Walmart RFID: Reference Testimony of Linda Dillman, EVP and CIO, Walmart ...

From the Committee on Energy and Commerce ... ... comments to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection concerning the expansion of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into new industries and the potential impact on consumers ...

Testimony of Ms. Linda M. Dillman, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 702 SW 8th Street, Bentonville, AR, 72716 provided to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection ...

... RFID that it had the potential to significantly help reduce out-of-stock conditions through the introduction of what has now become known as an Electronic Product Code or EPC. In June 2003, convinced that it could, we challenged our top 100 suppliers -- representing some of the most innovative companies in America -- to begin using RFID tags on cases and pallets of products destined for our three North Texas distribution centers by January 2005. These distribution centers ship products to 150 of approximately 3500 Wal-Mart stores. It is important to note that we chose to focus on case- and pallet-level tagging. ...

Linda Dillman testimony continues ...

... On April 30, 2004, Wal-Mart moved EPCs from the laboratory environment to an actual field pilot program. Currently, cases and pallets of 21 products (1) from eight suppliers (2) destined for one distribution center and seven Supercenters (3) in North Texas are being tagged. At our Sanger, Texas, distribution center, we have placed readers at our receiving doors, above our conveyor belt systems, and at our shipping doors. At the seven Supercenters, we have placed readers at the receiving doors, at strategic points throughout the stores’ backrooms, at the door to the sales floor, and at the trash compactor. There are no readers on the sales floor, at the check stands, or at customer entryways or exits. ...

Lastly, Dillman testimony concludes with ...

... During 2004 to 2006, Wal-Mart will continue to focus on case-and pallet-level tagging. However, because some cases also serve as consumer packaging (4), there will be instances where a consumer could purchase a product which bears an RFID tag. We currently have three products in our pilot program -- two HP printers and one HP scanner -- where this is the case. These tags are on the outermost packaging of the product and, adhering to EPCglobal privacy guidelines, are marked with an EPCglobal symbol. ...

Walmart RFID Compliance References

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology: What the Future Holds for Commerce, Security, and the Consumer
The Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2927