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Press Releases

Automatic Identification & Data Capture (AIDC) Industry Association Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation

3/16/2023

 
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+1 724.742.4470 info@aimglobal.org www.aimglobal.org

Automatic Identification & Data Capture (AIDC) Industry Association Celebrates 50 Years of Innovation

Building Community, Resilience, and Impact Around the World

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | March 16, 2023 | AIM, the leading industry association and global authority for the Automatic Identification & Data Capture (AIDC) Industry will highlight the progress and innovation of the technology roadmap that has transpired in the past 50 years since the inception of AIM.

 

It all began in 1973, when AIM, then known as the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM), was established as a Product Section of the Material Handling Institute (MHI) with a handful of members. In 1985, AIM was incorporated as a separate trade association when MHI moved their headquarters to Charlotte, NC.
 
The 1980’s and 1990’s were the most explosive decades for AIM as new symbologies were created; standards development activity was in high gear; membership blossomed to 900 global member companies; the annual industry trade show, SCAN-TECH, grew to attract over 12,000 attendees and 350 exhibitors; new product announcements were daily occurrences; and multiple vertical industries created mandates and compliance programs insisting on the use of AIDC technologies.

50 years ago, the founding pioneers of the AIDC industry certainly did not envision that one day every person would be walking around with a bar code scanner in their pocket, nor did they know at that time that AIDC technologies would become robust data collection tools connecting the physical world to the computer world enabling the birth of Wi-Fi, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Bluetooth, and Robotics.


“AIM was built on innovation and the courage to try new things,” said Chuck Evanhoe, AIM’s Board of Directors Chair. “Today, digital data capture technologies are reimagined into new efficiencies enabling supply chains around the world to be more equitable, sustainable, and resilient.”

 

In commemoration of this milestone anniversary, AIM will be hosting a series of regional events to mark the occasion. For more information about AIM and the association’s evolutions, please visit the #AIM50 website.

AIM 50th Anniversary - A Look into 50 Years of Innovation

We enjoy strong support from our industry sponsors including:

About AIM | AIM is the trusted worldwide industry association for the automatic identification industry. For half a century, AIM has provided unbiased information, educational resources and standards to providers and users of these technologies. AIM membership provides access to an insider’s perspective on trends and opportunities along with a voice in shaping the growth and future of the industry.  Member benefits include education, advocacy, and community, as well as a role in creating industry standards through collaboration.

























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Association Members Select Leaders From Identiv, Bartender, and GS1 GO to AIM Board

3/14/2023

 
AIM Welcomes Newly Elected Board Members

March 14, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – AIM, the leading industry association and global authority for innovation, standards, and solutions in barcode, biometrics, IoT, NFC, RFID, RTLS, and RAIN technologies, today announces the election results for new members to the Board of Directors.
 
These new board members bring proven leadership abilities and valuable experience to the board with their broad set of experience, skills, diversity, and perspectives. Their term begins March 15, 2023.

Leigh Dow
, Vice President Global Marketing, Identiv. Leigh is a change agent focused on what’s next, seeking out new ideas, and leading efforts to accelerate growth, build new business and increase brand value. She was recently honored with 2023 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards Marketer of the Year and Podcast of the Year awards. In 2022, she was honored as an inductee to the inaugural Security Industry Association Power 100 and in 2021 named one of The Software Report's Top Women Leaders in Cybersecurity. Leigh is the current Marketing Chair for the UnitVisID Alliance and the Secretary of the NFC Forum IoT SIG. She holds an MBA specializing in Technology Management and a BS in Geopolitical Strategy.

Elizabeth Sinclair connects people, industry, academia, standards and technology in her role as Director of Strategic Alliances for Seagull Scientific, developer of BarTender® software. She works with end users and partners to enable consumer confidence, supply chain efficiencies, and regulatory compliance through the deployment of AIDC in industries including aerospace, food, pharma, medical devices, and chemical manufacturing. She has led two AIM committees, chairing both the Track and Trace and Cannabis Traceability work groups. In 2022, Elizabeth was awarded the AIM Professional of the Year. Prior to Seagull Scientific, Elizabeth managed marketing communications for the global chemical distributor Univar, supporting business units in the regulated industries. She attended the University of Washington, and holds a certificate in strategic marketing management from the school’s Foster School of Business.

