IEN: Are companies integrating security technologies with industrial operations? How?
Kenney: Brady Corp, an international manufacturer and marketer of complete identification solutions and specialty materials, has employed new label technologies in addressing supply chain management issues, both in the manufacturing and distribution processes. One such technology is radio frequency identification. RFID is becoming a mainstream technology to gain real-time visibility of assets and supply chain efficiency by providing easy access to a complexity of information on product location and movement through the supply chain or manufacturing operation.
Brady is also leveraging its technologies in developing high-performance identification products that help authenticate products and protect brand integrity either covertly or overtly. Brand protection can take many forms, depending on the type of product and who will be the product authenticator. On the consumer level, overt technologies like employing holographic labels currently work best; at the manufacturing level, a number of covert technologies or a combination of technologies can best insure product legitimacy, such as employing special labeling materials that may change colors under special lights, or serial numbers that contain secret coding.
Providing these materials to the industry requires extraordinary security measures on Brady''s part. At Brady, these products are developed and tested in an area sealed off from the rest of the manufacturing plant, with access strictly controlled. Each employee must undergo a rigorous background check annually. Every square inch of material is tracked and accounted for. Even the identity of customers must be verified before Brady will accept a job.
Brady partners with a number of suppliers to develop high-tech, yet concept-simple brand protection methods. They are working with packaging companies to develop brand protection solutions that match authentication between the outside packaging and the product inside; and with paper manufacturers to develop specialty paper that might, for example, temporarily change colors when swiped with a special pen.
Multilayering helps to ensure the long-term viability of the brand protection solution. Some manufacturers choose to place them in the product all at once, then reserve some methods of authentication to employ at a later date as needed.
Brady''s RFID solutions, from smart labels for challenging environments to printer software for programming smart labels, can incorporate brand protection components. The combination of RFID with anti-counterfeiting, anti-diversion and tamper-protection products completes the circle of supply chain management.