Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2004

General Summary
Thirty-seven representatives of furniture retailers, manufacturers, associations, and suppliers attended the March 19, 2004 FIDX working committee meeting in Greensboro, NC. The meeting agenda, attendee list and speaker presentations can be viewed on the FIDX site. And see Attachment A &B below.

Ben Keller (MGM Transport) and Ashish Gandhi (MicroD) presented a proposed standard for bills of lading (204). Several modifications were requested and it was agreed that the modified standard will be posted on fidx.org and reviewed for approval at the next meeting. Ben and Ashish will also present a suggested freight invoice (210) standard at the next meeting.

Mike Overholt (Ashley) proposed minor extensions to the purchase order (850) and inventory inquiry/advice (8xx) standards. It was agreed that Mike will coordinate with Geoff Mack (FurnishNet) to add the extensions and post the revised standards on fidx.org. Mike also proposed that a new item alignment (888) standard be developed for non-configured products such as case goods and accessories. It was agreed that Mike will coordinate with Mark McCuistion (MicroD) to determine if the product catalog (832) standard can be simplified for non-configured products. Mike also proposed that new standards be developed for purchase order change requests (860) and purchase order change acknowledgements (865). It was agreed that Mike will coordinate with Geoff Mack and Steven Moseley (?) to develop those standards for review at the next meeting.

Jeff Baker proposed that new standards be developed for warranty related documents such as warranty registrations, claims, credits and parts. The consensus was that warranty standards are needed and Jeff, Scott Huber (Stainsafe) and Steven Moseley will coordinate with several manufacturers to develop schemas that will be reviewed at the next meeting.

A discussion was held regarding the process for changing standards and it was agreed that:

Minor modifications that are compatible with existing standards will be reviewed and voted on at the regular FIDX meeting.

More extensive modifications, including any that are incompatible with earlier versions, will be handled using a formal change process that will be discussed at the next meeting.

Rick Killen (Thomasville) reviewed a list of proposed upholstery option codes. Due to time constraints, it was agreed that this subject will be reviewed at the next meeting. Prior to that time, Rick, Theresa Jaynes (Century), Carl Miering (Bernhardt), Liz Heyer (La-Z-Boy), Jeff Baker and Ron Martell (MicroD) will discuss the proposed option codes.

David Purvis (AFMA) reviewed the current status of serialized bar codes and explained the current and future guidelines. He noted that the furniture industry conventions for product labeling include applying a serial number to all products (special order or standard, upholstery or case goods) for unique item identification and tracking. He also listed 17 furniture carriers that have implemented on-line order tracking.

Sam Stitchedr (NHFA) reviewed the present status of RFID and Brad Mack (Business Integrated Solutions) demonstrated the technology. Wal-Mart, now the largest furniture retailer per Furniture Today, requires that their top 100 vendors support RFID by the end of 2004 and all vendors must support by the end of 2005. In a recent NHFA survey, 58% agreed that RDIF is a technology that the NHFA IT Committee and FIDX should monitor. It was agreed that no formal action would be pursued by FIDX at this time but we will continue to monitor RDIF technology.

Liz Heyer presented the results of a “FIDX XML Implementation” survey of 151 FIDX members. Only 12 companies responded to the survey and they reported that they are not encountering technical problems but they are also not making significant progress.

A brief discussion was held concerning the need for a FIDX working group to promote the implementation of the standards developed by the XML working group. It was emphasized that the second group would not focus on the technical details of XML standards but on the economical benefits the standards can bring to the furniture industry. It was agreed that more retailer representation is needed in the second group and Steve DeHann and Mary Frye will recruit a leader for the group.


The next FIDX meeting was scheduled for September 17, 2004 in Charlotte, NC.
 

ATTACHMENT A

Topics to be discussed at the meeting include the following;

   • UCC Global Standards Management Process status report - All
   • Schemas
        • Bill of Lading (204) – Ben Keller and Ashish Gandhi
        • Freight Invoice (210) – Ben Keller and Ashish Gandhi
        • PO additions (850) – Mike Overholt
        • Item maintenance (888) – Mike Overholt
        • PO Change Request (860) – Mike Overholt
        • PO Change Request Acknowledgement (865) – Mike Overholt
        • Warranty registration, claim, credit, parts request – Jeff Baker
        • Proposed upholstery option codes – Theresa Jaynes
        • Vendor managed inventory (832) – Ron Martell
   • Discussion of serialized bar codes – David Purvis
   • RFID technical primer and how our industry can use it – Sam Stitcher
   • Review of industry participants using the new FIDX standards – All
   • Formation of a sub-committee to promote the use of the new FIDX standards throughout the industry – All
   • FIDX.org web site maintenance and hosting – All
   • Next meeting date and location - All

The meeting will start at 9:00am and end at 4:00pm. There will be a 15-minute break about 10:30am and a one-hour lunch break about noon.

The meeting fee is $35. Please pay David Purvis and tell him if you need a receipt.

ATTACHMENT B

March 19, 2004 FIDX Meeting Attendees

Mary Frye – HFIA
Sam Stitcher – NHFA
David Purvis – AFMA
Talmage Fish – Hooker Furniture
Ron Martell – MicroD
Manoj Nigam – MicroD
Mark McCuistion – MicroD
Mike Maletich – La-Z-Boy
Cindy Owen – La-Z-Boy
Scott Thompson – Stainsafe Companies
Scott Hunter – Stanley Furniture
Jim Friederichs – La-Z-Boy
Tom Boggs – La-Z-Boy
John Rogers – Kittle’s Home Furnishings
Larry Stark – PROFITsystems
Mike Overholt – Ashley Furniture Industries
Don Purcell – Bassett Furniture Industries
Rich Harmatiuk – FurnishNet
Geoff Pearson – Hooker Furniture
Monica Hernandez – American Leather
Loretta Kremer-Pearson – Gilson Graphics
Rick Killen – Thomasville Furniture
Theresa Jaynes – Century Furniture
Maria Higgins – Century Furniture
Mike Sykes – Thomasville Furniture
Tom Leonard – La-Z-Boy
Ashish Gandhi – MicroD
Larry Webb – Source 4
Carl Meiring – Bernhardt Furniture
Brad Evenson – Bernhardt Furniture
Jeff Baker – Carl’s Furniture
Keith Orrell - Bernhardt Furniture
Ben Keller – MGM Transport
Liz Heyer – La-Z-Boy
Brad Mack – Business Integrated Solutions
Mark Long – Silk Road Technology