Purdue Implements RFID System

Purdue Pharma is doing its part to help fight the illegal trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceutical products. The company recently purchased Symbol RFID (radio frequency identification) mobile computers for particular law-enforcement and cargo-theft groups throughout the United States. Purdue will use the Symbol MC9000-G, manufactured by Symbol Technologies Inc, The Enterprise Mobility Co. The system combines RFID capabilities, bar-code reading, imaging, and Wi-Fi connectivity into a versatile mobile computer.

Explaining the reason for the implementation, Aaron Graham, vice president and chief security officer for Purdue, said,"We are using the Symbol RFID solution to give us greater visibility of our products throughout the supply chain. RFID is a very important technology because it helps us better ensure the authenticity and safety of our product after it leaves our manufacturing facility and is distributed to wholesalers, hospitals, and pharmacies."

As part of Purdue's manufacturing pilot program, Symbol RFID class-0 tags are being used for 100-count bottles of OxyContin (oxycodone HCI controlled-release) tablets. The Symbol AR400 readers capture tag information at reader stations along the manufacturing line as products are automatically packaged. The information is then immediately transferred into Purdue's asset-management SAP system for real-time visibility.