Written By Louis Sirico

Whether I'm on a tradeshow floor, in an airport, or in the middle of a project, people frequently ask for my opinion on RFID training. My advice: Student beware!

It's no surprise that RFID training has become a profit center for many companies and is the primary revenue stream of at least a couple start-up companies. There are several conferences a year featuring RFID and advertising for RFID training courses abound on Internet web sites. Numerous initiatives are driving people to learn more about RFID, and the cost of these courses average several thousand dollars. Before you spend that kind of money, here are the important factors to consider when determining what training is appropriate for you.

There are certain basic concepts that everyone should understand. Most of these are covered in a beginner level course:

• What is the difference between active and passive RFID technology?
• What are the standards? What is EPCglobal UHF Generation II? What is ISO18000-6C?
• What frequencies does RFID technology use and how does this impact performance?
• Who are the industry leaders and what are their offerings?
• How are other companies using RFID technology today?
• What are the typical components of a RFID solution?
• Beyond basics, what aspects of RFID do you need to understand?

Determining what course content is right for you greatly depends on your position and areas of responsibility as it pertains to RFID initiatives.

Managerial, business, or financial:
Select a course that talks about how RFID should be used in your company and helps you develop a strategy. It should focus on business process re-engineering in the disciplines that RFID is applied to. That may include supply chain, asset tracking, logistics, work-in-progress management, etc. It should include example projects and review costs, savings, effects, and return on investment.

Operations:
Operations people tend to want to know how RFID will impact the way their facility runs and are interested in design, physical installation, and maintenance. Look for classes with emphasis on implementation. How does product packaging and composite materials affect RFID? How do you design a read point? Do you use linear or circular polarized antennas? What's passive backscatter and inductive-coupling? How does cable length and quality affect reader performance?

IT:
IT related courses cover topics such as Application Level Events (ALE), programming interfaces with specific readers; data and network management; or even security.

Project specific:
Some training is targeted to customers facing a mandate and covers topics such as: What data should be programmed on the RFID tag when I ship a pallet of products to the DoD? What information is required in my advanced shipping notice to my customer?

Cross-functional:
Advanced technical courses combine multiple aspects. For example: how do you design and implement a RFID read point that includes the use of an electronic switch, a stack light, motorized conveyor, and a box compactor, then integrate that with my WMS.

Custom tailored training:
RFIDWizards.com offers RFID training uniquely customized to the company.

Does the training course cover what you need to know?

First, ask for the syllabus. Are the topics and exercises applicable to the project tasks you will be responsible for?

Who is teaching the training course?

Absolutely scrutinize the resume of the instructor! I cannot emphasize this enough. The two most important qualities: REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE and the ability to communicate clearly. Contact the instructor by phone (not by e-mail) before registering for the course. Ask him (or her) what projects he has worked on and how long ago he worked on them. I'm not trying to offend any full-time instructors, but there are too many lessons you can only learn from the field. As for clear communication, I recently heard feedback from students attending training that were very disappointed after spending several thousand dollars. They felt their instructor was very intelligent, but they could not understand him because he had a very strong accent.

Our Community Experts on RFID Training
Leslie Downey Principal & Founder, RFID Revolution LLC Expert in: * RFID education tools that really engage learners * Market-focused strategies and product positioning that help RFID vendors grow brand recognition and revenue.	Mark Brown Expert in: RFID+ Training & Certification Applications design/consulting RFID Implementation RFID Advisory Services Support and Troubleshooting Concept development	Eva Zeisel RFID Consultant Expert in: CompTIA RFID+ Subject Matter Expert RFID Training Development and Instruction	Dan Dobkin President, Enigmatic Consulting Expert in: Wireless communications physical layer issues physical / MAC layers; tags and readers Antennas and propagation Semiconductor devices for radio transmitters and receivers

Who developed the training course?

Some training classes are developed by one or two people while others took a much more collaborative approach.

Where is the training being held?

Showing pictures of a RFID installation in a classroom environment is very different than working hands-on with equipment. Many classes are held in test labs where RFID equipment may operate differently than in your facility with your products. Having on-site training in your facility will not only give you true picture of how equipment will function, but it may also allow a lot more people to participate by eliminating travel time and expense.

What is the class size?

Some training companies try to maximize the attendance so you may be one of 20-25 people. Although this is nice for networking, it may not give you much individual attention from the instructor.

Is the training hands-on with RFID equipment?

Training with a technical focus should be hands-on and include equipment from multiple manufacturers. However, if your company has already selected one specific supplier for RFID equipment, then attending that manufacturer's training is highly recommended. Just remember, it will be focused on the products from that manufacturer and will probably not be vendor neutral.

Should you consider an on-line RFID / EPC training course?

E-learning courses available 24 x 7 on the Web are supremely convenient—you can complete them at your own pace and schedule, from any location. They can be used effectively for mastering basic information about a subject. My experience is that text-heavy e-learning courses in which the learner is a passive participant are not worth the money. I've personally seen on-line courses from three different companies that are nothing more than slide show presentations with audio - very disappointing. They are cheap, but you get what you pay for and you don’t learn much when you’re bored. On the other hand, courses that are highly visual, and actively engage the learner in frequent probing of understanding and practical, interactive exercises that emphasize the acquisition of a skill—not rote memorization—can be an excellent investment. There is only one on-line interactive RFID training course that we are aware of: RFID Essentials by RFID Revolution. The RFID Roulette game above is an example. We've even negotiated a 10% discount by registering through RFIDWizards.com. Click here for more information.

