Product Identification and Traceability (EAN Approach)
Product Identification & Traceability
Introduction With the expansion of global trade, computerization and communications, plain language descriptions of products and services need to be replaced by identification and product tracing systems that are usable in all trade and industry sectors worldwide. Product traceability is the process of maintaining records of all materials and parts from purchasing to finished goods where a unique number identify a part, batch, or a finished product. Traceability provides the ability to identify and track a product or a component to its point of origin. The point of origin may be a particular lot or batch, production line and time frame, field, or supplier. Product traceability is very important to reliability. f a particular lot of a critical component is found to be defective after being used in product that is already sold, traceability provides a means of identifying the units for recall. !ome products "e.g. aircraft components, fresh produce, meat# require complete traceability. $ere are some of the benefits and solutions provided with product identification and tracing% o
Procedures for identifying and tracing the product during all stages of production, delivery & installation
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'equires knowing what parts comprise the product, their specification, their status, etc
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'equires knowing the exact content of products that have been delivered to each customer so that the right customer service can be provided
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$elps to satisfy (Process )ontrol*
n this paper we are going to accent on +- )) numbering system where +stands for +uropean rticle -umbering and )) stands for niform )ode )ouncil. +-/)) numbers provide unique and unambiguous identification for worldwide recognition and can improve the efficiency and exchanging information between supply chain participants
Using the Product Identification and Traceability Tool Product dentification and Traceability 0unctions% •
ser can identify a product uniquely in terms of product identification, manufacturing order number, process order number, lot number, and inspection
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order number in all stages of manufacturing. t also links each component element, whether material, process, measuring gauge or personnel to any related activities for final output or traceability. •
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nique product identification and lot number. ssociation with applicable drawings, specifications, revisions and quality records.
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Traceability to personnel performing quality activities.
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Traceability to measuring instruments, gages and tools that are used during the production process
tem numbering is a system of identifying products by giving each one a unique number. n the table bellow paper we are going to describe the +- )) bar code numbering system. The system provides for global uniqueness and overcomes problems in confusion, duplication and misinterpretation because all of its users follow the same coding rules.
Bar Code Steps 2efine What will be +ncoded and in What 3rder t this early stage you must decide what information needs to be put Coding Requirement
into the bar code. 3ften, a mandate references guidelines that have been reviewed and approved by a specific industry or standards setting organization. n 4ar )ode 5anguage this is called a !ymbology bar code is a graphic representation for numbers or alphabetic
Machine Readable anguage
characters. Typical bar code images are made up of a pattern of lines and spaces or light and dark areas. The graphic symbols represent data characters as well as some control characters. )reate the 4ar )ode
!ncode "ata
4ar code symbols may be produced on demand at the production facility or you can purchase pre6printed bar code labels from a printing bureau that has bar code experience. 7erify the 2ata 4ar code verification is the bridge between creating the bar code image
#uality Control
and successful scan accuracy rates. verifier will inspect and report on bar/space widths or light and dark areas and check other
$pply Mar%ings
characteristics of the image for scanning ease and accuracy. 2irectly 8ark tems or pply Preprinted 5abels
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4ar code symbols may be produced in a variety of ways% by direct marking, as with laser etching or with ink :et printing; or, more commonly by imaging or printing the bar code symbol onto a separate label and then applying the label to the product. !can the 4ar )ode This function is performed by a scanner and an interface controller "ecode "ata
called a decoder. The light source in the scanner reflects the information in the bar code by
Transmit "ata
2ata communications is the key link in implementing an automatic identification system. 2ecoded data is transmitted to the computer. se the 2ata The host system receives the information and uses it for a different
"ata Usage
purpose. This may be% inventory control, manufacturing process control, shipping & receiving, quality control, automated re6ordering, electronic commerce, etc.
!ample' (resh Produce Traceability Traceability requires the identification of all physical entities "locations# where fresh produce originates from and where it is packed and stored. These may include but are not limited to fields, growers, packers, carriers, wholesalers and retailers. system for identifying and tracing produce is needed so that sub6standard or unsafe produce can be recalled. t also enables the cause of problems to be identified and their recurrence prevented. The essential requirements for an effective system are%
+ach batch of product must be clearly marked. record must be kept of the batch 2 and the destination details. 'ecords of operations critical to food safety and quality must be maintained.
The following table shows how product identification methods and records combine to form an effective system for product identification and traceability linking the stages of growing, packing and delivery to retailers.
Fresh produce supply chain traceability model:
=
Trac%ing
Process Product
)ro*er 4lock 2 sign
Pac% house >rower/block/variety
Batch 4atch 2
Supplier Product 2 on
Retailer Packer 2 on
Identification
placed in a
2 on each bin or
on each
each package
each
Method
prominent
container or
package
or on a card
package or
position
recorded on a card
attached to
on a card
attached to each
each pallet
attached to
Traceability
0arm plan/map
pallet of containers 'ecord of receipt
)onsignm
nvoice,
each pallet nvoice,
Records
!pray diary, farm
Post6harvest
ent note
2elivery !lip
2elivery !lip
operations diary
chemical
2elivery
or paddock/block
)ooling log
advice
record
Packing and delivery
Supplier
Retailer
record )ro*er
Pac%
Batch
house
Tracing $dditional Information about Product Identification and Traceability dditional information about the product identification and traceability can be found on the websites of both niform )ode )ouncil, nc. and +uropean rticle -umbering nternational ssociation. They can be reached at the following addresses% !$+ International
Uniform Code Council, Inc-
?=@ rue 'oyale
CEEC Washington 7illage 2rive, !uite
4 6 ?AAA 4russels
9AA
4+5>8
2ayton, 3$ =@=@F
Phone% B?? 91.1.11C.?A.1A
Phone% F9C6=9@69ECA
0ax% B?? 91.1.11C.?A.1?
0ax% F9C6=9@6C9?C
infoDean6int.org
infoDuc6council.org
http%//www.ean6int.org
http://www.uc-council.org/
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