• New White Papers
• New - "Web Based Load Planning and Optimization" written by Tom Livernash of M-P System Services, Inc. and James S. Heuer of Flow Logistics, LLC.
• New - "Selecting a Picking Cart" - From ADS Specialists, Inc.
• New - "The Economic Value Add of a Production Logistics System" - From Irista
• New - "Material Control in the Food and Beverage Industry" - From Irista
• New - "Warehouse Management Technology and 21 CFR Part 11" - From Irista
• New - "Powering Up Facilities Contingency Plans" - From Current Solutions - Excellent
  White Papers Announced In Last Newsletter
• Inventory Control is the Most Powerful Tool For Containing Warehouse Costs! (PDF) - Realistic Thought Provoker - By Rene Jones of Total Logistics Solutions, Inc.
• Contract Management: Control Value and Minimise Risks (PDF) - Excellent - From Memba Software - http://www.memba.com
• Dr. Asuman Dogac - Highly Educational Power Points Presented at France - Excellent - High Education Content - Dr. Asuman's Home Page
• An Introduction to eCommerce (Size ~2 MB)
• Extensible Markup Language (XML) (698 KB)
• Business-to-Business Interoperability Standards (~1.4MB)
• Electronic Data Interchance (132 KB)
• Electronic Business XML (ebXML) (455KB)
• Microsoft Commerce Server (2.6MB)
• RosettaNet (365KB)
• Semantics of Web Services (66KB)

IDII News

• New Software Directory is now being updated & expanded. If your company develops a WMS, TMS, YMS, SMS, or ERP (with WMS) - then get into our software directory now! We request three items - a basic survey be completed, a press kit be sent into IDII, and press releases be sent to editor@idii.com. Start with the basic survey is at http://www.idii.com/surveybasic.doc - Surveys are due in by December 22nd, so we can publish this new software directory in January.
  
• New "Glossary of Supply Chain Terminology" - Just Released. Order a copy from Amazon. Bulk quantities are available from IDII. Need more information? - See recommendations and details about it.

Technology & Software Product News

• Wal-Mart will require all pallets and cases to have RFID tags based on the Class 1, version 2 specification of the Electronic Product Code (EPC); it is being developed under the auspices of EPCglobal, a joint venture between the Uniform Code Council and EAN International, charged with commercializing EPC technology. The tag will carry a 96-bit serial number and be field-programmable. See full story from RFID Journal. Class 1 or Class 0 tags are acceptable, but Wal-Mart would like to see suppliers move to Class 1 version 2 as soon as the specification is ready.
  
  
• Delfour Corporation (WMS, 3PL) has completed Linux certification testing of its SmartEnterprise2 third party logistics software (3PL) suite and can now provide the low-cost, PC-based 3PL solutions on PC-based platforms. The availability of a Linux-based solution enables mid-size logistics providers that may have considered sophisticated warehouse management and transportation solutions beyond their reach with the means to offer a comprehensive range of services that competes successfully against established, technology-rich 3PL providers.
  
  
• Delfour's (WMS) strategic partnership with ACOM Solutions (Middleware, B2B). ACOM is the developer and marketer of EZConnect. EZConnect is an e-commerce translation and connectivity tool that sits in front of the Delfour solution to facilitate electronic data/document exchanges. It can accept any data format (EDI, XML in its various forms, flat files) and translate them to any format that is expected by the sending/receiving systems -- e.g. X12 <> RosettaNet <> JDE flat file, etc.
  
  ACOM and Delfour are seamlessly compatible, which gives Delfour customers access to a powerful, modestly priced translation/connectivity solution that places no limits on their exchange of documents with trading partners. ACOM has a companion product that uses secure posted webforms for exchange of trading partner documents, with EZConnect again performing the translation and reformatting functions as well as providing connectivity to any VAN, proprietary data network or VPN, and/or the Internet.
  
  
• Manhattan Associates (WMS, TMS, LMS, Nasdaq: MANH) announced that FFE Transportation Services, Inc. has chosen Manhattan Associates'Transportation Management Systems (TMS) suite to increase collaboration between its subsidiary carriers and streamline its transportation operations. FFE, one of the largest trucking companies in North America, will leverage Manhattan Associates'TMS suite to increase workflow efficiency among its three transportation fleets. FFE plans to utilize the TMS functionality to increase collaboration between three business units within its organization: its dry freight truckload division, American Eagle Lines, its separate, affiliated carrier, Lisa Motor Lines and FFE. Among these three business units there are approximately 2,300 trucks.
  