What companies or organizations endorse the training?

Almost every RFID equipment manufacturer has added a training and certification program specific to their products. At least one person from a company is required to attend this training before the manufacturer will sell you equipment. Four years ago, only a few companies did this. Obviously, it does generate revenue, but the real driving force behind this is the high number of failed installations by people under estimating the complexity of a RFID implementation.

Should I be RFID certified?

There are now a number of "RFID certification" programs from which you can choose. Most of these classes focus on reader setup and configuration - tasks few managers will undertake. What it REALLY means to be RFID certified is still very unclear. Depending on who issued the certification, it may simply mean you sat in a classroom for four days. It may mean you figured out where to put RFID tags on cases and have a pallet of goods with read rates of 100%. As one of the experts that helped develop the CompTIA RFID+ certification test, I will say that the certification will show you have an understanding of how RFID works, but the experts agree that it takes more than a certificate to design and implement a RFID solution.

What is the Actual Cost of the Training?

Finally, determine the actual cost of the training. The class may only cost a few thousand dollars, but there is also travel expenses and time lost getting to and from the training. Multiply this amount by the number of people attending. Compare this to the cost of having the course held at one of your facilities, not only will you save these additional costs, it may be possible to have more people attend as well as be more convenient for those that do.

Do Your homework!

Hopefully, by asking these questions ahead of time, you won't have to learn your lessons the hard way.

As mentioned above, RFID Wizards is pleased to offer you the opportunity to subscribe to RFID Essentials, an online learning resource of unmatched value in the marketplace. This course provides end-user professionals with RFID working knowledge quickly and economically—without spending days in a classroom or weeks learning on the job—so they can advance their organization’s RFID initiative. Based on the concept that people learn best by doing, RFID Essentials is user directed and hands on. Users practice what they’re learning in a low-risk environment. Visually rich animations, images, videos, audio narration, and imaginative illustrations of technical concepts help people comprehend and remember. And it’s entertaining! Learners are telling us they are so engrossed, they don’t even know they’re learning. You can start your RFID education within minutes by selecting the topics you'd like to learn about.
RFID Essentials Package Get all nine modules (described below) and optional, one-hour final exam (three opportunities to take) and Certificate of Completion, at your pace and schedule. Total estimated time to complete: Eight hours Price: $595.00 - 10%= $535.50
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An Introduction to RFID and the History of RFID: RFID Essentials Modules 1 and 2 Package Learn the differences between RFID and other forms of automated identification, such as bar codes. The benefits of using RFID technology in various applications. How RFID technology has changed since its early uses in the 1940’s. What might be in store for RFID technology in the future. Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $75.00 - 10% = $67.50
Physical Components of RFID System : Technology Basics, Part 1: RFID Essentials Module 3 What are the elements of an RFID system? The differences between low, high, and ultra-high frequency, and the applications they are suited to. Two different ways in which tags are powered by readers, inductive and radiative coupling, and the applications they are suited to. The differences between active and passive tags, and the applications they are suited to. How real-time location systems (RTLS) work and they can be used to track objects over a wide area . Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $125.00 - 10%= $112.50
Reader-Tag Communication : Technology Basics, Part 2: RFID Essentials Module 4 Understand how to put together a complete RFID system. How to find the tag read range, and the importance of tag orientation and polarization in reading tags, through "mouse-on" experience in our exclusive YouTag Virtual Workshop. Practical considerations in assembling tagged cartons into a readable pallet. The data protocols most commonly used in tag-reader communications and why. Click here to try the YouTag Virtual Workshop. Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $125.00 - 10%= $112.50
Sharing Data Inside and Outside the Enterprise : Technology Basics Part 3: RFID Essentials Module 5 How to turn tag data into information leading to a useful action. The role of middleware in filtering RFID data. The purpose of databases in RFID systems. The ways that data is being standardized to allow for use by enterprise systems and sharing with trading partners. Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $125.00 - 10%= $112.50
Materials and RF plus RFID Application Examples : RFID Essentials Modules 6 and 7 Package How materials being tagged affect the tag’s ability to be read. What it means to be RF lucent and RF opaque. Which substances fall into which category. How different, tagged materials affect the performance of LF, HF, and UHF tags. How to select the right technology (UHF, HF, LF, passive, semi-passive, and active) for a given application. How to position cartons on pallets to enable tag readability, in our YouTag Virtual Workshop. RFID standards associated with RFID technology types, applications, and industries. Click here to try the YouTag Virtual Workshop. Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $125.00 - 10%= $112.50
Securing RFID Data and Safeguarding Personal Privacy : RFID Essentials Module 8 Some of the ways RFID data security and the privacy of individuals can potentially be compromised. Technical measures to protect data and privacy. Measures being taken by industry and government to secure data and protect personal privacy. Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $125.00 - 10%= $112.50
Implementing RFID for Positive ROI : RFID Essentials Module 9 How to determine whether and where RFID can contribute value in your organization. Common methods used to calculate return on investment (ROI). The steps in planning an RFID implementation. How the evolution of the RFID market is likely to impact your expected ROI. How 23 companies in various industries and geographic regions have applied RFID for positive ROI. Total estimated time to complete: About an hour Price: $125.00 - 10%= $112.50