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Home > Membership > Industry Initiatives > Food & Beverage > Food Service > GS1-128 Perishable Symbology |
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GS1-128 Perishable Symbology... An ECR Enabler |
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Facilitates...
- Product Traceability
- Labor productivity
- Inventory management
- Accuracy
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Efficient Consumer Response
GS1 bar code, EDI, and data standards will play a key role in the Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) program. ECR is a grocery industry initiative with the ultimate goal of creating a responsive consumer-driven system in which distributors and suppliers work together as business allies to maximize consumer satisfaction and minimize costs. ECR will focus on re-engineering business processes to make them efficient, and then automating them. By focusing on the efficiency of individual components, ECR will reduce total system costs, inventories, and physical assets while improving the consumer's choice of high quality, fresh grocery products. The ECR vision is for a timely, accurate, paperless information flow from supplier to distributor to retail store to consumer. This will require the cooperation of all the various elements of the grocery business. |
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The Standard
Standardization of product identification codes is the key to successful communication between and within companies. The GS1 system enables any specified product or shipping container to be given a standard number, which identifies it unambiguously anywhere in the world.
The GS1-128 Application Identifier Standard is a versatile tool that can be used to enable efficient movement of goods and information. This bar code standard was chosen because it allows for coding of both primary product identification and secondary information in a single bar code string, and because of its superior density and security.
The Application Identifier (AI) adds versatility for inter-enterprise exchanges of perishability dating, lot/batch identification, specific container identification, units-of-use measure, location codes, and numerous other information attributes. Each AI clearly defines the meaning of the data that follows it.
The symbology used to encode these data elements into a bar code is a subset of Code-128, and is distinguished from generic Code-128 in two ways: by its use of AI's, which identify data formats, and through the use of the Function Code 1 character immediately after the bar code symbol start character.
The AI's have been designed to support the functionality required by manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, while maintaining unambiguous interpretation between trading partners. |
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GS1
Perishable Symbology |
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An example of the standard bar code is shown above. When software is installed to process GS1-128, it should be capable of processing all defined Application Identifiers. Thus necessary conversions can be made to occur automatically. Cases marked in kilograms can be converted automatically to pounds by the bar code processing software, while cases marked with production date can be converted to sell-by date.
AI 01 Shipping Container Code, which includes a packaging level indicator, manufacturer identification, and product identification (14-digit, fixed-length numeric field).
AI 3202 Weight in pounds to 2 decimal places (6-digit, fixed-length numeric field).
AI 15 Sell-by date in YYMMDD, or one of three other dating conventions (6-digit, fixed-length numeric field). Sell-by date or production date (AI 11) is also recommended.
AI 21 Serial number, up to 12 digits, will fit into the single bar code string. Fourteen to 20 digits is possible but will require a second bar code string (variable-length alphanumeric field). An even numbered, all numeric serial number is recommended because the double density mode of GTIN-128 can be used.
Additional standards established address symbol size, location, and orientation. The recommended narrow bar width is 0.015 inches or higher. Labels should be applied to the end of the case, with the symbol between 1.25 and 2.5 inches from the bottom and .75 inches from the side. The picket fence orientation is recommended because it coincides with international standards. |
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Why Use GS1-128?
Facilitates labor productivity.
Permits improved control of product weights and product rotation.
Provides for faster, more accurate selection, verification, and location tracking.
Improves data accuracy and integrity.
Provides higher information density and data flexibility than other symbologies.
Expanding base of hardware (printers, scanners) suppliers.
Growing use in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Supported by the GS1 US and all GS1 Member Organizations around the world. |
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"When Tyson evaluated the major benefits of implementing the GS1-128 code as part of our new warehouse management system, we found that we could expect a 30% increase in warehouse productivity. "
Bill Lovette
Vice President Distribution
TYSON FOODS, INC. |
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GS1-128 User Survey
Conducted by GS1 US in 1994.
A food industry survey covering manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of beef, poultry, pork, veal, and seafood. |
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![d41i03[1]](d41i03_1_.gif) |
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Case Study
Tyson Foods, Inc.
WHY DID TYSON BECOME INTERESTED IN THE PERISHABLES CODE?
Product mix and inventory were growing at a rate that overwhelmed existing support systems.
Improvement in the ability to perform accurate and timely product recalls was required.
WHY USE THE GS1-128 CODE?
It contains the necessary safety factors, such as check digits, to insure scan integrity.
It allows for double compression of data.
The Application Identifier (AI) offers commonly used industry standard attributes such as sell by date.
As GS1-128 becomes an industry standard, Tyson customers will be able to access needed information by scanning the same labels they use internally.
HOW DOES TYSON PLAN TO IMPLEMENT CODE USAGE?
Tyson will create pallet license plates (GS1-128) at their production plants which contain such information as product code, production date, case weight, and other product specific information.
By scanning the license plates as pallets, they are received at Tyson distribution centers and information enters the new Tyson warehouse management system.
Tyson will begin implementation with frozen product lines, then migrate the system to the refrigerated and fresh products.
Plans call for expansion to Tyson customers and introduction of electronic receiving, advance shipment notification, and other application areas.
BENEFITS
Tyson has determined that with the code and new warehouse they can expect a 30% increase in productivity due to:
- Computerized product location management.
- System directed put away and picking.
- Electronic customer billing.
- Improved inventory control system.
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Case Study
United Refrigerated
Services (URS)
WHY DID URS BECOME INTERESTED IN THE PERISHABLES CODE?
- Customers gradually instituting pallet and case labeling using the GS1-128 code.
- Ongoing requirement to improve business cost structures and labor productivity.
WHY HAS URS DECIDED TO USE THE GS1-128 CODE?
- Internal research indicated it provided the greatest capabilities and data density.
- Customers were already using the code.
- It fits long term strategic plans for tracking productivity by employee, customer, and activity.
- URS currently uses Code 128, and has achieved considerable savings in collecting catch weight information.
HOW DOES URS PLAN TO IMPLEMENT CODE USAGE?
- URS will introduce and test the code in a pilot test at one facility where radio frequency (RF) and GS1-128 will be combined.
- By scanning customer GS1-128 labels with hand-held or forklift mounted scanners.
- By communicating via RF to a database which will be cross referenced to a URS tag, if necessary.
- URS will produce GS1-128 labels for out bound shipments, if required.
- The database will be utilized to track and improve warehouse productivity by various criteria.
- An advance shipments notice will be communicated via EDI.
BENEFITS
Based upon previous efforts in the catch weight area URS believes that it will accrue the following benefits:
- Improved product traceability.
- Reduced data entry requirements.
- Improved warehouse methods and labor productivity.
- Greater productivity measurement tracking.
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