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Symbol RFID Solution Helps Keep Supplies Moving Through AmeriQual

Leading Manufacturer and Distributor of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) Implements RFID to Meet Department of Defense Mandate and Maximize Visibility and EfficiencyHOLTSVILLE, N.Y., Sept. 27 / — Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM) and Tacit Solutions, Inc., a Symbol Solution Partner, today announced that AmeriQual Group, LLC, a leader in the production, packaging, assembly and distribution of shelf-stable food products, has deployed Symbol mobile computers, RFID, and wireless technology to track cases and pallets of MREs as they move from packaging through delivery. As the largest supplier of MREs to the United States Department of Defense (DoD), AmeriQual plans to ship more than one million cases by the end of 2006 using the RFID solution.

Following a contract win from the DoD, AmeriQual began working with Tacit Solutions, a systems integrator specializing in developing turnkey mobile data collection solutions, to implement an end-to-end system that would meet the DoD’s specified RFID requirements. Tacit Solutions provided project management, hardware selection and application development for the AmeriQual solution that would help meet the DoD mandate for the top 500 suppliers to tag their goods with passive UHF RFID tags at case and pallet level.

“Tacit was able to implement the Symbol RFID solution and help us achieve compliance seamlessly, without interfering with the existing business processes and systems we have in place,” said Ben Klipsch, AmeriQual’s assistant general manager and director of operations. “Symbol’s high- performance RFID technology offers increased inventory control and visibility, and allows faster decision-making at the point of data capture.”

AmeriQual deployed Symbol MC9000-G RFID mobile computers along with Symbol MC9060-G mobile computers, XR400 RFID fixed readers and the WS2000 wireless switch to track and trace cases and pallets tagged with RFID.

“Using RFID to provide secure, reliable and immediate access to business- critical information can help improve business operations and increase productivity,” said Anthony Bartolo, vice president and general manager of Symbol’s Wireless Infrastructure and RFID Divisions. “Through its mandate, the DoD has made clear that they recognize the value of the speed, reliability and efficiency improvements generated by RFID, as well as the increased accuracy and lower labor costs that result.”

“In a short timeframe we were able to deploy a fully functioning RFID solution that met all requirements and exceeded expectations,” said Dan Howell, president of Tacit Solutions. “This high-performance RFID solution also allowed AmeriQual to improve data integrity and efficiency with real-time access to inventory information.”

For more information on Symbol’s RFID product offerings visit: http://www.symbol.com/rfid.

About Symbol Technologies Symbol Technologies, Inc., The Enterprise Mobility Company(TM), is a recognized worldwide leader in enterprise mobility, delivering products and solutions that capture, move and manage information in real time to and from the point of business activity. Symbol enterprise mobility solutions integrate advanced data capture products, radio frequency identification technology, mobile computing platforms, wireless infrastructure, mobility software and world-class services programs. Symbol enterprise mobility products and solutions are proven to increase workforce productivity, reduce operating costs, drive operational efficiencies and realize competitive advantages for the world’s leading companies. More information is available at http://www.symbol.com/.

For Symbol Technologies:

Source: Symbol Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: Christine Kearney of Symbol Technologies, Inc., +1-631-738-4722, christine.kearney@symbol.com

Joey Marquart EdelmanPublic Relations for Symbol Technologies, +1-212-704-8133, joey.marquart@edelman.com

Lori Chaitman or Nancy Coco +1-631-738-5050 lori.chaitman@symbol.com

Shirley Schroedl +1-631-738-4823 shirley.schroedl@symbol.com all of Symbol Technologies, Inc.

Web site: http://www.symbol.com/ http://www.symbol.com/rfid


Company Information:
Name: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
Address: 1 Symbol Plaza
City: Holtsville
State: NY
ZIP: 11742
Country: USA
Phone: 866-416-8545
FAX: 631-738-4645
http://www.symbol.com

Tacit Solutions to Exhibit at Annual RFID World

Visit us at booth #1731 during the fifth annual RFID World at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas, TX.
DATES: March 26 – March 28, Dallas TX

Bye-Bye Bar Codes, Hello RFID

An RFID system set up correctly can result in a “seamless” tracking of goods from one area to another. The technology can also cut down on human errors that result when workers forget to sign out tools or scan a bundle of goods — such as utility poles — as they leave a warehouse.
Continue reading Bye-Bye Bar Codes, Hello RFID

Links to the Back End

A growing number of companies are jumping into the market with solutions that filter RFID data and pass it to back-end systems. Here’s a sampling of the major players in the different market segments.
By Bob Violino

ERP Vendors
Oracle: Early this year, Oracle announced a new version of its Oracle Warehouse Management software, which is designed to help companies comply with the tagging mandates from Wal-Mart and the U.S. Department of Defense. This new version will include built-in integration with the middleware component in the Oracle Application Server. The company will release the software by midyear; pricing has not been set.

SAP:In January, the German software giant introduced an RFID package that includes middleware that integrates RFID-generated data with SAP’s enterprise resource planning applications. Software “connectors” will be offered for SAP R/3 (version 4.6c or higher) and mySAP ERP. The company declined to disclose pricing, other than to say the package is priced per site (warehouse, distribution center, retail store and so on).

Third-Party Vendors
GlobeRanger: Launched in July 2002, GlobeRanger’s iMotion Edgeware Platform was designed to link mobile devices and RFID readers to back-end systems. iMotion aims to make it easier to develop and deploy applications by enabling companies to design their own workflow rules. Pricing is set by the company’s distributors.

OATSystems: This startup offers Senseware, an RFID software suite that includes the Senseware Platform, which collects data from RFID readers, converts it into intelligent business objects and integrates it into warehouse management, transportation management and other applications. The software suite is being used by Gillette in its Fort Devens trial (see “Gillette Sharpens Its Edge,” page 12). Pricing is based on the functionality required.

Application Vendors
Manhattan Associates: Manhattan unveiled middleware to link RFID readers to its PkMS warehouse management system in January 2003. The software has been improved to work with third-party supply chain applications. The company declines to disclose pricing but says it has several models.

RedPrairie: In December, supply chain applications vendor RedPrairie debuted RFID Accelerator, which uses software agents to integrate RFID data with ERP, legacy-host and supply chain execution systems from different vendors. A typical implementation costs $250,000 to $500,000, depending on the size of the project.

Large Integrators
Accenture: The consulting and systems integration firm provides RFID-to-ERP integration as part of a suite of services involving RFID. It has developed a Silent Commerce platform for linking readers to the back end and enabling disparate systems to share data. Pricing is based on the complexity of the project.

IBM: As part of its integrated technical services offering, IBM provides RFID-to-ERP integration. Most solutions are based on the company’s robust WebSphere middleware. Costs vary depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

Boutique Integrators
Mobilexe: This is one of a growing number of smaller supply chain systems integrators that have added RFID integration services. The cost of a typical RFID project ranges from $30,000 to $100,000 per site, plus an initial evalution fee of $7,000 to $10,000.

Tacit Solutions: Tacit has been integrating wireless technologies and auto-ID systems for 15 years. It provides legacy-host interfacing, RFID middleware, software, hardware and installation services for manufacturing and supply chain applications. Pricing depends on the scope of the project.

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Fax: 812.423.7801
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