the engage again Spring 2021 conference sessions for Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Welcome to engage again Spring 2021
Speaker: Steve Halliday, Mary Lou Bosco
9:00 AM- 9:45 AM
Auditorium 1Rain RFID: a key enabler for Industry 4.0 data collection
Speakers: Nicolas Delorme, Lionel Geynet
9:45 AM- 10:25 AM
Auditorium 1
Data collection is a real challenge for Industry 4.0, as many technologies are competing. Recent progress in battery-free, maintenance-free sensors interrogated through standard RAIN RFID has enabled applications until now deemed impossible. In addition to pure object identification, data from all types of sensors can now be collected from those objects, leveraging on the infrastructure, robustness and capacity of the RAIN protocol. With such massive data within reach and progress in data processing, a giant efficiency leap is anticipated in processes of many diverse fields such as industrial maintenance, logistics, agriculture and healthcare.To serve this endeavour, Asygn proposes a family of battery-free sensor tag ICs fully compliant with RAIN RFID protocol, instrumental to capture a wide range of physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, pressure, strain and others.This talk focuses on selected use cases showing the benefits of battery-free sensing.
IoMT and AIDC
Speakers: Sachin Shetty, John Greaves, Mitch Parker
10:25 AM- 11:05 AM
Auditorium 1
The Internet of Medical things has become a mantra in Health Care. The move to wearables, medical devices of a portable nature and the continuous innovation accelerated by the Covid Pandemic is being reflected in the Standards, Regulatory and Device OEM community. Combined with improved, 5G, communications in both speed and volume of data the AIDC community is increasingly and heavily involved in this innovative transition. Where is this at, who is making it happen? These three are part of the dynamic, come and hear the update and foresight.
Optimizing Labeling Technologies for Loss Prevention
Speakers: Ron Lembke, Bruce Brown, Adam Hartway
1:30 PM- 2:10 PM
Auditorium 1
The Reverse Logistics Association created and now manages an ANSI standard for optimizing the utilization of up to 4000 characters in QR codes allowing multiple URLs and customer direct communications (MH10/8.2.12N) A number of companies are developing applications for this significant advancement in scanning technology.
Using innovation to transform the value of the device label
Speaker: Rich Kucera
2:10 PM- 2:50 PM
Auditorium 1
The UDI regulation was intended to bring to the medical device industry what has been possible in the retail industry for over 45 years - scanning the device to unlock clear and accurate product information to drive decision making. While health systems are relying on the UDI more than ever before, challenges remain in linking the data on the device label to data stored in FDA's public data AccessGUDID. This session explores a new way of looking at the device through the application of OCR, artificial intelligence, and neural networks. Examples of existing challenges with UDI scanning and how applying these tools can overcome these challenges to achieve the benefits of a Global UDI system.
Picking the Elizondo Brain - Path Forward in Pharmaceutical Source Tagging
Speakers: Paul Elizondo. Juho Partanen
2:50 PM- 3:30 PM
Auditorium 1
The long-serving chairman of the RAIN Healthcare WG, Mr. Paul Elizondo, and an enthusiastic RAIN tagging standards advocate, Mr. Juho Partanen, sit down to have a public conversation and virtual coffee for the greater good of the industry. Specifically, these two experts will address the learnings from IG's project deployments, identify voids in the industry co-operation practices, and paint the necessary standard development areas as the RAIN adoption accelerates to cover a wider variety of use cases along the pharmaceutical supply chains. Source tagging sounds like the way to go, but which hurdles need to be cleared away? Please join the session and add entertainment value by posting your own comments and questions through the conference chat.
Trading Partner Authentication and Drug Verification in the US Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Speakers: Ben Taylor, Alex Colgan
5:00 PM- 5:40 PM
Auditorium 1
In 2013 the Drug Supply Chain Security Act was signed into law to address the growing threat of counterfeit drugs and to ensure prescription drugs remain safe and effective. It also created new requirements for US pharmaceutical supply stakeholders, including an extended "know your customer" requirement. While larger Authorized Trading Partners (ATPs) have connectivity solutions in place, newer and smaller ATPs have not traditionally participated, including tens of thousands of dispensers.
