Virgin Atlantic pilots RFID with Oracle and TCS

04.08.2005
Von Computing SA

Oracle and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) have announced the commencement of a radio frequency identification (RFID) pilot with Virgin Atlantic Airways to RFID-tag critical parts used in aircraft maintenance and repairs at its Heathrow Airport warehouse in the U.K.

The pilot will use the RFID and sensor-based solution to manage the accurate consignment, storage and dispatch of parts. Virgin Atlantic Airways, a long-standing Oracle and TCS customer, agreed to conduct the pilot in order to find a complete and easy way to implement the solution.

The proposed solution will be used along with process reviews and Virgin Atlantic?s current materials management software, Ultramain, to enable Virgin Atlantic engineering to reduce costs and increase efficiencies through improved visibility and accountability, and to gain better automated control of its engineering parts supply chain.

The program will be developed and implemented by Tata Consultancy Services on Oracle Fusion Middleware, RFID-enabled applications and Oracle Database 10g. ?Virgin Atlantic has made the decision to commission this pilot because as a company we are always looking for ways to take advantage of technological advancement. The aviation industry is gradually moving toward RFID standards, and we want to ensure that when these are agreed, Virgin Atlantic will be well placed to take full advantage,? says Terry Flynn, strategic development manager -- engineering, Virgin Atlantic.

The pilot commenced in June and is expected to go live at Virgin Atlantic?s warehouse store in Heathrow in the U.K. during this month.