Case Study

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Traceability and product quality are key to Ocean Beauty Seafoods meeting global food standards. Its fresh seafood cannot sit in the distribution center for long periods of time. With six Alaskan plants processing and distributing thousands of pounds of fish a week, employees need the ability to track product easily and efficiently.

In 2003, Ocean Beauty Seafoods installed SIMBA, a software solution that uses barcode technology for tracking, at its plants. While the distribution process became streamlined and more efficient, Ocean Beauty Seafoods' handheld devices were unable to withstand the harsh, wet conditions in the plants and were constantly being sent out for repair. They needed a more rugged handheld device that could streamline, accelerate and simplify its distribution process.

With the SIMBA software running on Psion's device, today's distribution process at Ocean Beauty Seafoods is streamlined, efficient and reliable. After a batch of fish is processed, the product is placed in a carton and given a barcode label created by a dedicated barcode label printer. The label contains important tracking information including the product's date of processing. When the carton is removed from the freezer for shipment, an employee scans the barcode with a Work about Pro 3 and enters what container the order was loaded onto and where the shipment is headed. This system is integrated with the inventory system used at the company's Seattle headquarters. Now Ocean Beauty Seafoods can track its fish throughout the distribution and delivery process, ensuring its orders are accurate and its seafood is fresh. It has also enabled the company to handle a wider variety of products.