Steven Keddie, AIDC Senior Director for GS1 Global Office. Steven is an Electrical Engineer with 22 years in automotive working for both tier one and OEM (6 automotive patents) and 12 years in marking and coding (focused on FMCG manufacturing). He is an industry expert on printing technology with two marking and coding patents. Steven is a 10-year member of the AIM TSC and author of “Is the GS1-128 Barcode on Course to Become the Preferred Standard for Retail Grocery and Foodservice Packaging?” and leads a global migration to 2D barcode initiative that will see 2D pervasively use in retail by 2027. He is a contributor to several SC31 work efforts and will be launching a new barcode resource for industry to ensure compliance with all GS1’s barcode syntaxes. Steven holds numerous patents and earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Ryerson Polytechnic Institute.  

“We are excited to expand our board with three new members who will bring diverse expertise and insight to our work,” said Mary Lou Bosco, CEO, AIM, Inc. “We have worked diligently to ensure AIM’s board and leadership represents a variety of experts from industry, and the newest board members are no exception.”
 
For more information, biography, or photos, contact AIM’s headquarters by email or call +1.724.742.4470.

12 Teams Made-IT-Wright Transforming an Idea into a Business Solution in Just 24 Hours

2/9/2023

 
Developers of all skill levels recognized for innovative apps that help solve real-world issues impacting businesses.
 
February 9, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – Taking place the 4th and 5th of February, the AIM North America Make-IT-Wright Hackathon hosted nearly 100 students at Wright State University to create solutions to some of the most pressing supply chain challenges in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The students transformed an idea into a business solution in 24 hours.
 
The event featured three training sessions on automatic identification and data capture technologies, standards, labeling design, hardware, software, GS1 Digital Link, EPCIS, plus innovation coaching, mentoring and networking with dedicated industry experts from Avery Dennison, GS1 US, BlueStar, NOVEXX Solutions, BarTender, TSC Printronix, Mojix, and AIS.
 
The hackathon kicked off with an inspirational message from Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response, U.S. FDA along with a visit from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown’s Legislative Staff member, Pancho Rivera.
 
“The teams participating in this event were very driven to achieve their visions,” shared Jeanne Duckett from Avery Dennison, lead hackathon designer and AIM North America chair, “The results were impressive and provide an excellent example of what is possible when people with the right mix of skills come together and work hard toward a common goal.”
 
A panel of judges from industry and academia evaluated submissions based on level of innovation, real-world impact, and execution. Entries ranged from freshman to graduate students. Award winners shared $6,000 in prizes.
 
The winners included:
First Place:       Ean Hatfield, Ryan Miller, Braden Pennie, and Kalen Tullis
Second Place: Joseph Sodergren, Derrick Thompson, Ethan Thompson, and Liam Williams-Henninger
Third Place:      Mason McDaniel, Nicole Pililyan, Regin Potter, and Anmol Saini
 
“We congratulate the winning teams for their hard work and innovation, as well as everyone who submitted entries and took the opportunity to develop new skills,” add Matt Kijowski, Cyber Systems Program Manager at Wright State University.
 
“The event showcases the importance of innovation to our economy and our everyday life. The pandemic adds urgency to that message, as innovation will be a key driver of economic recovery,” said Mary Lou Bosco, CEO, AIM North America.
 
The Make-IT-Wright hackathon was organized by AIM North America and Wright State University and partners from key organizations including Avery Dennison, MHEFI, AIDC100, GS1 US, Honeywell, BlueStar, Zebra Technologies, NOVEXX Solutions, BarTender, TSC Printronix, Mojix, AIS, CDO Technologies, and Aware Innovations.
 
