Airbus spends millions on IBM-OATSystems RFID

Airbus is looking to an RFID future, after signing a multimillion dollar deal with IBM and OATSystems.

Credit: Airbus

The multiyear deal, announced yesterday, represents the manufacturing industry's single largest RFID software transaction to date, according to OATSystems and IBM.

Using software from both companies, Airbus hopes to reduce errors and automate its supply chain and manufacturing operations. The technology will allow the aircraft manufacturer to get a real time view of its daily operations according to OATSystems and IBM. Airbus also aims to reduce its aircraft production and maintenance costs.

Airbus will be able to distribute computing to devices such as RFID readers, handheld devices or servers, allowing it to deploy applications centrally at its facilities, or at remote third-party sites. The IBM/OAT software runs on IBM's RFID infrastructure.

The selection of IBM and OATSystems was a result of research and pilot testing over the past year.

RFID has made it to the top of CIOs shopping lists for 2009 according to a survey carried out by research firm IDC.