Big Hammer Data Services - GTINs Manufacturers and Vendors

GTINs Manufacturers and Vendors

What is a GTIN?
The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is a globally unique, brand owner assigned 14-digit number used to identify a trade item (products and services) sold, delivered, warehoused, and billed throughout the retail and commercial distribution channels. The GTIN is the identification method used by the GS1 Global Data Synchronization Network within the EAN.UCC System that enables the trade of data through the GS1 Global Registry.

Click here for interactive tool detailing GTIN assignment rules.

The GTIN was created to support increased global commerce and the UCC.EAN mandated Sunrise 2005 that requires all systems and applications, anywhere in the world, are able to scan and process EAN-8, EAN-13 and the 12-digit UPC bar code symbols at the point-of-sale. To comply, data storage must accommodate 14 digits.

The term Global Trade Item Number encompasses all the variants of what were previously known as EAN/UCC-8, UCC-12 (UPC), EAN/UCC-13 and EAN/UCC-14 numbers. Products marked with an EAN-8, UPC or an EAN-13 bar code meet the requirement of a 14-digit GTIN when they are right justified in a 14-digit reference field, called the GTIN Format.

The following explains the construction of those variants and different numbering possibilities.

Construction

Company Prefix - A variable length (typically six digits) that uniquely identifies a member company of the EAN/UCC Organization. This unique number allows the manufacturer to build GTINs.
Item Reference Number - A variable length number (typically five digits) that the manufacturer assigns to each product. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to assign each product a separate Item Reference Number.
Check Digit - A digit within an UCC/EAN number calculated from the values of the other digits to perform a mathematical check for accuracy of the encoded message. When a check character is used, data security is improved.
Quiet Zone - The quiet zone is an area free of printing that precedes the leftmost bar and follows the right most bar in an EAN/UCC symbol. This space must be free of any conflicting text or artwork; if there is print in the quiet zone the scanner may attempt to translate that print as encoded information. Quiet Zones must be at least 1/8" wide on either side of the bars and spaces.

Numbering Possibilities
EAN/UCC-12 (UPC) (Twelve Digits)

Six digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
Five digits representing the Item Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

Seven digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
Four digits representing the Item Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

Eight digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
Three digits representing the Item Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

Nine digits representing the UCC Company Prefix
Two digits representing the Item Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

EAN/UCC-13 (Thirteen Digits)

Twelve digits containing the EAN.UCC Company Prefix and Item
Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

EAN/UCC-14 (Fourteen Digits)

One digit representing the Indicator digit to indicate packaging level
Twelve digits containing the EAN.UCC Company Prefix and Item Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

EAN/UCC-8 (Eight Digits)

Seven digits containing a EAN.UCC Company Prefix and Item Reference number
One digit representing the Check Digit

The Usefulness of the GTIN
The GTIN's combination of characteristics allows trade items to be identified uniquely around the world, offering more efficient global trading and enhanced opportunities for cost savings and increased revenues.

Uniqueness: The GTIN identifies an item uniquely. The rules for assigning GTINs ensure that every variation of an item (product or service) is allocated a single reference number that is globally unique.
Non-significance: The GTIN numbering structure does not contain any meaningful information in itself. GTINs are simply pointers to database information that can be directly used in any company and in any country.
Multi-sectoral: GTINs are unique across all business sectors. This means that a healthcare product, a PC sound card or an internet-ordered service are all identified in a compatible manner.
International: GTINs are unique worldwide. A GTIN assigned anywhere in the world and can be used anywhere in the world.
Security: Security of GTINs is provided through a combination of database lookup and the fixed length, numeric format that includes a standard Check Digit.
Data Integrity: The Check Digit ensures the integrity of data passing into the system.
Source Numbering: The GTIN is assigned by the brand owner of the product. Once assigned, all trading partners and internal users can use the GTIN. The same GTIN can be used to identify a series of identical items.
Automatic Data Capture: One of the key benefits of the GTIN is that it can be encoded in many automatic data capture technologies (such as a bar code or radio frequency identification tags). Scanning allows the information flow to be linked to the physical flow of trade items through the supply chain.

