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Business News RFID
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Business News RFID regarding Accenture help in formation of RFID
industry group to evaluate technology's value in pharmaceutical
industry.
According to
Dow Jones Business News RFID, Accenture announced on Feb. 18, 2004
the formation of a group of industry leaders that will work together
to evaluate the potential of new radio frequency identification
(RFID) technology to enhance pharmaceutical product manufacturing,
distribution and retail operations within the United
States.
Accenture is
serving as program manager for the group of pharmaceutical
manufacturers, distributors and retailers, which includes Abbott
Laboratories, Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cardinal Health, CVS
Pharmacy, Johnson & Johnson, McKesson, Pfizer, Procter &
Gamble, Rite Aid and others. Additionally, the Healthcare
Distribution Management Association (HDMA) and National Association
of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) are supporting the group by providing
their members with additional information and education-related
opportunities for this program.
This innovative
project will explore the application of EPC and RFID and
technologies to three areas: enhancing the safety and security of
the pharmaceutical supply chain; improving the process of
pharmaceutical returns management; and increasing the efficiency of
distribution operations. The group also plans to help encourage use
of the new electronic product code (EPC) digital identification
standard throughout the pharmaceutical industry.
"These
technologies are becoming widely recognized as a powerful tool,"
said Jamie Hintlian, a partner in Accenture's Health & Life
Sciences practice. "The RFID initiative is groundbreaking in that it
brings together leading companies across the pharmaceutical industry
to not only design and evaluate ways to improve supply chain
integrity and accuracy but, also to help consumers receive authentic
medicines."
In studying
these issues, the group has worked with the Food and Drug
Administration's Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force on how RFID and EPC
technologies can mitigate the risk of counterfeit drugs making it to
market.
In addition,
the group plans to test how RFID technology can improve:
- Expiration
date management;
- Lot and batch
tracking;
- Returns
management processing;
- Shipping and
receiving accuracy;
- Operational
integrity; and
- Product
security and consumer safety, among other
areas.
