To help accelerate the permeation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into supply chain management operations, TrenStar Inc. has joined the Microsoft RFID Council. TrenStar used Microsoft tools to develop RFID-enabled mobile asset management solutions for companies including Scottish Courage Breweries, Coors, Carlsberg UK, Bon Secours Richmond Health System and Kraft Foods. Mobile assets include equipment and containers that move materials and products through the supply chain.

Javed Sikander, program manager for RFID strategy at Microsoft Corp., said, "TrenStar provides some of the world's largest operational RFID solutions and brings a level of experience to the group that will catalyze our technology penetration strategy. Where many other companies are in the pilot stage with RFID, TrenStar has some of the largest active RFID implementations in the marketplace."

TrenStar developed a technology platform using the Microsoft .NET Framework for its healthcare industry subsidiary Agility Healthcare Solutions. Agility's equipment management system is live in three Bon Secours Richmond hospitals in Richmond, Va., making it the largest RFID solution in the U.S. healthcare industry. Jerrold Maki, Bon Secours chief administrative officer, said, "Agility's engineering studies showed that Bon Secours employees spend up to a third of their time searching for equipment. We expect our equipment management system to save us more than $200,000 in the first year through productivity improvements, better equipment utilization rates and a reduction in lost equipment as a result of the system's ease of use, flexibility and Web-based architecture."

The growing ecosystem of partners building innovative RFID solutions on the Microsoft platform are developing applications to enhance control of key business processes, improve inventory visibility and provide better customer service for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. TrenStar will help evaluate RFID requirements and determine how the technology can improve supply chain performance. TrenStar's container management solution, TrenStarCM, is built on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, the Microsoft .NET Framework and Microsoft Windows CE to power wireless, handheld RFID scanners. TrenStar corporate strategy and technology senior vice president David Adams said it is a robust platform with a very low total cost of ownership. "We selected Microsoft development tools because they provide the performance and scalability we need to manage our customers' huge container fleets. We like also the way they have improved the productivity of our developers," Adams said. "We've joined the Microsoft council to further optimize supply chain operations, where companies can benefit.

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