Nov 21,2006__In the past, employees had to call a service center and enter a code to obtain details of their next assignment and work location. With the new system, assignments are transmitted automatically to mobile phone screens. With real-time two-way data connections, ground staff no longer need to wait or browse multiple voice menus to locate their next task.

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  Finnair is improving the efficiency of its airport operations at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport with radio frequency identification technology. In a three-year project, IBM (NYSE: IBM)  is implementing and managing an innovative solution for the allocation of employee tasks at Northport, Finland's leading supplier of ground handling services and a member of the Finnair Group. The wireless  technology for the IBM RFID solution is supplied by Nokia (NYSE: NOK) .

With air traffic  volumes rising, the demands on ground handling staff and resources are increasing rapidly. Northport will implement new RFID technology to streamline the allocation, workflow and reporting of passenger services, baggage handling, lounge, and check-in tasks. The RFID solution is expected to improve the quality of customer service through increased efficiency and a smoother passenger experience.

Expanded Use

Northport has used RFID technology in the past to log ground staff working hours. The solution will now be expanded to streamline management of all ground staff tasks. Northport ground staff is being equipped with RFID-enabled Nokia 51401 phones. The handsets provide information on the sequence of tasks by reading RFID tags located at key work locations.

In the past, employees had to call a service center and enter a code to obtain details of their next assignment and work location. With the new system, assignments are transmitted automatically to mobile phone screens. With real-time two-way data connections, ground staff no longer need to wait or browse multiple voice menus to locate their next task.

A True Challenge

The solution technology is based on a system that uses work location RFID tags and Nokia software. The Nokia software connects the mobile phones and RFID tags to an IBM WebSphere-based server application and the airport work management system. Information on the location of the phones and the status of each task is routed to management.

"Assigning personnel to all the tasks taking place at any given moment is a true challenge. The better information we have on all tasks, the better we can manage our work force. Especially tough are the last-minute changes of arrival schedules, which in turn result in changes in the allocation of tasks. The management needs data when and where staff is available. RFID provides us with this," said Northport Vice President of Business Development Jari Viitanen.