Facility features RFID testing, updated warehouse control system
RALEIGH, NC, April 6, 2005 —Adapting to meet future demands, Tompkins Associates’ facility in Orlando, Florida, has evolved from a material handling development lab to a full-scale supply chain technology evaluation and testing center. The new Tompkins Emerging Technology Center will focus on research, development and testing of emerging technologies such as RFID, voice-activated picking, and real-time warehouse controls.
“We’ve brought together the latest in technology testing, evaluation and integration at the Emerging Technology Center,” said Jim Capece, Partner with Tompkins Associates. “We’ve utilized all the knowledge and expertise developed since the lab opened in 2001 to make this enhanced facility a true extension of our clients’ own facilities. This is one of the most objective, reliable supply chain technology and RFID test beds in the industry.”
With the expansion of equipment and key upgrades in technology, Tompkins’ 11,000-square-foot, $6 million center can now demonstrate and test RFID compliance as mandated by Wal-Mart and the Department of Defense. Because there is no one-size-fits-all solution for RFID testing, warehouse controls and order picking, Tompkins Associates has tailored the technology to meet specific company and industry needs. Test scenarios with different readers, tags, equipment and software have led to the exciting development of three unique options for RFID implementation at the new facility.
The first test zone, suited for low-volume shipments, is a compact stand-alone system that allows the user to manually apply RFID tags to staged cartons, generate the EPC, encode and verify the tags, and create a pallet tag. For medium volumes, Tompkins Associates has developed an off-line, semi-automatic solution incorporating accumulating conveyor, scanners, RFID printers, RFID readers for encode and verification, and integrated software. Equipment supplied for this solution may be incorporated into an existing material handling system.
For high-volume product requirements, the RFID equipment and software is integrated into an existing material handling system process flow. Tompkins makes this possible with custom data collection and analysis software, which fully integrates RFID capabilities through the Tompkins Control System (TCS) middleware. “We have created building block solutions with the latest technology that can easily integrate into existing warehouse management controls and systems,” said Frank Morrell, Manager of the Tompkins Emerging Technology Center.
The updated facility also features a complete Order-Picking Method Evaluation Module in which RF, voice and pick-to-light technology can be compared using the same order data. The Tompkins Emerging Technology Center does not focus on one vendor or equipment provider; therefore, the options offered are unbiased and more beneficial for companies seeking the right solutions. Current contributors include:
- Accu-Sort Systems
- Alien Technology
- Autolab
- Control Systems Engineering
- Datamax
- Entivity
- Ermanco
- HighJump Software
- Itoh Denki
- Manhattan Associates
- Mantissa
- Matrics/Symbol Technology
- Microscan
- Northview Power Systems, Inc.
- Printronix
- Quantronix-Cubiscan
- Quest Solutions
- Remstar International, Inc.
- Rockwell Automation
- SAMSys
- Strategic Systems & Technology Corporation
- Stanley Vidmar
- Storage Equipment
- TKF Conveyors
- Versa Conveyor
- Vocollect
- Working Machines Corporation
- Zebra Technologies
For more information or to schedule a tour of the Tompkins Emerging Technology Center, call 407-362-0362 or e-mail ETC@tompkinsinc.com.
About the Company
Tompkins Associates is the leading operations-focused consulting and integration firm, specializing in end-to-end supply chain solutions. Customers look to Tompkins' expertise to develop and implement strategies for intelligent solutions in distribution center design, warehouse strategic planning, distribution network configuration, transportation system planning, system integration and implementation, logistics and manufacturing outsourcing, and supply chain optimization. As consultants and integrators for more than 30 years, Tompkins offers a proven track record and deep industry expertise for solutions that reduce costs and improve overall supply chain performance. The company is headquartered in Raleigh , NC . For more information, visit www.tompkinsinc.com.
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Myra Schwartz or call 919-855-5533
 Tompkins Emerging Technology Center Photos
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