Furniture-maker using Unisys, ODIN technologies to support radio frequency identification infrastructure
Blue Bell, PA — July 1, 2005 — The Creative Interiors Division of Thomasville Furniture Industries has tapped Unisys Corporation and ODIN technologies to maintain its entire radio frequency identification (RFID) network and infrastructure, which provides track and trace capabilities for products sent to Thomasville's large retail customers.
Thomasville is using the RFID infrastructure, designed and implemented by ODIN technologies, to tag finished goods — ready to assemble furniture created by the Creative Interior division — before being shipped to the distribution centers of Thomasville's customers. The RFID tags will enable Thomasville to confirm the delivery of the products to its customers.
Unisys will provide information technology (IT) outsourcing services, consisting of 24x7 help desk and on-site field support for hardware and software issues related to the RFID infrastructure. As the one point of contact for all RFID service requests, Unisys said it would help streamline the support process for Thomasville.
In addition, ODIN technologies will work with Unisys to provide Thomasville with support for severe infrastructure failures and reinstallations.
RFID Tagging Seen Becoming "Production-critical"
"Thomasville Furniture is excited about having partners with the experience and capabilities of Unisys and ODIN technologies," said Terry Bargy, vice president and chief information officer at Thomasville Furniture. "Working with both partners gives us the confidence to continue to be proactive in using RFID and other new technologies to improve our business."
"Thomasville's robust RFID program with 24x7 remote and on-site infrastructure support is a testament to the technology's growing maturity," said Peter Regen, vice president of global visible commerce at Unisys. "RFID is a key technology that companies are employing to gain greater visibility into their supply chain — which is critical for improving efficiencies and reducing inventories."
"More and more, RFID tagging capabilities are becoming production-critical infrastructure," said Patrick J. Sweeney II, CEO of ODIN technologies. "As RFID matures, 24x7 support will become a critical asset needed to maintain fulfillment lead times."
Thomasville Furniture Industries is a division of Furniture Brands International.
Additional Articles of Interest
— Lean is still a top priority for many organizations, and now leading enterprises are applying lean principles to the supply chain. Read about the challenges in building a "lean supply chain" in "The Value of Being Out-of-stock (Almost) Everywhere," the Final Thoughts column in the April/May 2005 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— RFID technology has the potential to change the way supply chains are managed, but in order to be effective businesses need to take a holistic look at the deployment. Read more in the SDCExec.com article "Time for RFID: Applying RFID in the Supply Chain."
— For a contrary view of the future of the RFID market, see the article "The O'RFID Factor: A 'No Spin' Look at Where Radio Frequency Identification Is Headed," in the October/November 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— For more information on trends relating to radio frequency identification (RFID), follow this link for an extensive listing of SDCExec.com articles, featuring the latest research findings on the RFID, including adoption, return on investment and barriers to implementation.
Blue Bell, PA — July 1, 2005 — The Creative Interiors Division of Thomasville Furniture Industries has tapped Unisys Corporation and ODIN technologies to maintain its entire radio frequency identification (RFID) network and infrastructure, which provides track and trace capabilities for products sent to Thomasville's large retail customers.
Thomasville is using the RFID infrastructure, designed and implemented by ODIN technologies, to tag finished goods — ready to assemble furniture created by the Creative Interior division — before being shipped to the distribution centers of Thomasville's customers. The RFID tags will enable Thomasville to confirm the delivery of the products to its customers.
Unisys will provide information technology (IT) outsourcing services, consisting of 24x7 help desk and on-site field support for hardware and software issues related to the RFID infrastructure. As the one point of contact for all RFID service requests, Unisys said it would help streamline the support process for Thomasville.
In addition, ODIN technologies will work with Unisys to provide Thomasville with support for severe infrastructure failures and reinstallations.
RFID Tagging Seen Becoming "Production-critical"
"Thomasville Furniture is excited about having partners with the experience and capabilities of Unisys and ODIN technologies," said Terry Bargy, vice president and chief information officer at Thomasville Furniture. "Working with both partners gives us the confidence to continue to be proactive in using RFID and other new technologies to improve our business."
"Thomasville's robust RFID program with 24x7 remote and on-site infrastructure support is a testament to the technology's growing maturity," said Peter Regen, vice president of global visible commerce at Unisys. "RFID is a key technology that companies are employing to gain greater visibility into their supply chain — which is critical for improving efficiencies and reducing inventories."
"More and more, RFID tagging capabilities are becoming production-critical infrastructure," said Patrick J. Sweeney II, CEO of ODIN technologies. "As RFID matures, 24x7 support will become a critical asset needed to maintain fulfillment lead times."
Thomasville Furniture Industries is a division of Furniture Brands International.
Additional Articles of Interest
— Lean is still a top priority for many organizations, and now leading enterprises are applying lean principles to the supply chain. Read about the challenges in building a "lean supply chain" in "The Value of Being Out-of-stock (Almost) Everywhere," the Final Thoughts column in the April/May 2005 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— RFID technology has the potential to change the way supply chains are managed, but in order to be effective businesses need to take a holistic look at the deployment. Read more in the SDCExec.com article "Time for RFID: Applying RFID in the Supply Chain."
— For a contrary view of the future of the RFID market, see the article "The O'RFID Factor: A 'No Spin' Look at Where Radio Frequency Identification Is Headed," in the October/November 2004 issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
— For more information on trends relating to radio frequency identification (RFID), follow this link for an extensive listing of SDCExec.com articles, featuring the latest research findings on the RFID, including adoption, return on investment and barriers to implementation.
- More articles about Unisys.
