Sept. 15, 2003 - It sounds like a scene straight out of Mission Impossible. The assignment: to convince virtually every company in every industry in every region of the world to adopt Electronic Product Code technology. It’s an awesome task, but Mike Di Yeso, executive VP and chief operating officer of the Uniform Code Council, and Dicki

Di Yeso and Lulay bring end users to the table

Lulay, recently recruited by the UCC, have chosen to accept it. The two are convinced that EPC technology can deliver big benefits. "It will take time and effort," says Di Yeso. "The returns are significant, so it will be worth it."

The EPC was developed by the Auto-ID Center, a nonprofit research group run by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Like other forms of RFID, EPC technology identifies items based on a unique serial number stored on a microchip, which is attached to a radio antenna. The UCC, which created and manages the standards for the Universal Product Code, sees the EPC as a next-generation technology that complements bar codes.

The UCC was a founding member of the Auto-ID Center, which now has more than 100 sponsoring companies. The Auto-ID Center searched for a partner to commercialize EPC technology and chose UCC and EAN International, UCC’s counterpart in Europe. They formed a joint venture called EPCglobal to promote the adoption of EPC technology, manage the process of creating standards for it and issue EPC numbers to companies. Research and development work will continue at MIT and associated universities around the world under the name Auto-ID Labs.

Di Yeso’s job is to oversee the global effort until a permanent president can be found for EPCglobal. The UCC also created a subsidiary, EPCglobal U.S., to promote adoption in the United States. Lulay, formerly VP of McCormick & Co., was recruited to lead that organization. EPCglobal U.S. opened its doors to subscribers on August 8. Auto-ID Inc. was scheduled to launch shortly after EAN International’s general assembly on September 10. Eventually, other EAN member organizations will set up bodies similar to EPCglobal U.S. to promote EPC use—not just within the consumer-packaged goods and retail industries, but also in other sectors, including automotive, high tech and pharmaceuticals.