During this session, Ben Taylor will discuss the results of a peer-reviewed study that tested ATP authentication and enhanced verification in a real-world pharmacy with genuine drug packages. By scanning barcodes on the packages and leveraging open standard, participants from Genentech, Sanofi, Amgen, and UCLA Health tested enhanced verification workflows backed by decentralized technologies, and were able to authenticate requests with secure verifiable credentials.
Top Priorities for Pharma Executives
Speaker: John Wirthlin
5:40 PM- 6:20 PM
Auditorium 1
Explore how current and emerging trends are addressing the top pain points in the pharma industry. Executives need a cohesive strategy to monitor the supply chain from manufacturing to patient administration. We will explore how Automatic Identification Data Capture (AIDC) solutions are meeting the challenge in the pharmaceutical industry.
Surgical Loaner Kit Tracking with RAIN RFID
Speaker: Keith Hoffman
6:20 PM- 7:00 PM
Auditorium 1
From point of replenishment, to point of use, and everywhere in between, there are a lot of pitfalls when trying to manage loaner kits throughout their journey. But, when tracked properly, these kits can make a world of difference when it comes to patient care and the preparedness within hospitals.
Leveraging Data Collection for Enhancing Supply Chain Visibility
Speaker: John DiPalo
1:30 PM- 2:10 PM
Auditorium 2
As supply chains continue to increase in complexity it is more important than ever to have transparency across your extended supply chain. This session will cover how using multiple data collection technologies and integration methods can assist in enhancing supply chain visibility across the extended supply chain.
The Importance of Data Standards
Speakers: Alfred “Bubba” Cook, Jeanne Duckett
2:50 PM- 3:30 PM
Auditorium 2
One of the biggest challenges to appropriate data collection, particularly in the seafood supply chain, involves collecting that information in a way that ensures its quality, utility, integrity, and reliability. If data capture tools are not collecting that information in a way that is transferable and translatable - using a common language - then the value of that information is significantly diminished or even rendered useless. That's why data standards are so important to ensuring devices and systems are speaking a "common tongue." Bubba Cook of WWF discusses recent efforts to standardise data collection in the seafood supply chain, while Jeanne Duckett of Avery Dennison addresses the broader application of data standards through the lens of how ISO interacts with other standards organizations such as the GS1, ANSI and CEN. Also reviewed is the AIM Global/ RAIN role in standards development and how to get involved.
Blockchain Enablement: Digital Convergence Bringing Theory to Practice
Speakers: Don Durm, JW Franz
5:40 PM- 6:20 PM
Auditorium 2
Don will walk the audience through the results of a premium beef processor's blockchain case study, including the insights about why the company decided to embark on this pilot to provide true visibility while solving for other challenges along the supply chain. Listen to their learnings about how blockchain technology could potentially provide the seamless connection between unconnected ecosystems of individual companies along the food supply chain and how they are preparing now to improve transparency and drive cost out of the business. We will also discuss the path of future regulatory compliance.
Produce Traceability Iniative
Speaker: Ed Treacy
2:10 PM- 2:50 PM
Auditorium 2
Produce Traceability Initiative PTI is a voluntary initiative created in 2007 by the U.S. Produce Industry; the growers, packers, shippers and buyers, to implement a more effective whole chain traceability process. PTI was created in response to the 2006 Spinach Crisis that had a huge human, economic and consumer confidence impact The 2006 Spinach crisis proved that what was in place was not good enough for our industry.
How to Achieve Enhanced Traceability Recordkeeping with AIDC
Speaker: Julie McGill
5:00 PM- 5:40 PM
Auditorium 2
The FDA proposed rule, FSMA 204, lays the foundation for the end-to-end food food traceability. This would create a standardized approach to traceability record keeping, paving the way for industry to adopt and leverage more digital, tech-enabled traceability systems. Trading partners are trying to determine their approach and understand how they can use technologies, such as AIDC, to automate data capture. This session will provide an overview of the proposed regulation, considerations for implementation and data carriers, as well as timelines for compliance.
