The momentum for the RFID Solutions-organised RFID summit being held in London on May 10 continues to build, with UK Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Alun Michael, agreeing to give the keynote address. (RFID Solutions is a sister magazine to Packaging Today)
Alongside highlighting the importance of new technology to businesses operating in a highly competitive trading environment, the Minister will outline UK Government policy on RFID and examine what positive steps it is taking to encourage the technology's adoption. The conference will also see the world's first RFID presentation from the Dixons Group which will detail the retailer's view of RFID in the store of the future.
RFID Solutions 2006 will be supported by a number of high-profile industry players, as well as the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the European Telcommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the Packaging Federation and the UK e-commerce, barcoding and RFID organisation, GS1UK, with whom RFID Solutions co-hosted a successful RFID conference last Summer. The 2005 event attracted over 250 delegates and 27 exhibitors, making it Europe's largest RFID-dedicated conference and exhibition.
This year's programme comprises two high-level plenary sessions and three streams -– Manufacturing and Packaging, Supply Chain Management and Asset Tracking, and Retailing. The focus will be on how RFID implementation can improve your business, with 13 "hands-on" case studies involving high profile adopters.
Among key topics discussed in the Retailing stream will be RFID in the retail store of today and the future, how to win consumers' hearts and minds, and getting suppliers behind RFID.
In the Manufacturing and Packaging stream speakers will consider the challenges facing the packaging sector and brand owners as they gear up for RFID adoption, how tags can be successfully incorporated into different packaging types and how label converters are meeting the challenge.
Presentations in the Supply Chain Management and Asset Tracking stream will examine topics including how RFID can transform warehouse operations, RFID tagging in the NHS – what has been learnt so far?, RFID in the aviation and automotive industries, and managing the recall process and improving traceability.
In the plenary sessions, the topics covered include: where's the ROI in RFID?, the integration of RFID with legacy systems, implementing pilot trials, how to effectively use the data collected and where next for RFID?
For the first time the event will also include a workshop providing an introduction to RFID.
To register, visit www. wilmingtonconferences.com (click on RFID Solutions 2006). To exhibit email mkirk@wilmington.co.uk or telephone +44 (0) 208 269 7775.
Speaker update
Alun Michael, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions
Robert Clarke, associate professor, MSU School of Packaging, Michigan State University
David Weatherby, European adoption manager, EPCglobal
Ian Dent, chief executive, The Packaging Federation
John Garrett, Radio Barcode architect, Tesco Stores
Peter Jordan, director of international business to business strategy, Kraft Foods
J Aaron Graham, vice-president & chief security officer, Purdue Pharma LP
Sean Feeney, European logistics director, European mixed electrical retail division, Dixons Store Group
Philip Foster, principal investigator University of Warwick Manufacturing Group*
Nigel Woodland, RFID director UK, Oracle
Stuart Facey, senior vice-president and general manager, TrenStar UK
James Sherman, IT solutions project manager, GIST
Andy Shaw, business manager, Auto-ID Labs
Steve Coffey, Director of RFID EMEA, Avery Dennison Retail Information Services
Tony Walsh, European business development manager, Domino UK*
Cyrus Gilbert-Rolfe, managing director, EMEA OAT Systems
David Evans, senior guidance & promotions manager, Information Commissioner's Office
Pete Cullen, RFID manager, Unipart
Brian Weeks, managing director, Integrated Product Intelligence
David Morgan, consultant ENT surgeon, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Chris Ranger, head of safer practice, National Patient Safety Agency.
*Denotes a joint presentation case study with a client company
