New badges to reflect the times

From wood to metal, then to composite, the materials airplane manufacturers use to build airplanes have evolved over the years. Just like an airplane, the Boeing badge has changed over time, evolving from a sheriff's-star-shaped identification badge to a color-coded metal disc to a plastic card crammed with advanced technology.

"The world has changed. There is an increased focus on personal privacy, giving rise to a need for more personal privacy and a more secure and updated badge system at Boeing," said Sharon Lindley, director of the new badge program.

The process of updating to a more secure and common badge program began in July when employees across the company started getting their photos taken as part of a badge-reissuing program.

"Currently, there are 13 different employee badges used at The Boeing Company, most with outdated employee photos on the front and social security numbers encoded on the back," Lindley said. "Updating photos and other features on the badge will make counterfeiting and unauthorized computing access more difficult."

One privacy improvement is the use of the Boeing employee identifier number. The new badges will not have Social Security numbers.

Boeing will issue a badge with the new photo in early 2003 and update downstream systems, such as timekeeping, to recognize the new badge. This badge will contain "proximity technology," which will eliminate the need to swipe your badge to enter a building. Boeing will install new proximity readers during 2004. Also in 2004, employees will receive a more advanced version of the same badge but containing a smart chip, which would allow employees to use the badge for such things as universal signin for Boeing computing systems.

"The Boeing Company is a safe and secure place to work, and we are dedicated to improving our employee's personal privacy while embracing technology and better, common processes," Lindley said.

For details on your new badge, check out the program's Web site on the Boeing Intranet at http://smartbadge.web.boeing.com