RFID-Enabled Stock Management System: A Customer Journey
Speaker: Jos Kunnen, Rhys Griffith
6:20 PM- 7:00 PM
Auditorium 2
From labour-intensive paper, pen, and cable ties to automated and accurate item level traceability: With a mission to make the deer industry more efficient and competitive Deer Industry New Zealand embarked the journey of process automation with RAIN RFID. Learn why they chose RAIN technology, what challenges they had to overcome “ from difficult environments to change management “ and ultimately, the ROI of the solution.
Can We Talk? An Introduction to the RAIN Communication Interface Protocol
Speaker: Dan Ratner
9:45 AM- 10:25 AM
Auditorium 3
An introduction to the purpose, benefits, structure and syntax of the RAIN Communication Interface Protocol
RAIN RFID Printers and Labels: Best Practices
Speakers: Michael Fein, Mike Weinhammer
10:25 AM- 11:05 AM
Auditorium 3
Join Michael Fein and Mike Weinhammer global product leads for Zebra's RFID printer and label business -- to learn about the latest advancements in printing and encoding technology, and RFID tag/label selection.
RAIN RFID solutions rely on accurate tag data, but too often deployments struggle because they're using the wrong tag/inlay, or their tag data can't be trusted.
Learn from Zebra's experts how to build a scalable foundation “ the right encoding method, with the right tag “ to ensure success with your RAIN RFID solution
Driving RAIN adoption with strategic communication and easy-to-use systems
Speakers: Megan Brewster, Jill West
1:30 PM- 2:10 PM
Auditorium 3
The RAIN Alliance’s mission is to drive RAIN adoption. Two ways that RAIN Alliance members can support this mission is (i) clear, consistent, and strategic communication of what is RAIN RFID and how it solves our customer’s problems and (ii) easing the complexity of system installation/deployment process.
Challenges and Opportunities in RFID - the Last Mile in IoT
Speaker: John Armstrong
2:50 PM- 3:30 PM
Auditorium 3
Challenges and Opportunities in RFID - the Last Mile in IoT
Your task, if you choose to accept it, is to build the next great product in RFID. You have a great opportunity - 'if only' ...
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the promise of never losing anything ever again. The promise of being able to "Google the "things" in your life that you care about. A simple idea. Inspiring. We do it with data and information, why not with "things".
Things are "objects" - and the being able to find a way to implement the internet of objected requires looking at 'objectives'.
What is to be accomplished?
This talk will walk through solutions found to overcome multipath, finding unknown tags among large numbers of unknown tags and other challenges to fulfilling the promise of IoT.
What Can History Teach Us About RAIN Technology’s Future?
Speakers: Ernesto Castagnet, John Burnell
2:10 PM- 2:50 PM
Auditorium 3
The AIDC 100 AIDC 100 is a not-for-profit, self-sustaining, non-political, international organization of automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) professionals and others who have significantly contributed to the growth and advancement of the industry. The organization is a technical and business resource “ with emphasis on education" whose primary goal is to enlarge the business community's knowledge and understanding of AIDC. Many of its members worked in the bar code industry before bar codes were used in supermarkets. In this session, several AIDC 100 members will share their lessons learned from the first wave of AIDC disruption, identify parallels between then and the current state of the market, and present advice to technology vendors and prospective users for helping emerging AIDC technology overcome obstacles to gain widespread adoption.
Introduction to Properly Formatting RAIN Tag Data
Speaker: Chris Brown
5:00 PM- 5:40 PM
Auditorium 3
RAIN tag data should be formatted as per either GS1 EPC Tag Data Standards or various ISO/IEC standards. RAIN tag data should not be formatted in a proprietary manner (unless "wrapped" in an ISO/IEC framework).
This presentation will provide introductory information on the GS1 and ISO data formatting standards and how to properly format your tag data as per these standards.
EPC Extended Attributes for Food Supply Chain
Speakers: Jonathan Gregory, Guilda Javaheri, Jeanne Duckett
5:40 PM- 6:20 PM
Auditorium 3
Review the progress of a GS1 US workgroup investigating the open supply chain use of RAIN RFID for the food supply chain .
