Bar code
Can you guarantee that your products are being accurately identified at every point in the supply chain? Do you receive correct deliveries and maintain accurate stock records?
By using the GS1 System you can identify any product, logistics unit, service, company, location and asset using unique numbers in a bar code used with scanning systems and business messages enables your business to improve its supply chain management systems.
Key features
Unique numbers are key to using the GS1 System. When a company joins GS1 Romania a company prefix number is assigned to your company which is used to form globally unique numbers. These unique numbers are represented in bar codes and can be scanned at any point along the supply chain for product identification and tracking. The same numbers can also be used within standard business messages and data pools.
The process
Brand owners assign a globally unique number, which replaces proprietary or in-house codes. The number includes the company prefix number attributed to each GS1 Romania member and an item reference. The unique numbers have no meaning: when scanned or used, each number acts as a key to look up pre-defined information from a database.
The most widely used numbers, Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs), are those used to identify product items. A GTIN is used to identify any product that which can be priced, ordered or invoiced at any point in the supply chain. More information about bar codes can be found in the bar code symbologies section.
Number notification
The GS1 number and its related information must be communicated in advance so trade partners can update their systems. Trading partners will need to receive the information at least 30 days before the delivery of the product.
More information about GTINs can be found in the Trade Items section .
Support tools
Several tools exist to help you create and allocate numbers correctly and record their details:
- Number bank – Every GS1 Romania member can access a private online number bank that provides a complete list of all the product numbers (GTIN) and location numbers (GLNs) that are derived from the member's company prefix number. Members can add descriptions against the numbers on the numberbank and will avoid possible number duplication.
- Check digit calculator – The last digit of every GS1 number is a check digit which provides additional security. The GS1 Romania check digit calculator automatically calculates the check digit for any numbering structure.
- Number allocation rules – Every different product line and every level of packaging requires a different GTIN. In addition, changes to the items characteristics (e.g. ingredient change, packaging, on-pack promotion etc) may require a new GTIN if it affects the purchasing or handling of the product. You can find various exemplified cases of keeping or allocate a new GTIN in an electronic manual “Ways to allocate a GTIN” accesed through a link in romanian language version of this site.This online manual will help users in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector decide if a new number is needed.