The present invention facilitates operation of systems by managing and authenticating components, including parts and subsystems, present within a system. The present invention includes RFID tags individually associated with the components of the system. The RFID tags generally include at least a part number and a serial number for the components. One or more readers are present and communicate with the RFID tags via a wireless communication medium. A controller generates interrogatory signals, receives response signals from the RFID tags, and employs the received response signals to authenticate the components.