  
• Prophet 21 (ERP, WMS) acquired Systems Design, Inc (ERP - "Prism"). Founded in 1976, Systems Design has been a provider of enterprise software solutions and services for distributors in the tile and floor covering and other durable goods industries. Systems Design serves 238 distributors throughout the United States and Canada. These customers will join Prophet 21's customer base as Systems Design and Prophet 21 combine to form into a single entity called Prophet 21. Systems Design's products and services will be supported, developed, marketed, and sold by Prophet 21.
  
  
• Prophet 21 has released an enhanced version of Knowledge Management Center for CommerceCenter. Version 3.5 of this executive data warehouse solution, features easy access to turn and earn data, the ability to track sales by order taker ID, and the power to view open quotes. Knowledge Management Center quickly summarizes sales, inventory, accounts receivables, accounts payables, and open orders, and allows distributors to set alerts whenever an activity falls outside a range the user predetermines.
  
  Graphs provide views of top GMROI and turn and earn percentages, helping distributors focus on what's moving. This enables distributors to optimize inventory investments by tracking fast- and slow-moving items and improving buying decisions. Knowledge Management Center 3.5 also offers the ability to view turn and earn and GMROI measurements by product line, supplier, location, and company. One can gauge the profitability of individual vendors..
  
  
  
• RedPrairie Corporation, (WMS, TMS, LMS) and Matrics, Inc.(RFID solutions), have announced a strategic integration and reseller agreement. Under the agreement, RedPrairie will integrate and resell Matrics' EPC-compliant RFID readers and tags with RedPrairie's RFID Accelerator(tm), a compliance middleware solution, its DigitaLogistix® supply chain execution suite, and its extended supply chain applications such as mobile asset management and supply chain security.
  
  RedPrairie will package Matrics' RFID technology with RFID Accelerator, a middleware application that can be easily integrated with any existing distribution, ERP or legacy host system to provide immediate compliance with the January 2005 mandates from Wal-Mart, the Department of Defense, or other leading retailers. This RFID compliance kit will get suppliers up to speed quickly without costly system upgrades or disruption of normal operations.
  
  
  
• SAMSys Technologies and LXE Inc. have announced a strategic partnership that will integrate SAMSys' MP9320 UHF forklift mounted RFID reader into LXE's VX4 Vehicle Mount Computer. This partnership will provide a complete RFID and mobile data collection solution that gives customers the flexibility to track goods in real time as they are moved within the depot. LXE's VX4 Vehicle Mount Computer, used in conjunction with SAMSys' MP9320 UHF forklift mounted RFID reader, provides a complete RFID and mobile data collection solution. This combined solution gives customers the flexibility to track goods as they are moved within the depot, and can provide real-time visibility of inventory in transit. And, with the ability to read data in real time and transfer this information to a data collection application, the management of goods is streamlined and the supply chain is enhanced.
  
  
• Vastera (ITL, Nasdaq: VAST) - New President announced. Vastera Inc. (VAST) named Richard Lefebvre chairman and Tim Davenport chief executive and president.
  
  Editor's Note: It's stock jumped 21% on that news in 1 single day! In our opinion, either Vastera has been in an extended "holding pattern" and/or some stock momementum players are pushing it up & around. Vastera produces International Trade Logistics software and this could be the beginning of a new growth period for VAST during the next few years. Investors need to be patient to wait & see if the new president executes well - we hope he does - and starts growing revenue & earnings for the next few quarters.
  

Quotes to Ponder - List of Quotes to Ponder from prior issues.

• "Do not remove a fly from your friend's forehead with a hatchet."
  - Chinese Proverb
  

• "Present your case... Bring forward your strong arguements."
  - Isaiah 41:21

• Project Management Institute - With over 100,000 members worldwide, PMI is the leading nonprofit professional association in the area of Project Management.
• Conveyor Center Library - Older website containing educational content on conveyors.
• SCM Resources - Excellent website for job hunting & consulting in the supply chain.
  
  

Valuable Future Events - Event Calendar is online!

For seminars, classes, and trade shows See the Event Calendar!!

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