CPMA History

The Consumer Products Manufacturers Association (CPMA) was founded in 1999 by Eastman Kodak, Johnson and Johnson, The Gillette Company, and Procter & Gamble. The purpose of the association was to provide focus to the evolving needs of products and product packaging in three areas: electronic article surveillance, product authentication, and identification. The founders and their technology provider NovaVision believed that global standards were critical to establishing an efficient response to incorporating new technology in the market place.

CPMA in Field Testing of Agile Reader EAS

The Consumer Products Manufacturers Association is conducting field tests with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technologies that are consistent with the recommendations proposed by the CPMA for an agile reader, product centric, and cost effective technology for EAS systems. The testing is proceeding under a confidentiality agreement between all participants and is coordinated by NovaVision. Upon completion, further information will be announced.

CPMA and Product Authentication
The Consumer Products Manufacturers Association believes that product authentication efforts will similarly benefit from effective, open standards. As an example, NovaVision has developed an information-centric, open systems approach to authentication called BrandWatch. This concept reflects the impact of the CPMA’s efforts to stimulate new ideas that address the needs of consumer products manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

CPMA and MIT Auto-ID Center

As part of the work to establish aglobal set of standards forproduct identification, the CPMA hasworkedclosely with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Auto-ID Center. The foundational work done by the CPMA with its technical provider, NovaVision, has been incorporated by the Auto-ID Center in their vision of the future. The CPMA believes the protocols and standards being proposed and evaluated by the Center will be the backbone of future systems development centered on agile readers and product needs.

Last Update: August 31, 2010