In the new millennium, here are ten materials handling professionals to watch:

JIM APPLE, JR.

RICK BUSHNELL

BRUCE MANTZ

STEVE McALEXANDER

JOHN NOFSINGER

CATHERINE RAE

TOMO RAZMILOVIC

SUSAN RIDER

ART ST. ONGE

MARSHALL WHITE

On the following pages are 10 people in the world of materials handling who have shown that they know an opportunity when they see one. To a person, they have shown an uncanny ability to imagine solutions to problems when others challenged them by saying, "Here, you make it work. If you can".

These 10 have a stake in a wide range of endeavors from e-commerce and ergonomics to third-party logistics, pallets, and evolving infostructures. What they are working on today will have an impact on materials handling practices and data management systems of the future.

While few have been in the spotlight before, they won't be able to avoid it after this article. These people are movers and shakers. Watch for them to be at the center of leading industry efforts in the new millennium to move the right materials to the right places at the right times for the right cost with a fresh approach.

RICK BUSHNELL
BAR CODES AND BEYOND

Highly profitable companies will thrive from very accurate control of what they buy, sell, manufacturer, or distribute in the years ahead, says Rick Bushnell, president of Quad II, a consulting and educational firm. Bar codes, RF tags, and other data capture technologies will enable firms to achieve close to the 100% level of data accuracy, enabling them to really manage their assets.

Evolving software such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, filled with truly accurate information (unlike ever before) will contribute to pulling all the divergent corporate divisions and facilities together so they do just that -- pull together, he adds.

Using his considerable speaking skills, Bushnell has taken this kind of vision to conferences around the globe for 25 years. He has been advising companies to integrate their facilities and supply chains-and he did so long before ERP, e-commerce, and supply chain management were the current buzzwords.

"It's just part of my job to explain the pieces and how they fit together," he says. His messages also appear in articles for some 75 supply chains that turn to him as an industry consultant.

He helps people envision the future of the information age "with both feet on the ground," as he says. "Look to solve real business problems with 100% accurate information" is his message.

Many people in materials handling have known Bushnell as "the bar code guy." But when you review his accomplishments, then listen to this vision for the future, it's apparent he's gone beyond bar codes.

Bushnell helped start several bar code companies. He's won top industry honors, including the Dilling Award from the Automatic Identification Manufacturers (AIM) association. National print press and TV media have interviewed him on bar code and supply chain topics.

He also "knew the men who pioneered bar codes," he says. As chairman 20 years ago of AIM, he spearheaded the effort to standardize bar code symbologies. "All the major bar code companies agreed to the standards. And we did it in about one year. I'm proud to have lead that effort," he says.