GS1 Digital Link - Bridging Data Silos
Speaker: Steven Keddie, Jeanne Duckett
6:20 PM- 7:00 PM
Auditorium 3
The GS1 Digital Link standard extends the power and flexibility of GS1 identifiers by making them part of the web. That means that GS1 identifiers, such as the GTIN, are now a gateway to consumer information that strengthens brand loyalty, improved supply chain traceability information, business partner APIs, patient safety information and more.
the engage again Spring 2021 conference sessions for Thursday, May 6, 2021
Laying the Foundation of Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Seafood Supply Chains
Speakers: Alfred "Bubba" Cook
8:00 AM- 8:45 AM
Auditorium 1
Do you really know where your seafood is from and how it was produced? Do you care? You should because you could be unintentionally supporting illegal fishing or human rights violations through your purchase! Alfred “Bubba” Cook, a fisheries and technology expert for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) explores why data capture and the Internet of Things (IoT) plays such an increasingly important role in creating more equitable, just, and sustainable seafood supply chains by allowing traceability and transparency of products from “bait to plate."
RFID in Smart Retail and IoT
Speakers: Lewis Lin
9:40 AM- 10:20 AM
Auditorium 1
In order to demonstrate more possibilities of RFID in smart retail, Arizon has partnered with Taiwan 7-ELEVEn to build the first RFID X-STORE in Taichung that utilizes RFID sensing checkout system. In addition, Arizona has developed other new RFID applications for smart retail and IoT, such as product resume tracking, advertising push platform, new washing label and Microwave tag.
The Blurring of the lines between warehouses and stores
Speaker: Mark Delaney
1:30 PM- 2:10 PM
Auditorium 1
COVID has done more than change the way we shop; it's forever changed the role of the retail store. Wide aisles with towers of merchandise are making way for technologies such as micro-fulfillment centers, lockers and other solutions focused on fulfilling orders efficiently. Join Zebra Technologies' Retail Industry Consultant, Mark Delaney, as he shares how retailers are looking at workflows and technologies once reserved for the warehouse and distribution center, in order to keep up with growing e-commerce demands. Mark can discuss why pick to light, robotics and augmented reality are steadily making their way into brick and mortars and why the retail store of the future will look dramatically different as a result of the rise of online shopping.
VAR Opportunities & Challenges in the Cannabis Vertical
Speakers: Jim Roddy
10:25 AM- 11:05 AM
Auditorium 1
The RSPA (Retail Solutions Providers Association) Cannabis Community has witnessed firsthand the collision between the complex, fast-growing cannabis vertical and our channel.
What happens when brands control the data about their products in stores?
Speakers: Steve Statler
2:50 PM- 3:30 PM
Auditorium 1
Auto-ID has the power to unlock significant benefits for brands, from traceability to proof of authenticity, from auto-replenishing consumables to better understanding consumer usage and behavior. Today, brands may have some visibility into the purchase of their products in the wholesale channel, but this data typically arrives after some delay and lacks context. We have an unique opportunity to obtain insights into how positioning, pricing, and promotion affect purchases in real-time.
Sharing these valuable insights with other stakeholders in the product's journey, can provide the required incentive for retailers to share the data collected in their stores. Join us to learn more about how today's supply chain is becoming tomorrow's demand chain, enabled by insights from hyper-thin IoT nodes, and how the value of this shift can be shared amongst participants.
A data-driven approach to a successful grocery e-commerce fulfillment strategy
Speaker: Tim Kane
5:40 PM- 6:20 PM
Auditorium 1
This session will examine the role data plays in the successful fulfillment of e-commerce grocery orders. When e-commerce orders were less than five percent of a grocer's business, the additional fulfillment cost wasn't a major concern to most grocers. E-commerce orders have increased to between fifteen and twenty percent of a supermarket's business and the cost to fulfill those orders is estimated to be five to fifteen dollars per order.
Untethered RFID/IoT tracking in today's distributed world
Speakers: Harley Feldman
9:40 AM- 10:20 AM
Auditorium 2
Seeonic is a system developer and integrator in the passive RFID space. The company has focused on Untethered RFID, i.e. providing passive RFID readers that do not require wall power or a wired Internet connection. SightWare, readers use battery power and a cellular connection for communicating the RFID data collected. Seeonic's Seeniq cloud platform manages the devices and the collected data. Recently, Seeonic has reengineered the SightWare electronics to make the reader much smaller (SightWare X). Another product recently developed, XTAG, is an active IoT device/RFID tag targeted at tracking mobile assets as to where they are located and identifying the asset ID. XTAG is battery powered with several communications protocols built in. XTAG prototypes have been demonstrated in operational settings tracking a variety of assets with the production versions targeted for the 3Q21. The talk will focus on the advantages of the untethered approach for asset tracking.
