According to a recent research report, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) will pay off for those manufacturers and retailers who remain patient.

The Worldwide Manufacturing Top 10 Predictions report, published annually by research and advisory firm IDC, also notes that most companies continue to resist moving beyond RFID pilots for the lack of business justification, although tag prices have decreased and new technology generations have improved effectiveness.

"There is little doubt that in 2007, and beyond, companies will find the need to improve their ability to capture data in a more timely, accurate, and complete way," states Bob Parker, vice president of research, Manufacturing Insights. "This requirement will dictate the development of a data acquisition platform that will incorporate many technologies, from bar codes to sensors to RFID tags."

According to the report, the long-term nature of these investments will not bode well for smaller technology providers dedicated to a single RFID technology.

Adds Parker, "We expect these small technology providers to position themselves for acquisition, which will be the only alternative to failure."

The report also talks about how Lean, Six Sigma, and SCOR convergence will accelerate. Early research has demonstrated how complementary the three disciplines are as the weaknesses of each mitigates the other two; and China will continue to overheat. There are implications of this overheating as China, flush with cash, will look to continue to solidify itself as the manufacturer to the world.