1. CASE STUDY // Ocean Beauty Seafoods
“ ith SIMBA and Psion’s Workabout Pro 3, we’re able to ship directly to the customer out
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of our Alaskan plants, giving us better transportation rates. Our employees appreciate the
Workabout Pro 3s intuitive interface and durability. The support we’ve received from DSI
and Psion has made the transition seamless.”
— om Marshall, Superintendant for Ocean Beauty
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Seafoods Excursion Inlet Alaska Plant
Ocean Beauty Seafoods
Background
Established in 1910, Ocean Beauty Seafoods is a pioneer in the Northwest and Alaska
seafood industry, ranking among the largest and most successful vertically integrated
seafood companies in the Pacific Northwest. Its corporate headquarters is located in
Seattle, while six of its seafood processing plants are located throughout Alaska.
Every year, Ocean Beauty Seafoods distributes millions of pounds of canned,
smoked, frozen and fresh seafood to customers across the globe. Its customers range
from retailers, like Chicken of the Sea and Bumble Bee Foods, to restaurants and
grocery stores.
At the height of the fishing season in Alaska, approximately 2,000 Ocean Beauty
Seafoods employees are working at the company’s Alaskan plants.

2. CASE STUDY // OCEAn BEAUTY SEAfOODS
The Problem With the SIMBA software running on Approximately 15 Workabout Pro 3s
Psion’s device, today’s distribution are in use at Ocean Beauty Seafoods’
Traceability and product quality are
process at Ocean Beauty Seafoods Alaskan plants with plans to roll out
key to Ocean Beauty Seafoods meeting
is streamlined, efficient and reliable. additional terminals in the future.
global food standards. Its fresh seafood
After a batch of fish is processed, the “Our employees appreciate the
cannot sit in the distribution center for
product is placed in a carton and given Workabout Pro 3s intuitive interface and
long periods of time. With six Alaskan
a barcode label created by a dedicated durability,” said Marshall. “The support
plants processing and distributing
barcode label printer. The label contains we’ve received from DSI and Psion has
thousands of pounds of fish a week,
important tracking information including made the transition seamless.”
employees need the ability to track
the product’s date of processing. When
product easily and efficiently. To learn more about Ocean Beauty
the carton is removed from the freezer
In 2003, Ocean Beauty Seafoods for shipment, an employee scans the Seafoods’ use of SIMBA Food
installed SIMBA, a software solution that barcode with a Workabout Pro 3 and Distribution Software, please contact:
uses barcode technology for tracking, at enters what container the order was
its plants. While the distribution process loaded onto and where the shipment Dynamic Systems, Inc.
became streamlined and more efficient, is headed. This system is integrated 1-800-342-3999
Ocean Beauty Seafoods’ handheld with the inventory system used at the http://www.a-barcode.com/contact-us/
devices were unable to withstand the company’s Seattle headquarters. Now
harsh, wet conditions in the plants and Ocean Beauty Seafoods can track its fish
were constantly being sent out for repair. throughout the distribution and delivery
They needed a more rugged handheld process, ensuring its orders are accurate
device that could streamline, accelerate and its seafood is fresh. It has also
and simplify its distribution process. enabled the company to handle a wider
variety of products.
The Solution
The Benefits
To meet this need, Ocean Beauty worked
with Dynamic Systems Inc. (DSI), a “Before we implemented SIMBA
systems integrator that specializes in and Psion’s Workabout Pro™ 3, the
barcode technology. DSI suggested products were shipped to our Seattle
Psion’s Workabout Pro™ 3 because of headquarters for cold storage,” said
its ergonomic form factor, ruggedness Tom Marshall, Superintendant for
and IP65 rating. The Workabout Pro Ocean Beauty Seafoods Excursion
3 is the perfect solution for a business Inlet Alaska Plant. “With SIMBA and
that operates in extreme conditions, Psion’s Workabout Pro 3, we’re able
such as coolers and freezers, in wet to ship directly to the customer out
environments, and for users that of our Alaskan plants, giving us better
are focused on speed and accuracy, transportation rates. Without these two
and aren’t in a position to handle the technologies, it would be impossible
equipment carefully. to track such a high number of varied
shipments from vessel to destination.”