The National Cargo Security Council (NCSC) recently announced it is hosting a seminar focused on how Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and related wireless technologies are helping combat a wide range of commercial cargo and homeland security threats. RFID Journal will co-host the seminar, and the publication's executive editor, Mark Roberti, will be a featured speaker at the event.

Slated for Dec. 5-7, 2004 at the Long Beach (CA) Hilton, the seminar will include eight sessions on real-world, real-time solutions leveraging RFID and other automatic identification and data collection technologies, such as sensors, biometrics and satellite tracking systems. The program features 22 world-renowned experts from international manufacturers and shippers, leading consultancies and universities, government and law enforcement agencies, as well as RFID software and hardware providers.

Speakers are confirmed from a range of organizations such as Target Corp., International Paper, Hasbro, Starbucks, Hutchison Port Holdings, Stanford University, Deloitte, AIDC100, RFID Journal and Savi Technology, including many others.

Attendees will visit the Port of Long Beach for a half-day tour and to see how RFID-enabled solutions are being deployed in an innovative, real-time system to track trucks entering and exiting terminal facilities. Early on, consenting attendees will be "RFID tagged" and, at a post-seminar report, learn where they have been during the two days of the program.

An exhibit area will feature leading RFID solution providers, and a number of them will be given the opportunity to address to attendees how their technology helps enhance cargo security.

"Recent RFID mandates by the U.S. Department of Defense, Federal Drug Administration and major retailers, including Wal-Mart and Target, have spotlighted the potential of this technology to optimize how assets are tracked and managed throughout the global supply chain," said Seminar Chairman Mark Nelson of Savi Technology. "Since 9/11 three years ago, RFID technology also has been playing an increasing role in supply chain security, from E-Seals being used on containerized cargo to the authentication of healthcare products from their source to their destination."

"This is the first time experts from the user and provider communities have come together to share their insights on how RFID is being implemented right now for real-world supply-chain and homeland security programs," Nelson added.

"A lot of attention has been focused on RFID's ability to help companies track goods in their supply chain, but RFID does a lot more," said Roberti of the RFID Journal. "This event will focus on an area that is of critical interest to all businesses and government officials -- using RFID to help ensure the integrity of shipments and to prevent the global supply chain from being used as an instrument of terror." KW