RFID Supply Chain Management

iGPS Anounces an Agreement with ConAgra Foods

ORLANDO, Fla. – June 15, 2010 – Intelligent Global Pooling Systems (iGPS Company, LLC) announced today that ConAgra Foods, one of North America’s leading food makers, has begun shipping its products throughout the United States on iGPS’ all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags, commencing June 1. ConAgra Foods is the maker of Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Peter Pan, and Reddi-wip, among others. Its brands are found in 96 percent of U.S. households.

“It goes without saying that ConAgra is one of the world’s leading food producers and we are honored that the company has put its trust in us,” said Bob Moore, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of iGPS. “It will be a great partnership as both companies share a commitment to quality, efficiency and environmental responsibility.”

Since its launch in 2006, iGPS has revolutionized the way goods are being shipped throughout the North American supply chain. Its 100 percent recyclable pallets are 30 percent lighter than pallets made of wood and are vastly better for the environment. iGPS plastic pallets are not susceptible to insect infestation, require no chemical treatments and eliminate the risks posed by protruding nails and splinters. They are exceptionally durable and maintain their standardized 48″ x 40″ dimensions throughout their life, making them ideal for automated environments.

About iGPS

iGPS operates the world’s first pallet rental service providing shippers and receivers with all-plastic pallets with embedded RFID tags. iGPS’ state-of-the-art pallets are 30 percent lighter than wood, which saves on transport costs and helps reduce green house gases. Its pallets are also more hygienic, easier to handle and, because they eliminate protruding nails and splinters, reduce workplace injuries and damaged equipment. Embedded RFID tags enable shippers and receivers to track and trace shipments. And iGPS pallets are 100 percent recyclable. Launched in March 2006, the company has created nearly 2,000 new green jobs in the U.S. and is led by pallet and supply chain veterans with decades of experience. iGPS (www.igps.net) is headquartered in Orlando, FL and has offices in Dallas, TX and Bentonville, AR.

About ConAgra Foods

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America’s leading food companies, with brands in 96 percent of America’s households. Consumers find Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip and many ConAgra Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial customers. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

Explaning RFID Is Not An Easy Task

There is no easy way to explain RFID but this is the easiest way I can think of in easy to understand for the common person that has no clue what RFID is.

RFID technology is used frequently today, but not many people know about, or even know what it is never mind understand it. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is used to store and retrieve information. This information is stored and retrieved using RFID tags or transponders. These tags are small and can be incorporated into many products. The tags have antennas that allow them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver.

The RFID industry is currently undergoing speedy growth and orgasmic changes. Market research firms forecast the market for products and services will intensity to the $7 billion range by 2008. With mandates from both distinguished retailers and government entities, many more companies are ready to infuse on the RFID technology journey.

How Does It Work

RFID works off of a system that relies on tags, tag readers, tag programming stations, sorting equipment, circulation readers, and tag inventory wands. RFID is generally used in security, because security gates are programmed to read the RFID tags and then either open or close accordingly. The system helps the information be easily transmitted via an RFID device. Systems have evolved over the years along with Generation 2 chips. The hope is that it will one day be available to everyone (meaning consumers) because it will be more efficient and cost effective to implement RFID processes.

There are two types of RFID tags:

*Passive tags do not have their own power supply, but rather receive their power from a tiny electrical current present in the antenna that is induced by an incoming radio frequency scan. These tags are good for a short distance tracking solution.

*Active RFID tags have a power source and therefore are much stronger and can be used over larger distances and are therefore more highly effective. Active tags also have the ability to store more information than their passive counterparts. Some active tags have a battery life of up to ten years.

Where is RFID Used?

RFID can be found almost everywhere. It can even be found in your local Wal-Mart or other big brand retailers. The little alarm that sounds if an item has not been scanned is made possible by a chip. These chips are also found on car alarms,and even animal tags. One other use of this solution is to track and detect motion. This could be very useful in the coming years in terms of prisons. This technology will be employed in many states in the coming years.

Who knew that this technology was so simple to learn.

Wal-mart is still on board with RFID

I was just reading the finacial times and they had a large article talking about RFID and what companies are using this and if they are expanding or not.

It seems that since the price of generation 2 tags have come into play there is more and more merchants getting on the RFID bandwagon. They mentioned a few companies like Wal-mart, and Proctor and Gamble that have seen an increase in inventory tracking and planning on expanding.

The guy in charge of implementing RFID with Wal-mart was explaining how much better they got their shipments into their customers hands during the holiday season. With better tracking on their end in the warehouses they know when to order more items from their suppliers so their stores and order shipping can have the items in stock.