- Growin' their own. 3M is turning to its newly acquired subsidiary for help meeting RFID mandates issued by Wal-Mart and other retail customers. The company has announced plans to implement HighJump Software's Compliance Advantage supply chain execution solution to help meet its customers' radio-frequency identification tagging requirements. HighJump's solution will enable its parent, 3M, to incorporate RFID tagging easily into existing fulfillment and distribution processes without disrupting bar codebased operations.
- The 98-percent solution. OshKosh B'Gosh, a global marketer of children's apparel and accessories, has awarded 98 percent of its Asia-origin logistics work to APL Logistics. This includes consolidation of vendor shipments in nine Asian countries as well as a multi-country consolidation program at APL Logistics' Asia hub.
- Top banana. Chiquita Brands LLC's Processed Fruit Ingredients Division has chosen ServiceCraft Logistics as a third-party logistics service provider. ServiceCraft will provide warehousing, order fulfillment and transportation services for Chiquita's banana puree product, which is imported for domestic distribution to the industrial and food service sector.
- Excellent prognosis. Omron Healthcare Inc., a leading player in the personal home diagnostic industry, has selected Kuehne + Nagel to implement an integrated North American supply chain solution, including management of inbound international freight forwarding, warehousing and domestic transportation. Kuehne + Nagel will manage all aspects of the company's import transportation, U.S. Customs brokerage, and container delivery to its multi-client distribution center in Alsip, Ill.
- Good times in Motown. Vehicle assembly operations at Ford Motor Co.'s new plant in metro Detroit will be supported by a dedicated "material sequencing center" run by TNT Logistics North America. By the time the Ford plant is fully launched, the TNT facility, which will offer sequencing, inventory control, small and large part metering, container management and transportation services, will have brought more than 100 new jobs to the area. The 340,000-square-foot facility is located close to the new Ford Dearborn Truck Plant in nearby Brownstown.
- Smart start. Printronix Inc., an integrated supply chain printing solutions manufacturer, has signed on as a sponsor to the MIT Auto-ID Lab's Packaging and RFID Special Interest Group. As part of its commitment, Printronix is donating two of its Smart Label Developer's Kits to MIT for placement in the development labs.
- Tooling up. ProLogis, a global provider of distribution facilities and services, has signed a build-to-suit agreement with the Black & Decker Corp. Black & Decker, which makes and markets power tools, hardware and home improvement products, will lease a 354,900-square-foot distribution facility at ProLogis Park West Pointe, located on the west side of Charlotte, N.C. The building is scheduled to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.
newsworthy
