Introduction:

Whether a client is a manufacturer looking to deploy RFID in a single site, or a multi-national retailer looking to deploy RFID across hundreds of locations worldwide, Eminence delivers industrial-strength solutions while implementing best practices to capture RFID data, add operational context to make the data actionable, and centrally monitor the reader network across multiple sites within an enterprise supply chain. Eminence proven implementation methodology delivers RFID solutions in four key project phases: Scopeout, Design, Integrate, Test, and Deploy.

Architecture:

Most companies think pragmatically and begin their RFID deployments in a stand-alone fashion to allow for experimentation with various approaches before solidifying on a process and data flow model. It is important at this stage to be comfortable with your chosen partner's architecture.

Once a process and data flow model is designed, the conversation naturally moves to specific points of integration. Typical RFID deployments include integration with many, if not all, of the following systems

• Enterprise applications - (SAP, Oracle), and EAI hubs (TIBCO, Web Methods, See Beyond, Sun ONE)
• Network management systems - (HP Open View)
• Trading partner data feeds - (Wal-Mart, Target)

Scopeout:

Eminence consultants formally initiate the implementation project with a series of discussions with the client to understand the business environment and requirements from the perspectives of operations, information technology, and the client's customers and suppliers. Business requirements are analyzed and mapped to eminence software solutions. Performance indicators are defined to measure project success, improvement goals of client customer/supplier and the expected value from deploying RFID within the client's logistics operations.

A detailed project plan and resource plan is tailored to the client's business requirements and presented to the client for review and approval. A project team is formally identified and gathered for a project kickoff meeting where the key milestones, deliverables, and project governance are presented.

Design:

Eminence solution architect works with client personnel to develop detailed use cases that document the business process, production/logistics environment, product flow, integration messages, exception handling and user notification. Use cases are reviewed and approved by the client before implementation work begins. The solution architect develops test scripts and criteria to test the system configuration with the client project team.

Information technology personnel are engaged to determine server, storage, and network requirements. Eminence consultants assist the client in developing a hardware plan and network topology to support the RFID process. Solution architects plan appropriate integration with process line controls for seamless integration into the client's logistics process. Systems engineers under the direction of the solution architect conduct unit testing to ensure the system is performing as expected. Results of the unit tests are presented and reviewed with the client project team.

Integration & Testing:

Achieving the appropriate level of integration between the RFID process and client ERP, WMS, and planning systems is an important aspect of a successful RFID implementation. Integration requirements are defined within the set of use cases. During this phase, client infrastructure is established to transport integration messages and data between systems. Eminence system engineers create test integration messages that are sent to client systems, and receive test messages that impact the RFID environment from these systems. End-to-end test scripts are executed, with the results documented and reviewed by the project team.

Deploy:

The tested system is deployed at the client site. The eminence team works with the client to install software, RFID hardware, and appropriate process triggers. Complete end-to-end testing of the systems is conducted on the system with client project team members. Users are trained on the system, how to interpret user notifications, and exception handling. The implementation project is closed with client approval of deliverables completed.

Maintenance:

The eminence project manager will provide overall project leadership and will manage a cross-functional team consisted of eminence and client business, operational, and information technology resources. Overall responsibilities include development and maintenance of overall project and resource plan, ongoing issues log, weekly status reports, project plan updates and facilitation of key project-related meetings.

Many companies can talk to you about integration frameworks or integration experience outside of RFID. Very few can speak to you about real world integration examples involving RFID. We have the unique privilege of working with many of innovators in RFID and the knowledge gained from these real-world integrations become part of our best practices that we bring to bear on each deployment.