Understanding the GTIN System
Basic Overview
The GTIN is assigned to each pertinent hierarchical level, e.g.:

Unique items must be assigned unique GTINs
Each trade item must have a unique GTIN (e.g., 4 x 8 plywood vs. 2 x 8 plywood, 16 oz. bug spray vs. 32 oz. bug spray)
Retail unit and the case of the product must have unique GTINs (e.g., 16 oz. bug spray vs. a case of 24 cans of 16 oz. bug spray).
Intermediate packages must have unique GTINs (e.g., The packaging within the outer container that may be used as protection against breakage, spillage etc.).
Different case counts of the same product must have unique GTINs (e.g., a retail box of 3/4" screws packed in a case of 50 vs. a case of 100).

Example of a GTIN & an Explanation of Its Structure
FIG 1

Packaging Indicator - indicates the level of packaging (i.e. 1 = pack of 12, 2 = pack of 36, 3 = pack of 48, etc). This number is at the discretion of the manufacturer but must be numbers 1-8.
Zero or First Number of the EAN-13 - This number will be zero unless individual identification uses EAN-13 data structure (if so, this digit will be the first number of the EAN-13).
EAN.UCC Company Prefix - The EAN.UCC Company prefix is the portion of the GTIN that is assigned by the numbering organization of the manufacturer. This number uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the product. This number is of variable length and may differ between manufacturers.
Item Reference Number - The Item Reference Number is used to identify the product. The number of digits for this number will be dependent upon the Company Prefix.
Check Digit - The check digit is a mathematically calculated number based on the previous 13 digits that are in the code.
Bearer Bars - a black line surrounding the four sides of the code. This helps to reduce chances of misreading the bar code.

Creating a GTIN from Existing Barcodes
The full 14-digit GTIN is achieved on a data carrier (UPCs, etc.) of shorter length by padding the number with left-justified zeros out to 14 digits. See the examples below.

Note: If you need to create a bar code symbol, your company must become a member of the Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC). Your company will then be assigned an identification number (your Company Prefix). You will need this number to create your own UPCs. To accomplish this click here: UCC: Learn How Build Your U.P.C. Bar Code.

FIG 2

Data Structure	Original Data (number)	Full 14 digit GTIN
EAN/UCC-8	01234567	00000001234567
UCC-12 (UPC)	012345678912	00012345678912
EAN/UCC-13	0123456789123	00123456789123
EAN/UCC-14	01234567891234	01234567891234

The UPC is not going away and nothing has really changed in terms of the bar codes that will be used. GTIN is new terminology, not a new standard. GTIN is the term referring to how the data is stored, i.e., padding the item number with zeroes to a uniform length. Most scanners in use will already scan any bar code within the GTIN family.

Creating a GTIN for Trade Item Hierarchy
It is essential to first identify the Trade Item base unit GTIN. This will be the GTIN of the "Each" pack of the Item or the "single" Item generally sold at the retailer. Then when assigning GTINs to other hierarchical levels (e.g., case, pallet), you will have some basic options. Every individual hierarchical level will need a unique GTIN. This can be accomplished by creating a unique "indicator" (digit #1) or by assigning unique "item reference numbers" or by a combination of the two methods. While the "indicator digit" and "Item reference number" are the only numbers that may be changed, there are no DEFINITIVE rules as to what those numbers must be in reference to. The following examples will identify some of the options you have.

FIG 3

By following the previous example from FIG 2, we know the GTIN for the above Trade Item would be:

00012345678905

Example 1: Using the Indicator Digit for Item Hierarchy
The illustration below shows the following:

EACH GTIN: 00-012345-67890-5
PACK GTIN: 20-012345-67890-7
CASE GTIN: 50-012345-67890-8
PALLET GTIN: 80-012345-67890-9

1000 Hammers	8	0012345	67890	1
100 Hammers	5	0012345	67890	0
10 Hammers	2	0012345	67890	9
1 Hammers	0	0012345	67890	5

Indicator Digit

Same Item Reference #

Notice that every level of packaging receives a unique GTIN number based upon the "Indicator" digit of the GTIN.

NOTE: The indicator digit "9" is reserved for identifying Variable Unit Trade Items. You should only use "9" in that particular case.

