PMA moves forward on RFID initiative and develops DVD
PMA moves forward on RFID initiative and develops DVD
The Produce Marketing Association's task force moved forward with its effort to create a laymans DVD for using radio frequency identification. The task force met Aug. 18 in Dallas.
Michael McCartney, principal of QLM Consulting and chairman of Produce Marketing Associations RFID produce action group, said that the DVD will be ready before PMAs Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta in early November and will be on hand at the convention. The cost of the DVD has yet to be determined, Mr. McCartney said.
"Its kind of an 'RFID 101, " Mr. McCartney said. It takes you through the steps of getting started. Its a 12-step process.
The film will include interviews with produce companies, retailers, users and people who may want to implement use of RFID at their company. PMA is working with a script that may in the end be about 20 minutes long, but an additional three- or four-minute film is being considered as well, Mr. McCartney said.
While in Dallas, PMAs task force was given a tour of one of Wal-Marts supercenters and witnessed RFID implementation. Mr. McCartney said that Wal-Marts Myron Burke one of a handful of the chains team steeped in RFID did an outstanding job presenting RFID in use to the task force.
Wal-Mart confirmed theyll continue on the path of rapid deployment of RFID, Mr. McCartney said. The chain anticipates having RFID in use in 500 stores in Texas and as many as nine distribution centers by the end of the year, Mr. McCartney said. Wal-Marts intention is to move eastward with its RFID deployment from Texas across the United States. The chain had 137 suppliers onboard with RFID in January 2005 and plans to add 200-plus suppliers in January 2006.
Jim Lemke, vice president of produce for Edie Prairie, MN-based C.H. Robinson Worldwide and a member of PMAs task force, told The Produce News that C.H. Robinson would enter a second phase of radio frequency identification testing. This test pilot will launch in September or October and involve gathering data for at least four to six months, Mr. Lemke said. The company has lined up six grower-shippers that are packers of C.H. Robinsons brands.
RFID testing will be conducted with a small number of SKUs and shipping points. The testing will run from the beginning of the supply chain all the way up to receiving and should help those involved really understand where RFID can help make the supply chain more productive, Mr. Lemke said.
Grower-shippers have shown huge interest in the test pilot; retailers have taken more of a wait-and-see approach, Mr. Lemke said. The test pilot will remain open to the retail and receiving side but is closed to additional grower-shippers depending how it goes, he said. C.H. Robinson will share RFID data on movement and have summit meetings to talk about the date with those involved.
For grower-shippers, the test pilot will be a good opportunity to learn where are the pains and gains in the process, Mr. Lemke said. Any companies seeking to join the test pilot should contact Mr. Lemke at C.H. Robinsons corporate offices in Edie Prairie, MN.
Michael McCartney, principal of QLM Consulting and chairman of Produce Marketing Associations RFID produce action group, said that the DVD will be ready before PMAs Fresh Summit International Convention & Exposition in Atlanta in early November and will be on hand at the convention. The cost of the DVD has yet to be determined, Mr. McCartney said.
"Its kind of an 'RFID 101, " Mr. McCartney said. It takes you through the steps of getting started. Its a 12-step process.
The film will include interviews with produce companies, retailers, users and people who may want to implement use of RFID at their company. PMA is working with a script that may in the end be about 20 minutes long, but an additional three- or four-minute film is being considered as well, Mr. McCartney said.
While in Dallas, PMAs task force was given a tour of one of Wal-Marts supercenters and witnessed RFID implementation. Mr. McCartney said that Wal-Marts Myron Burke one of a handful of the chains team steeped in RFID did an outstanding job presenting RFID in use to the task force.
Wal-Mart confirmed theyll continue on the path of rapid deployment of RFID, Mr. McCartney said. The chain anticipates having RFID in use in 500 stores in Texas and as many as nine distribution centers by the end of the year, Mr. McCartney said. Wal-Marts intention is to move eastward with its RFID deployment from Texas across the United States. The chain had 137 suppliers onboard with RFID in January 2005 and plans to add 200-plus suppliers in January 2006.
Jim Lemke, vice president of produce for Edie Prairie, MN-based C.H. Robinson Worldwide and a member of PMAs task force, told The Produce News that C.H. Robinson would enter a second phase of radio frequency identification testing. This test pilot will launch in September or October and involve gathering data for at least four to six months, Mr. Lemke said. The company has lined up six grower-shippers that are packers of C.H. Robinsons brands.
RFID testing will be conducted with a small number of SKUs and shipping points. The testing will run from the beginning of the supply chain all the way up to receiving and should help those involved really understand where RFID can help make the supply chain more productive, Mr. Lemke said.
Grower-shippers have shown huge interest in the test pilot; retailers have taken more of a wait-and-see approach, Mr. Lemke said. The test pilot will remain open to the retail and receiving side but is closed to additional grower-shippers depending how it goes, he said. C.H. Robinson will share RFID data on movement and have summit meetings to talk about the date with those involved.
For grower-shippers, the test pilot will be a good opportunity to learn where are the pains and gains in the process, Mr. Lemke said. Any companies seeking to join the test pilot should contact Mr. Lemke at C.H. Robinsons corporate offices in Edie Prairie, MN.
