Automotive Industry Action Group's Work Group Develops Standard To Identify and Track Vehicle Tires

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., July 9 The Automotive Industry Action
Group's (AIAG) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tire & Wheel
Identification Work Group has developed a two-part standard consisting of
guidelines for a two-dimensional (2D) tire label -- which is being released as
an interim report -- and an RFID tag, scheduled for release later this year.
    "The work group was formed in February of this year and has been
diligently meeting every week to work on developing a standard to identify and
track tires," said William J. Hoffman, manager, Auto Supply Chain for Intermec
Technologies Corp. and chairman of AIAG's RFID Tire & Wheel Identification
Work Group.  "We've received a lot of support in our efforts from major
automakers, tire manufacturers and radio frequency (RF) technology companies."
Companies that have played a key role in helping to develop the two-part
standard include:

    *  Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    *  Continental Tire North America, Inc.
    *  DaimlerChrysler Corp.
    *  Escort Memory Systems (E.M.S.)
    *  Ford Motor Co.
    *  General Motors Corp.
    *  Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
    *  Hankook Tire Co., Ltd.
    *  Intermec Technologies Corp.
    *  Marconi InfoChain
    *  Michelin North America, Inc.
    *  Pirelli Pneumatics, S.p.A.
    *  SCS Corporation
    *  Syscan, Inc.
    *  Texas Instruments, Inc.

    Placed on the inside of the vehicle's tires, the RFID tag identifies the
tires that are associated with a specific vehicle.  Each tag contains a 12-
character coding structure or DOT (Department of Transportation) number, which
includes the manufacturing plant, tire size, the unique components of the tire
and the week and year the tire was manufactured.
    Each unique tire tag, as well as the vehicle identification number (VIN),
is scanned into a database, locking the tire's identification to the VIN
number.
    According to Hoffman, the tag provides an electronic means of transferring
data from the tire to a database, so that the full DOT information is
available.  This method is currently being used to track other parts within
the automotive industry.
    The tags will be tested in three phases.  Phase one testing was recently
conducted at AIAG headquarters in Southfield, Mich., to determine which RFID
tags were best suited for tracking tires and which technology is most
appropriate for reading and writing to the tag under a variety of conditions
(wet and dry).  Phases two and three will be held later this year at a vehicle
assembly plant and a tire manufacturing plant.
    "Phase one of the testing was a success," said Robert E. Thompson Jr.,
senior contact engineer for General Motors.  "It was great to see all the
automakers, tire manufacturers and RF technology companies participate in the
event.  General Motors fully supports the efforts of AIAG's work group and its
work on the RFID standard."
    The first part of the standard -- the 2D label -- is completed.  Developed
by the work group in just over a month, the 2D label functions similar to the
RFID tag, however the RFID tag can hold more information.
    Founded in 1982, the AIAG is a not-for-profit trade association of
approximately 1,600 automotive and truck manufacturers and their suppliers.
AIAG's purpose is to provide an open forum where members cooperate in
developing and promoting solutions that enhance the prosperity of the
automotive industry.  Its focus is to continuously improve business processes
and practices involving trading partners throughout the supply chain.
    More information about AIAG and its initiatives can be found at
http://www.aiag.org