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<<Press
Release: Chinese Version>>
The
Center of Cyber Logistics (CCL) research team from The Chinese
University of Hong Kong is spearheading a project with the
leading industry partners to investigate the integration
of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies in
business chains for Hong Kong. The team includes Professor
Waiman Cheung, Director of CCL, Professor Sung-Chi Chu,
and Professor Timon Du from the Faculty of Business Administration.
CUHK receives tremendous support from consortium members
– a crucial combination of partners in supply chains, logistics
industry, technology companies, solutions providers and
regulatory agencies. A press conference is held today to
launch the project.
“RFID
has become an imperative issue for the logistics industry
recently.” said Professor Waiman Cheung, “RFID has been
proposed to identify the goods being handled. The commonly
used barcode scanning has difficulties in identification
of products packed in high density within a tolerable time
frame while RFID technology can resolve this problem.”
The
applications of RFID technologies for business applications
in corporations of different business natures within the
company boundary have been discussed and highlighted recently
in the media. This CUHK-led project aims to identify new
and pressing key research issues for partners in the integration
of this one single unique identity technology of goods and
products in the management of supply chains or demand chains,
and logistics services chains – collectively referred to
as business chains.
The
research will address three topical areas: 1) information
infrastructure – global identification standards and neutral
information and communications platforms; 2) business collaboration
– integration of RFID-aware business processes; and 3)
information security and privacy – dynamic management of
sensitive information sharing among business partners.
Prof.
Cheung continues, “Our project will provide a clear and
forward-looking recommendation to leverage the RFID technologies
in near terms, and to take steps to alleviate key concerns,
especially those related to security and privacy. We will
address the issues and concerns from a holistic view of
the collaboration of business chains. That is why participations
from different industries and business partners are fundamental
and crucial in this pilot project. We will build the first
test case around the garment industry.”
Hong
Kong must be able to react appropriately in a timely manner
– both in governmental initiatives and regulatory preemptive
stands, along with policies to buoy industry investments
and strategic positioning with RFID technologies. The recent
implementation of CEPA II further opens up opportunities
for companies and professionals to access the Chinese markets
with zero tariff products and services. Hong Kong has continuously
enjoyed growth in export to markets in Mainland China, the
U.S.A., the EU and Japan, making up 80% of total exports
in the first eight month of 2004 according to TDC. Majority
of HK companies have their manufacturing base in Guangdong
and conducting outward processing activities. The incorporation
of the RFID technologies is an urgent and unavoidable issue,
as Wal-Mart leads key logistics and supply chain partners
to jumpstart RFID-assisted business processes in their management
of supply chains. This innovative use of technology can
further accentuates the differential competitive advantages
of supply chains, and Hong Kong as the leading logistics
hub of the region.
The
CUHK Consortium has lined up the industry leaders which
enable a necessary and sufficient combination of business
partners to benefit from the study. These generous sponsors
have supported the study in various aspects, with contribution,
including both equipment and software, actually amounts
to HK$2.5 million. This group of industry leaders includes
key partners of the logistics industry such as Asia Airfreight
Terminal, Cathay Pacific, Dimerco, DHL, HACTL and Kerry
Logistics; supply chain partners such as SML Group and Bossini;
technology solutions providers such as Automated Systems,
NEC, Oracle, SCL, and Sun; standards organization, HKANA;
and electronic agent, Tradelink. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific
Institute of Business at CUHK has also made a generous contribution
to this study.
The
research team and members of the consortium will collaboratively
work together to reach a comprehensive understanding of
the emerging trend of this innovative RFID technology, and
its implications on business strategy, and new privacy and
security issues revolving around the adoption to this single
unique identity in global trade. Initial findings will be
reported within a 10-month time frame.
The
Center of Cyber Logistics conducts academic and applied
research in logistics issues. The Center has been an advert
advocacy in working closely with members of the logistics
communities and the Government to enhance and empower the
industry in the new cyber era. The study of RFID technologies
and their ramifications in global trade will be one of the
key focuses of the Center. The Center is also affiliated
with the Business Faculty of the City University of Hong
Kong.
The
Center of Cyber Logistics sees the need to bring these issues
to the forefront of analysis and collaborative discussion
involving the academic community, the industry, and our
government. We are hopeful that the Open Forum will provide
an opportunity for members of the Hong Kong air cargo community
to exchange facts and ideas of the latest development for
the following concerns:
-
Impact of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA)
on air cargo logistics in PRD,
- Ground
logistics support including highways, bridges, and warehouses,
etc. in the region,
- IT
readiness for e-logistics and recent development in PRD,
- Strategic
importance of the five airports and potentials for collaboration,
and,
- Business
opportunities for Hong Kong logistics agents in PRD.
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