GS1 US Data Hub 3.1 Product Working with Variable Measure Trade items
Table of Contents Variable Measure Trade Item... 3 Packaging Levels... 3 Constructing the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number)... 4 Creating a Variable Measure Trade Item... 5 Creating the GS1-128 Barcode... 9 Partial list of Application Identifiers... 12 2 Page
Variable Measure Trade Item An item always produced in the same pre-defined version, e.g., type, design, packaging, that may be sold at any point in the supply chain, which either may vary in weight/size by its nature or may be traded without a pre-defined weight/size/length. This document will help you identify products in that are not scanned at retail checkout and vary in measure/quantity. Example: Variable Measure Trade Items Packaging Levels For Variable Measure Trade Items, not scanned at retail checkout, below are the available packaging levels: Packaging Level Case as Each NEW Mixed Case Pallet Mixed Pallet Description Used by industries, such as foodservice, that need to designate the case as its lowest orderable unit. The contents inside are neither assigned GTINs, nor are they sold at checkout or online. This is different than a multipack which is a retail unit. A mixed case contains more than one type of each, and must contain more than one GTIN. A shipping unit that contains either cases, inner packs, or eaches. It must contain one GTIN regardless of the number of items in the grouping. A shipping unit that can contain any combination of cases, inner packs, and/or eaches and must contain more than one GTIN. Examples of Use Bag of Donut holes, a cheese wheel, 25 lb. pack of bulk mushrooms, case of chicken parts A cheese wheel (variable measure) and a case of paper towels (fixed measure) 12 cheese wheels (variable measure) shrink wrapped together 12 cases of diet soda (fixed measure) and 12 cheese wheels (variable measure) shrink wrapped together 3 Page
Constructing the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) The GTIN-14 for a variable measure product can be created by following four steps: 1 2 3 4 1. Add an Indicator Digit (9) 9 is reserved for variable measure product. 2. Use the GS1 Company Prefix The GS1 Company prefix is assigned to the brand owner by GS1 US or another GS1 Member Organization. The Prefix is a global unique number that identifies a company in the supply chain. 3. Assign the Item Reference Number Assigned by the holder of the GS1 Company Prefix to uniquely identify the variable measure product. 4. Calculate the Check Digit Modulo 10 calculation based on previous 13 digits. Position fourteen is reserved for a check digit for the entire GTIN. Check Digit Calculator is available at www.gs1us.org/checkdig. Example: GTIN-14 Structure NOTE: If using the auto assign GTIN option, assigns the structure automatically. Refer to this structure when assigning the GTIN manually. 4 Page
Creating a Variable Measure Product In GS1 Data Hub Product, after selecting Product -> Create, complete the following to create a new variable measure product: Product Detail Create a Product Screen 1. Enter the Product Description, Brand Name, and Product Industry. Field Name Product Description Brand Name Product Industry Description Describes your product to a buyer. There is a 200-character limit. Indicates the name of the product line used with consumers. There is a 75-character limit. The primary industry where the product is sold. Note: Should the GTIN status be changed to For Reuse, this field provides the reuse interval in accordance with the GS1 GTIN Management Standard. 2. The GS1 Company Prefix field will be grayed out until the GTIN has been assigned. Once the GTIN is assigned, this field will display the GS1 Company Prefix used to create the GTIN. 5 Page
Creating a Variable Measure Product (continued) 3. Select the Packaging Level (i.e., Case as Each, Mixed Case, Pallet, or Mixed Pallet) and add a check mark before Is this item variable measure? In this example, a variable measure Case as Each is being created for a 22 lb. wheel of cheese. 4. If desired, enter your internal product number in the SKU field 5. Click Save. 6. Optional : Click Additional Information to add more data about this product such as a Country of Origin, Comments, or photo. Since Dimensions and Weights vary product to product, it is not necessary to enter them here as they must be entered as Application Identifiers in the GS1-128 barcode. When finished, click Save or skip to the next step. 6 Page
Creating a Variable Measure Product (continued) 7. Assign the GTIN. Using the three GTIN assignment options, select the appropriate button for this product. GTIN Assignment Option Auto Assign GTIN Assign GTIN from Reserved Description Creates the GTIN in sequential order from the designated company prefix. If your company has more than one prefix, you will be prompted to select the prefix to use. Select a specific GTIN from your reserved GTINs and assign it to this product. NOTE: Since this is variable measure, the system will assign 9 to the reserved GTIN. Dialog Box Assign GTIN Manually Type the desired GTIN in yourself and assign it to this product. NOTE: When assigning manually, the GTIN must begin with 9 ; followed by your licensed GS1 Company Prefix, Item Reference Number, and Check Digit. Refer to page 4 if needed. 7 Page
