October 14-16, 2008 • Donald E. Stephens Convention Center • Chicago, IL

Understanding the Role of EPCglobal Standards in Supply Chain Collaboration
Standards are the grease that allows supply chains to operate smoothly and efficiently. EPCglobal has created a suite of standards enabling companies to employ RFID systems to track goods in open supply chains, and to share that data securely with business partners. With retailers basing their tagging requirements on these standards, this session will explain the basics of the Electronic Product Code (EPC), outlining the suite of EPC standards, how they are being employed by retailers and how they enable collaboration and drive benefits across the entire supply chain.

Speaker:

Sue Hutchinson, Director of Product Management, EPCglobal US

Takeaway:

• How to track goods in open supply chains, as well as how to share the data securely with business partners

Case Study: How Pacific Coast Producers Became EPC-Compliant and Discovered a Positive ROI
Pacific Coast Producers (PCP), a $450 million California-based private-label packer of premium canned fruits and tomatoes, was asked to tag the pallets and cases it ships to Wal-Mart. The company took a value-added, customer-focused approach and developed a scalable, analytics-enabled solution that improved business processes and supply-chain performance for its retail customers—and itself. PCP integrated the tagging on its manufacturing line and with its back-end system, yielding an unexpected return on investment. Learn how PCP became EPC-compliant (with a heavier-than-water product encased in metal containers) and improved its operations in the process.

Speakers:

Jim Farmer, Director of Distribution Operations/Logistics, Pacific Coast Producers
Peter C Wtulich, CIO and Vice President of Information Services, Pacific Coast Producers

Takeaway:

• How to create an efficient system for tagging pallets
• Best practices for becoming EPC compliant while improving your operations 

Meeting Retailer's EPC/RFID Requirements: Tagging the Pallet
There are many questions companies are asking about putting EPC tags on shipments for their retail customers. What do I need to tag? When do I need to tag? Where do I need to tag? The first requirement is to tag pallets going to distribution centers or directly to stores. In this session, you will learn how to tag pallets to meet requirements and—produce valuable supply chain data.

Speaker:

Justin Patton, RFID Lab Director, University of Arkansas

Alternatives for Managing the Cost and Complexity of High-Volume Tagging
Tagging large numbers of sellable units means investing a significant sum in tags and managing the complexity of a high-volume tagging operation. In this session, industry experts will examine how to leverage a variety of resources, such as third-party packagers, overseas contract manufacturers, third-party logistics providers and tagging service bureaus to manage the tagging operation. The presenters will also outline strategies for containing costs and improving business processes.

Speaker:

Mark Roberti, Founder and Editor, RFID Journal

What to Do With Data from Your Retail Partner
The point of placing EPC tags on shipments in the supply chain is to be able to track the goods as they move through each node. This session will reveal the types of data you will receive from your retail partner, the format in which it will arrive and how you can use that information to improve replenishment, reduce safety stocks and achieve other benefits. It will also include an explanation of the EPC Information Service standard, and how it facilitates data sharing securely and cost effectively.

Speaker:

Ken Traub, PhD., Consultant, Standards Strategy, GS1 EPCglobal US

Takeaway:

• What kind of data you can expect to receive from your retail partner and how to use the data to your advantage

How New Zealand Fruit Company Cut Costs with EPC
EastPack, a firm that packs, stores and ships more than 12 million trays of kiwifruit annually to locations worldwide, has rolled out EPC technology across its entire operation. The company has reaped significant benefits during the first season of operation. Compared to last season, EastPack has already shipped 2 million additional trays this year through increased efficiency in tracking and tracing its pallets of kiwifruit. At the same time, the cost for failing to deliver in full, on time and in spec was reduced by 60 percent; fruit loss for gold kiwifruit has been halved; and the number of forklifts required at the firm's largest site was lowered by 30 percent. Learn how the company achieved these hard benefits, and some additional soft benefits as well.

Speaker:

Erik Sundermann, Senior Professional Services Consultant, EastPack