Product identification and traceability involves uniquely identifying products and maintaining records throughout the supply chain. This allows products to be traced back to their origin for issues like recalls. The EAN/UCC system provides a global standardized numbering system using barcodes for unambiguous product identification. An effective traceability system for fresh produce, for example, clearly marks each batch and records the batch ID and destination at each stage from growing to retail.
Product identification and traceability involves uniquely identifying products and maintaining records throughout the supply chain. This allows products to be traced back to their origin for issues like recalls. The EAN/UCC system provides a global standardized numbering system using barcodes for unambiguous product identification. An effective traceability system for fresh produce, for example, clearly marks each batch and records the batch ID and destination at each stage from growing to retail.
Product identification and traceability involves uniquely identifying products and maintaining records throughout the supply chain. This allows products to be traced back to their origin for issues like recalls. The EAN/UCC system provides a global standardized numbering system using barcodes for unambiguous product identification. An effective traceability system for fresh produce, for example, clearly marks each batch and records the batch ID and destination at each stage from growing to retail.
Product identification and traceability involves uniquely identifying products and maintaining records throughout the supply chain. This allows products to be traced back to their origin for issues like recalls. The EAN/UCC system provides a global standardized numbering system using barcodes for unambiguous product identification. An effective traceability system for fresh produce, for example, clearly marks each batch and records the batch ID and destination at each stage from growing to retail.
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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. If 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. Some products (e.g. aircraft components, fresh produce, meat) require complete traceability. Here 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
Requires knowing what parts comprise the product, their specification,
their status, etc
Requires knowing the exact content of products that have been delivered to each customer so that the right customer service can be provided
Helps to satisfy Process Control
In this paper we are going to accent on EAN UCC numbering system where EAN stands for European Article Numbering and UCC stands for Uniform Code Council. EAN/UCC 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 Identification and Traceability Functions:
User can identify a product uniquely in terms of product identification,
manufacturing order number, process order number, lot number, and inspection
order number in all stages of manufacturing. It also links each component
element, whether material, process, measuring gauge or personnel to any related activities for final output or traceability.
Unique product identification and lot number.
Association with applicable drawings, specifications, revisions and quality
records.
Traceability to personnel performing quality activities.
Traceability to measuring instruments, gages and tools that are used during the production process
Item numbering is a system of identifying products by giving each one a unique
number. In the table bellow paper we are going to describe the EAN UCC 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 Define What will be Encoded and in What Order At this early stage you must decide what information needs to be put Coding Requirement
into the bar code. Often, a mandate references guidelines that have been reviewed and approved by a specific industry or standards setting organization. In Bar Code Language this is called a Symbology
Machine Readable Language
A bar code is a graphic representation for numbers or alphabetic
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. Create the Bar Code
Encode Data
Bar code symbols may be produced on demand at the production
facility or you can purchase pre-printed bar code labels from a printing bureau that has bar code experience. Verify the Data Bar code verification is the bridge between creating the bar code image
Quality Control
and successful scan accuracy rates. A verifier will inspect and report on bar/space widths or light and dark areas and check other
Apply Markings
characteristics of the image for scanning ease and accuracy.
Directly Mark Items or Apply Preprinted Labels
Bar code symbols may be produced in a variety of ways: by direct
marking, as with laser etching or with ink jet printing; or, more commonly by imaging or printing the bar code symbol onto a separate label and then applying the label to the product. Scan the Bar Code This function is performed by a scanner and an interface controller Decode Data
called a decoder. The light source in the scanner reflects the
information in the bar code by "translating" dark and light images into the appropriate data. Communicate the Decoded Data to the Computer
Transmit Data
Data communications is the key link in implementing an automatic
identification system. Decoded data is transmitted to the computer. Use the Data The host system receives the information and uses it for a different
Data Usage
purpose. This may be: inventory control, manufacturing process
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. A system for identifying and tracing produce is needed so that sub-standard or unsafe produce can be recalled. It also enables the cause of problems to be identified and their recurrence prevented. The essential requirements for an effective system are:
Each batch of product must be clearly marked.
A record must be kept of the batch ID and the destination details.
Records 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:
Tracking Process Product
Grower Block ID sign
Pack house Grower/block/variety
Batch Batch ID
Supplier Product ID on
Retailer Packer ID on
Identification
placed in a
ID 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
Farm plan/map
pallet of containers Record of receipt
Consignm
Invoice,
each pallet Invoice,
Records
Spray diary, farm
Post-harvest
ent note
Delivery Slip
Delivery Slip
operations diary
chemical
Delivery
or paddock/block
Cooling log
advice
record
Packing and delivery
record
Grower
Pack
Batch
house
Supplier
Retailer
Tracing Additional Information about Product Identification and Traceability Additional information about the product identification and traceability can be found on the websites of both Uniform Code Council, Inc. and European Article Numbering International Association. They can be reached at the following addresses: EAN International