RAIN technology for RFID road tolling
Speakers: Josef Preishuber-Pflüegl
10:20 AM- 11:00 AM
Auditorium 2
This session will cover how road tolling is currently implemented based on RAIN RFID technologies and what obstacles had to be overcome to be successful. Furthermore, it addresses the international requirements and how they are ensured and fulfilled to get operator and user acceptance.
The AIDC Technology that can Revolutionize Plastic Sorting Techniques
Speaker: Larry Logan
1:30 PM- 2:10 PM
Auditorium 2
There are currently limitations in plastic sorting technology, making it difficult to identify plastics that qualify for recycling, which results in their unnecessary disposal into landfills or incinerators. An AIDC technology based on digital watermarking can provide a “digital passport” for plastic packaging and redirect plastic back into the manufacturing stream for processing and reuse. This digital watermarking technology is being integrated into packaging and labeling of various forms for industry testing. Digital watermarks can be encoded in printed material (labels, sleeves, in-mould labels) in the form of subtle variations in the printed artwork, as well as being encoded in the plastic itself by adding micro-topological variations to the surface of the mould. Digital watermark detection modules could one day be retrofitted on to existing sorting equipment at MRFs, incorporated into hand-held scanners and mobile computers for supply chain applications as well as cell phones to support consumer engagement.
Traceability in Sync - GS1 US Interoperability Proof-of-Concept
Speakers: Todd Dolinsky, Gena Morgan, Raja Ramachandran, Gokul Kandiraju
2:10 PM- 2:50 PM
Auditorium 2
Capturing traceability data is just the first step to full chain visibility. Companies must be able to share data across systems and platforms in a way that is seamless and interoperable. Hear how GS1 US is working with leading traceability solution providers to validate industry and regulatory requirements, as well as tackling issues such as permissions and access control, through their Interoperability Proof-of-Concept.
RAIN Advancements for Automotive Manufacturing
Speakers: Joe Hoerl
2:50 PM- 3:30 PM
Auditorium 2
RAIN has been utilized by automotive OEM, tier suppliers, and logistics companies with great success. To date, RAIN has primarily been used for container level track & trace or WIP applications. Next generation RAIN product advancements are now enabling efficient serialization of automotive components as well as pRTLS (Passive RTLS) within production lines and within the supply chain.
Anti Counterfeiting Measures using Blockchain & IoT in the Automotive After Markets
Speaker: Raghu Bala
5:00 PM- 5:40 PM
Auditorium 2
Anitcounterfieting Measures using Blockchain & IoT in the Automotive After Markets.
The global value of counterfeiting and piracy is projected to reach nearly $3 trillion by 2022. The economic impact is alarming, and it is not the only threat. When fake products enter the market, consumer safety is jeopardized, and people lose confidence in the brands they trust. Organizations are designing and refining sophisticated anti-counterfeiting measures.
Blockchain is open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties. This technology is revolutionizing the supply chain management. Matrix platform is based on a wide range of digital technologies ” including blockchain, big data, the Internet of Things. Blockchain provides complete visibility hence a deterrent against counterfeiting.
Building RAIN RFID for use in Data Critical Applications
Speaker: Jo Major
5:40 PM- 6:20 PM
Auditorium 2
While RAIN RFID has been implemented in many application areas, some have dipped their toes into the technology but been frustrated with their systems inability to tolerate unexpected or phantom data. SensThys will explore these challenges and discuss technologies that compliment RAIN RFID to re-open these and other error intolerant applications to RFID. This paper will be applicable to:- Healthcare - Cold chain - Government- Avionics- Encryption- Authentication- Digital-twins, and – Blockchain.
Shielding, the key contributor to success
Speakers: Stanislas Chevallier
9:40 AM- 10:20 AM
Auditorium 3
Rain RFID infrastructures manage continuous improvement for the retail market to achieve sustainable growth. Shielding is a key part to ensuring the separation of zones. Many solutions are available on the market, however quality products and quality service are the only way to ensure a high-performance roll out. Each place is different and requires attention before implementation.
