support services for operators of GE jet engines.