For more information or photos, contact AIM NA's headquarters by email or call +1.724.742.4473.

AIM North America Launches Make-IT-Wright Digital Supply Chain Hackathon

1/10/2023

 
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AIM North America Launches Make-IT-Wright
Digital Supply Chain Hackathon



January 10, 2023 – Pittsburgh, PA – AIM North America (AIM NA) will launch its first hackathon in collaboration with Wright State University in Dayton, OH scheduled for February 4 – 5. A hackathon is best described as an “invention marathon”. Any WSU student who has an interest in technology can participate to learn, build and share their creations over the course of a weekend in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.


The “Make-IT-Wright” Digital Supply Chain Hackathon will focus on two industry segments (Food and Healthcare) that were disrupted by the pandemic. Students will work to develop solutions utilizing digital transformation technologies such as barcode, RFID, RAIN, RTLS, for example, to create an application that will break existing and future supply chain bottlenecks while impacting the planet in a positive and sustainable way.


Jeanne Duckett, chair of AIM North America and lead hackathon developer explained, “The hackathon will provide a platform and an opportunity to the young talent to develop digital business solutions using their creativity and innovation.”


“Hackathons are an incredible way to bring our interdisciplinary students and community together to learn new skills, build amazing projects, and share ideas” said Matt Kijowski, Cyber Systems Program Manager and hackathon lead at Wright State University.


AIM NA and WSU will provide guidelines, training, ideas, and set challenges for all entrants. Teams will present their submissions to a specially appointed jury of industry and academic leaders. Thanks to generous sponsors, the prize purse for the top three teams is $3000, $2000, and $1000. 


Registration and information about the Make-IT-Wright Digital Supply Chain Hackathon can be found here: https://www.aim-na.org/digital-supply-chain-make-it-wright-hackathon.html.

Special thanks to our hackathons sponsors including: 

About AIM North America

AIM North America is the premier alliance for automated data capture technologies industry. For 20 years, AIM NA has championed the growth and acceptance of these technologies and applications through education, standards, community, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.aim-na.org.

























AIM North America Acknowledges the Winners of Annual Industry Awards

12/12/2022

 
December 12, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – AIM North America (AIM NA) has selected winners for their annual awards, including ‘Organization of the Year’, ‘AIT in Government’ and ‘Professional of the Year’ (this year there was a two-way tie).  AIM NA extends congratulations to all those who were nominated for these recognitions and honors those who won each category. 
 
“We applaud the award winners on their vision and passion that continue to drive technology innovations and AIDC awareness and implementation,” said Mary Lou Bosco, CEO of AIM North America.
 
AIT In Government Award
Since 2013, this award is presented each year to an individual, committee, group, or organization from the government sector that have championed the successful use of AIT within the local, state, or national government. This award is sponsored by the Public Policy Committee and this year’s recognition goes to U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, leading the way on how best to secure and shorten food supply chains and other priorities for Ohio farmers in the 2023 Farm Bill. A key consideration in the Farm Bill is providing funding allocations for technology on farms to enable traceability. Other efforts to increase AIDC support in Ohio include the CHIPS Act which lays down a new marker: the technology of the future – from semiconductors to batteries to electric vehicles – will be developed in America and made in America. Lastly, Senator Brown sponsored the development of youth (grades 6-8) Summer Manufacturing Camps and in 2022, the students participated in tours of various manufacturing facilities, including the 9th largest egg production plant in the country which has implemented end to end traceability.

Organization of the Year Award
Established in 2013, this award is presented to an organization in recognition of outstanding contributions and service that have furthered the growth of the industry. As a respected and responsible leader in the automatic identification and data capture industry, this company’s achievements in serving the industry deserve special recognition. This year’s winner is Metalcraft.