Controlling RFID waves with RFID
Speakers: Geoffroy Lerosey
10:20 AM- 11:00 AM
Auditorium 3
To achieve ultra-high reliability, RFID needs movement. In the context of store/stock inventory, such movement can be achieved using manpower and portable readers, smart RFID robots or drones, or complex multiple antenna readers. Yet none of these approaches are satisfying both in terms of CAPEX, real-time capabilities, and performances.In this session, we will explain how smart metasurfaces can be used to control the propagation of electromagnetic waves electronically and in real time, for ultra-reliable RFID. We will provide several examples of successful projects in new retail and industry. We will then underline the limits of this approach in terms of integration, these metasurfaces requiring wires for power and control. We will hence introduce our latest developed technology: passive metasurface units that are RFID powered and controlled, and that can be distributed everywhere for a flexible control of RFID waves. Compatible with inlay fabrication processes, our approach will allow optimal store/stock inventories, at affordable CAPEX and in real-time.
RAIN Tag ICs - Past, Present, and Future
Speaker: Jesse Tuominen
1:30 PM- 2:10 PM
Auditorium 3
RAIN RFID is starting to be mature technology, and looking back, we have already seen 17 years' worth of various RAIN tag ICs. This includes products from dozens of manufacturers and altogether nearly one hundred individual tag chip models. During this time, there have been many trends and new features, such as high-memory tags, sensor tags, multi-protocol tags, and crypto tags, just to name a few.
Distributed RFID - Tag production directly on packaging substrates with Metallograph
Speakers: Daniel Harrison
2:10 PM- 2:50 PM
Auditorium 3
Distributed RFID tag production directly on packaging substrates improves sustainability by eliminating inlays which may interfere with recyclability, enables customized antenna designs to improve performance and provides a path to very low cost tag production.
RF Wireless Power: A to Z
Speakers: Charles Greene
2:50 PM- 3:30 PM
Auditorium 3
This session will provide a detailed overview of RF wireless power starting with a definition of the technology and the physics behind how it works. Near field focusing and far field beam forming will be discussed and compared to single, low gain antenna solutions. Additionally, the effects of building material on RF power transfer will be examined including simulation data using Ansys HFSS. The viewer will get a better understanding of all aspects of RF wireless power including the benefits and limitations of the various ways the technology can be implemented and applications that can greatly benefit from it.
How to Interpret Reader Antennas' Radiation pattern
Speaker: Prabakar Parthiban
5:00 PM- 5:40 PM
Auditorium 3
This session is designed to provide Systems Integrators with a guide to understand and interpret radiation patterns of reader antennas in order to set up RFID read points in such a way to efficiently detect intended tags and avoid reading unwanted or stray tags.
Putting all items on the Radar: NextGen RFID is coming to the RTLS space.
Speaker: Jimmy Hester
5:40 PM- 6:20 PM
Auditorium 3
The UHF RFID tags”currently better commercially known as RAIN RFID tags”that we have become familiar with have come as the fruits of incremental improvements made over 20th-century technology.
Stirred by the advent of mmWave 5G cellular networks and automotive and industrial Radar systems, Edge-Computing, and AI, RFID technology is leaping into the 21st century to offer specifications unattainable to current RTLS and tagging systems.
Gen2 protocol extension for concurrent streaming
Speaker: Jin Mitsugi
6:20 PM- 7:00 PM
Auditorium 3
This presentation introduces a concurrent data streaming technology by allocating a dedicated subcarrier to each of sensor tag. Different from existing sensor data collection with READ command, the multiple subcarriers usage allows continuous monitoring of acceleration, temperature, and other sensor data tailored to applications from multiple points in the interrogation zone. Gen2 needs to be extended to allow the subcarrier frequency allocation, sensor configuration, and the streaming control. Sensor RF tags need to have additional functions for subcarrier allocation and data streaming. A preliminary set of the extended protocol is developed by the presenters research team, and is implemented in a prototype system to reveal the practicality of the proposal. The purpose of this presentation is to measure the industrial interests towards the technology and to seek opinions and suggestions on possible standardization activity.