Creating a Variable Measure Product (continued) 8. The 14-digit GTIN is assigned. Note, the first digit is 9 followed by the GS1 Company Prefix, Item Reference Number, and Check Digit. Since the product is not being sold at the register or on-line, the GTIN-12 (U.P.C.) is not applicable. 9. Change Status to In Use. Click the Status drop-down and select In Use. 10. Click Save. 11. The Status Change to In Use dialog box opens. Click Continue, to update the product to In Use. (End of Section) 8 Page
Creating the GS1-128 Barcode The GS1-128 barcode uses Application Identifiers so additional information, such as Count of Items, Net Weight, Package Date, etc., can be included. After selecting the Barcode tab, complete the following to create the GS1-128 barcode: \ Product Detail Barcode Tab 1. The Barcode tab is where you select all the barcode options. Starting at the top, select the Application Area, Barcode Type, and Size. Option Application Area Description Where the barcode is going to be scanned. The list of available choices is based on your product details. Note: Available choices correspond to barcode size in the GS1 General Specifications. Barcode Type Size Select the type of barcode symbol for this product. Choices default to the most likely option based on the application area you selected. In this example, the dropdown choice is GS1-128. Select the size of the barcode symbol. Choices default to the most likely option based on the application area and the barcode type you selected. 9 Page
Creating the GS1-128 Barcode (continued) 2. Next is the section where you will enter Application Identifiers. A. AI (01) for GTIN is automatically added. B. This section provides a list of Application Identifiers specific to Variable Measure Products. C. This section provides a list of all Application Identifiers and can be used to add additional Application Identifiers if needed. 3. To see the list of most common Application Identifiers for Variable Measure Products, type ** in the space provided. Refer to Section 3 of the GS1 General Specifications for a full list and explanation of the AI formats. 10 Page
Creating the GS1-128 Barcode (continued) 4. Select the appropriate Application Identifiers for your product. In this example, AI (30) Count of Items, AI (3202) Net weight in pounds with 2 decimal position (22.75 lbs. is entered as 002275), and AI (15) Best Before Date were selected. 5. Click Preview Barcode. This opens an image of the GS1-128 barcode. On this screen you can save the barcode image as a PNG file to your computer to share with print vendors by selecting Download. By selecting Export Barcode Definition, you can download the barcode symbol specifications to be shared with print vendors. When finished, click Return to Barcode to return to the Barcode tab. 11 Page
Partial list of Application Identifiers Refer to Section 3 of the GS1 General Specifications for a complete listing and an explanation of the AI formats. AI Data Content Format* FNC1 Required Data Title 30 Count of Items (Variable Measure Trade Item) N2+N..8 (FNC1) 310 (***) Net weight, kilograms (Variable Measure Trade Item) 311 (***) Length or first dimension, metres (Variable Measure Trade Item) 312 (***) Width, diameter, or second dimension, metres (Variable Measure Trade Item) 313 (***) Depth, thickness, height, or third dimension, metres (Variable Measure Trade Item) 314 (***) Area, square metres (Variable Measure Trade Item) VAR. COUNT NET WEIGHT LENGTH (m) WIDTH (m) HEIGHT (m) AREA (m 2 ) 315 (***) Net volume, litres (Variable Measure Trade Item) 316 (***) Net volume, cubic metres (Variable Measure Trade Item) NET VOLUME (l) NET VOLUME (m 3 ) 320 (***) Net weight, pounds (Variable Measure Trade Item) NET WEIGHT (lb) 321 (***) Length or first dimension, inches (Variable Measure Trade Item) 322 (***) Length or first dimension, feet (Variable Measure Trade Item) 323 (***) Length or first dimension, yards (Variable Measure Trade Item) 324 (***) Width, diameter, or second dimension, inches (Variable Measure Trade Item) 325 (***) Width, diameter, or second dimension, feet (Variable Measure Trade Item) 326 (***) Width, diameter, or second dimension, yards (Variable Measure Trade Item 327 (***) Depth, thickness, height, or third dimension, inches (Variable Measure Trade Item) 328 (***) Depth, thickness, height, or third dimension, feet (Variable Measure Trade 329 (***) Item) Depth, thickness, height, or third dimension, yards (Variable Measure Trade Item) 364 (***) Net volume, cubic inches (Variable Measure Trade Item) 365 (***) Net volume, cubic feet (Variable Measure Trade Item) 366 (***) Net volume, cubic yards (Variable Measure Trade Item) LENGTH (i) LENGTH (f) LENGTH (y) WIDTH (i) WIDTH (f) WIDTH (y) HEIGHT (i) HEIGHT (f) HEIGHT (y) VOLUME (i 3 ) VOLUME (f 3 ) VOLUME (y 3 ) 12 Page