Metalcraft announced Inlay Innovation, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on custom RFID inlay design, testing and production. The investment strengthens Metalcraft’s supply chain and meets growing demand for custom products sought by RFID converters, manufacturers, distributors, and integrators. Inlay Innovation offers custom RFID inlay design and manufacturing using state-of-the-art equipment and process, continuing Metalcraft’s 70-year history of technological advancements. Inlay Innovation’s new facility in Ames, Iowa features Mühlbauer Group equipment for production with support from Iowa State University’s Center for Industrial Research and Services.

Professional(s) of the Year Award
Since 2011, this award is presented annually to an individual in recognition of innovative and exceptional contributions to the development of the Automatic Identification and Mobility industry through their work as a contributor, collaborator, or mentor. This year, the awardees, in a two-way tie, are Elizabeth Sinclair and Susan Flake.

Elizabeth Sinclair is the Director, Strategic Alliances for Bartender® by Seagull Scientific and is the Chair of the AIM North America Cannabis Work Group.  She has a strong understanding of the emerging cannabis industry needs for automatic identification solutions and guides the Work Group with this vision in mind. Elizabeth was instrumental in leading the Work Group to publish a whitepaper summarizing AIDC technologies and the applications within the cannabis industry. Her knowledge of the cannabis issues/needs in conjunction with her expertise in AIDC are a valuable asset for both AIM and the AIDC community.

Susan Flake is the Global Director, Business Development Food and Logistics for Avery Dennison Identification Solutions. She has led the design, deployment, and evolution of almost every major RFID implementation in the retail and food space in North America. She is an expert in RFID reader portfolios, tag to reader behavior and key innovation for RFID software applications specific to the food industry needs of expiry management, traceability, and inventory management. Her wealth of knowledge and her passion have been key to the advances of AIDC within the food industry and the work conducted by the Food Supply Chain Work Group.

For more information, biography, or photos, contact AIM NA's headquarters by email or call +1.724.742.4473.
 

Cannabis Work Group Releases Whitepaper on Cannabis Traceability

4/6/2022

 
                                           Experts share expertise to direct and guide organizations of 
                                            asset tracking technologies from cultivation to consumer
 
April 6, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Cannabis Work Group of AIM North America (AIM NA), the premier alliance for the automated data capture technologies industry, including barcode, RFID, IoT, NFC, and RTLS, released a whitepaper that provides an overview and general recommendations to help guide the effort toward cannabis traceability from cultivation to consumer.

The Track and Trace for the Cannabis Industry from Cultivation to Consumer Whitepaper, was written for all members of the cannabis supply chain — farmers and growers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, dispensaries, even consumers — who benefit from implementing AIDC solutions. This whitepaper will
  • Create an understanding of the advantages of AIDC technologies
  • Explore and define AIDC, including a forward look at trends and innovations as they relate to the cannabis industry
  • Develop a continuing relationship between the AIDC community and the cannabis industry — growers, processers, packagers, and retailers.

​“Growers, processers, and retailers are navigating significant challenges in a relatively new industry. The need to comply with traceability regulation adds a layer of complexity to what it is they do,” stated Elizabeth Sinclair, Cannabis Work Group Chair and Director of Marketing for BarTender® Software. “This whitepaper is a primer on the AIDC technologies that will enable regulatory compliance and process efficiencies at scale as the cannabis industry grows.”

The Cannabis Work Group Membership represent all industries and organizations that use, implement, resell, or develop automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technologies. These technologies are essential to enabling adoption, growth, and interoperability to those who depend on accurate, available, and identifiable data.

For additional information and to inquire about membership, please click here.

UDI Work Group Submits Comments to the FDA's Draft Guidance for Transition Plan for Medical Devices Issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUAs) during COVID.

3/23/2022

 
The AIM North America UDI Work Group submitted comments to the U.S. FDA request for comments related to the Draft Guidance for Transition Plan for Medical Devices Issued Emergency Use Authorization (EUAs) during COVID. In addition to supporting the comments submitting by AHRMM, the group also recommended that EUAs should be required to submit a minimal set of device identification data to the Global UDI database (GUDID) to provide a single repository of data for all medical device and requiring EUAs to meet the basic tenants of the UDI Rule for unique identification and submission to GUDID is less burdensome than the risk to patient safety.  Read complete comments here. 