Example 2: Using the Item Reference for Item Hierarchy
The illustration below shows the following:

EACH GTIN: 00-012345-67890-5
PACK GTIN: 00-012345-56921-3
CASE GTIN: 00-012345-72356-6
PALLET GTIN: 00-012345-88244-8

1000 Hammers	0012345	88244	9
100 Hammers	0012345	72356	8
10 Hammers	0012345	56921	0
1 Hammers	0012345	67890	5

Indicator Digit Always "0"

Unrelated Item Reference

Notice that every level of packaging receives a unique GTIN number based upon the "item reference" portion of the GTIN.

Example 3: Using a Combination of Item Reference & Indicator Digit for Item Hierarchy

1000 Hammers	5	0012345	55444	0
100 Hammers	3	0012345	55444	6
10 Hammers	0	0012345	55444	5
1 Hammers	0	0012345	67890	5

Indicator Digit

Item Reference

The illustration above shows the following:

EACH GTIN: 00-012345-67890-5
PACK GTIN: 00-012345-55444-6
CASE GTIN: 30-012345-55444-3
PALLET GTIN: 50-012345-55444-2

Notice that every level of packaging receives a unique GTIN number based upon the combination of "Indicator" digit and "Item Reference" section of the GTIN.

Example 4: Using the Indicator digit to reference Company Specific Facility
In the following illustration, each case of hammers is tied to a different Manufacturing Facility:

8 = Manufacturing Facility 8
5 = Manufacturing Facility 5
2 = Manufacturing Facility 2

The illustration below shows the following:

EACH GTIN: 00-012345-67890-5
Manufacturing Facility 2 GTIN: 20-012345-67890-7
Manufacturing Facility 5 GTIN: 50-012345-67890-8
Manufacturing Facility 8 GTIN: 80-012345-67890-9

10 Hammers	8	0012345	67890	1
10 Hammers	5	0012345	67890	0
10 Hammers	2	0012345	67890	9
1 Hammers	0	0012345	67890	5

Company Specific Hierarchy Indicator Digit

Same Item Reference #

Notice that every level of packaging receives a unique GTIN number based upon the "Indicator" digit of the GTIN.

Example 5: Using the Item Reference Number to Indicate Regional Location
In the following illustration, each case of hammers comes from a different location:

56921= Northeast
72356= Southwest
88244= Midwest

This will be company specific and at your discretion.

The illustration above shows the following:

EACH GTIN: 00-012345-67890-5
NORTHEAST GTIN: 00-012345-56921-3
SOUTHWEST GTIN: 00-012345-72356-6
MIDWEST GTIN: 00-012345-88244-8

10 Hammers	0012345	88244	9
10 Hammers	0012345	72356	8
10 Hammers	0012345	56921	0
1 Hammers	0012345	67890	5

Indicator Digit Always "0"

Location Specific Item Reference

Notice that every level of packaging receives a unique GTIN number based upon the "item reference" portion of the GTIN.

Calculating Check Digits
The check digit is a mathematically calculated number based on the previous 13 digits that are in the GTIN. A new check digit must be calculated each time a new GTIN is created.

The calculation of check digits will be explained while referencing the following diagram.

1000 Hammers	8	0012345	67890	1
100 Hammers	5	0012345	67890	0
10 Hammers	2	0012345	67890	9
1 Hammers	0	0012345	67890	5

For a base Trade Item (1 Hammer) the check digit for the GTIN will remain the same.

GTIN= 00-012345-67890-5

However, when a new GTIN is created for a different hierarchical level ( 10 Hammers), a new check digit must be calculated.

The calculation of the check digit for GTIN 20-012345-67890 is as follows:

Step 1: Starting at the far left with the first digit, add all the characters in the odd numbered positions.
2 + 0 + 2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 0 = 22
Step 2: Take the number found in Step1 and multiply it by 3.
22 x 3 = 66
Step 3: Starting on the left and beginning with the second digit, add all the characters in the even numbered positions.
0 + 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25
Step 4: Add the answer from Steps 2 and 3.
66 + 25 = 91
Step 5: The check digit is the number which, when added to the value obtained in Step 4 equals a number which is the next highest multiple of 10. I.e., If the value in Step 4 were 68, the next multiple of 10 would be 70.

Therefore, 68 + 2 = 70, meaning, the check digit will be 2. If the number is 10 (if you are already at a multiple of 10), the check digit will be 0.

Answer: The check digit for this sample GTIN is 9.
91 + 9 = 100