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Approved RFID Testing Center (ARTC) Program MET Approved RFID Testing Center - ARTC Program
 

Approved RFID Testing Center Program (ARTC)

The ARTC program provides the opportunity for regional test centers to offer a broad range of testing and certification services based on EPCglobal RFID standards.  To participate in the program, a RFID testing center must be accredited by MET Labs and when operating within this program, must use test equipment validated by MET Labs. As part of the program, MET Labs will provide requisite test methods and a list of validated test equipment as well as support, and training to ensure that accredited ARTCs offer the highest quality testing service.
Accredited ARTCs will offer RFID testing based on EPCglobal specifications for UHF, HF and other (such as sensor technology) as they become available.  This program is offered in partnership with AT4Wireless and is endorsed by EPCglobal.

Why need regional RFID testing?
With growing RFID adoption levels, there will be many more RFID hardware vendors that are located in Asia, Europe and other regions outside of North America. These vendors should be able to utilize services of a trusted RFID testing center located in their region.  With this program, hardware vendors can bring their RFID devices such as Integrated Circuits (ICs), tags/label or readers that implement EPCglobal standards to any MET Labs Approved RFID Testing Center.
The ARTC program will provide many benefits to HW vendors such as:

  • Pre-test products in development stage
  • Reduce travel time and costs
  • Confidence that testing process and equipment will comply with EPCglobal standards and local regulatory laws
  • Having a choice to select a test center that offers required testing
  • Trust in the equipment and quality of the testing process 

Benefits of becoming an approved test center

RFID testing centers can gain a lot from participating in the ARTC program.
In addition to financial benefits from conducting RFID testing, a testing center will receive test equipment, test procedures, training and support from MET and AT4Wireless. 
The accredited ARTCs will be listed on MET Labs and EPCglobal websites.
          

Program  Features
As part of ARTC program, MET labs will provide a number of comprehensive and continuous services to meet testing centers needs. The key features of the program include:

  • Accreditation by MET Labs
    • The accreditation ensures that a test center has a quality process, technical capability and has the ability to make independent and un-biased decisions. The accreditation is based on ISO 17025, ISO/IEC Guide 65 and EPCglobal.
  • Test Equipment
    • Is supplied and maintained by AT4W.  It is identical to test equipment that is used by MET Labs for Conformance Testing. MET Labs validates each AT4W release to ensure testing consistency across all ARCTs.
  • Test Scopes
    • Pre-Testing (UHF and HF when available)
      • Pre-Testing allows vendors to gain confidence that their pre-production versions comply with EPCglobal Conformance and Interoperability requirements. Vendors can modify the products as needed. ARTCs are not required to share test results with MET.
      • Pre-Testing on new standards (such as HF) is offered after one year of first certification. During the first year, MET Labs, working with EPCglobal and AT4W, stabilizes the program (through changes to Conformance Requirements or updates to AT4W test equipment) and prepares to roll out Pre-testing.
    • Certification Testing (UHF and HF)
      • This scope covers Conformance and Interoperability Testing according to test process developed by MET Labs and EPCglobal. An ARTC must have a sufficient pre-testing experience before acquiring this capability.
  • Training
    • Training in test procedures is provided by MET Labs. It includes analysis of tests prone to failure, test dependencies, and test conduct.
    • Training artifacts
      • MET Labs may provide Tag-ICs (connectorized tags) for Conformance Testing training, if they are available.
      • MET will provide regular tags and test scripts for Interoperability Testing training.
  • Qualified Equipment (QE) for Interoperability
    • MET has made special arrangements with QE vendors to have QE readers (with test mode) available to ARTCs.  MET Labs will validate each QE reader and tags to be used for Interoperability Testing.
  • Support
    • MET support ARTCs to help them resolve issues they encounter during testing, or validate their test results.

Application Process

For inquiries, please contact rfid@metlabs.com.

 
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