2021 North American Industry Award Winners Announced

2/23/2022

 

AIM North America is taking the time to honor the winners of their highly recognized awards
​

February 23, 2022 – Pittsburgh, PA – AIM North America (AIM NA) has selected winners for their annual awards, including ‘Organization of the Year’, ‘AIT in Government’ and this year there was a two-way tie for the title of ‘Professional of the Year.’ AIM NA extends a huge congratulations to all those who were nominated for this recognition and celebrates those who were crowned victors.  The awards were presented during a virtual ceremony which can be viewed here.  
 
The ‘Professional of the Year Award’ recognizes individuals who demonstrate both innovative and exceptional contributions to enhance the development of the automatic identification industry through work as either a contributor, collaborator, or a mentor. As noted above, there was a two-way tie. The awardees are Gena Morgan and Chris Brown.
 
Gena Morgan is GS1 US’s Vice President of Standards. Mrs. Morgan led the interoperability food traceability pilots that moved the industry to an interoperable supply chain, using GS1 standards for identification and EPCIS for event data sharing. She has more than 25 years of demonstrated history of working with supply chain technology and standards in CPG, Food Service, Pharma, and Apparel sectors.
 
Chris Brown has more than 20 years industry experience. Mr. Brown is currently the RFID Subject Matter Expert for TSC Printronix Auto ID where he monitors the physical requirements needed for RFID printers to work with various existing and emerging tag constructions.  Chris is an active member of AIM and the RAIN Alliance, participating in multiple workgroups covering topics such as cannabis, tires, pharmaceutical, healthcare, aviation, and tag data formatting.
 
The ‘AIT in Government Award’ is presented to an individual, committee, group, or organization from the government sector that have championed the successful use of AIT. The award was granted to Heather Buonomo, Director of Environment Health for the County of San Diego, for the impact she’s made in food supply chain safety. Ms. Buonomo’s efforts resulted in the passage of California Bill AB-3336; development of food delivery platforms standards to ensure accurate business information is shared. She also chairs the California Retail Food Safety Coalition focused on providing food safety in the retail space.
 
The ‘Organization of the Year Award’ is delivered to any group that continues to provide a level of outstanding contributions and service to help further industry growth and relations. TEKLYNX International is intentional about their people, processes, and products ensuring all they do aligns with their global mission to help the supply chain and manufacturers work better. They contribute to the growth of the AIDC industry through relationship building and helping companies barcode better.

“Congratulations to the award winners on their extraordinary accomplishments,” said Mary Lou Bosco, CEO of AIM North America. “We are proud to recognize these leaders for their innovation and contributions to defining today’s technology standards and empowering tomorrow’s solutions.”

For more information, biography, or photos, contact AIM NA's headquarters by email or call +1.724.742.4473.
​
For additional information about AIM North America and to inquire about membership, please click here.

AIM NA UDI Work Group Submits comments to FDA - Select Updates for Unique Device Identification: Policy Regarding Global Unique Device Identification Database Requirements for Certain Devices

12/13/2021

 
AIM North America UDI Work Group submits comments to  the Food and Drug Administration regarding Select Updates for Unique Device Identification: Policy Regarding Global Unique Device Identification Database Requirements for Certain Devices. The Group's comments echo those submitted by the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM), Learning UDI Community (LUC). 

Read the Work Group's comments here. 
The Work Group also recently published a paper to assist organizations in understanding how AIDC technologies and standards are being used to ensure traceability for all lines of devices.

Food Supply Chain Work Group Submits Comments to FDA for Food and E-Commerce

11/19/2021

 
AIM North America's Food Supply Chain Work Group submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration New Era of Smarter Food Safety Summit on E-Commerce; Public Meeting; Request for Comments which would ensuring the safety of foods ordered online and delivered directly to consumers. Read AIM NA’s submitted comments here
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