With ever-changing business standards and the constant need to invent new ones, there becomes a need to keep track of all the terminology associated with such standards. The storage for these terms is the GS1 Global Data Dictionary, or GDD, which allows users to search for the information they need in a variety of different ways.

GDD Search
Look up business terms and display associated documents, definitions and data types.

GDD Reports
View all of the information related to a business message in a technical document.

GDD Code Lists
View code list values and value definitions of GS1 code lists.

Extended Attributes
The GS1 realizes that there are local data needs and specific trading partner needs that are not supported in the global standard today, thus the need for extended attributes.

GS1 Standards Knowledge Center
Access published GSMP standards documents and implementation guides.

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Healthcare providers throughout the world have been implementing Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) systems in order to ensure traceability of their surgical instruments, improve patient safety and optimize asset management. An area of particular concern was the instrument reprocessing cycle, particularly to and from sterilization. Ultimately, the goal of the system is to save costs through a more efficient process and better asset management.

Healthcare providers have already started to implement two-dimensional barcodes directly on their surgical instruments. Because of this, the GS1 Healthcare established a group to develop appropriate industry standards, which underwent the GS1 Global Standards Management Process (GSMP) and Application Standards for Small Medical/Surgical Instrument Marking have now been established. The implementation of this standard is definitely a significant accomplishment towards the goal of improving patient safety.

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GS1 Upstream Integration helps bridge the gap between manufacturers and suppliers within the supply chain. Basically, the goal of upstream integration is to improve processes by sharing information and improving visibility of demand and inventory changes. This ultimately increases responsiveness to manufacturing requirements, and finally to the consumers.

In the current marketplace, there are so many products available for consumers, but often in smaller quantities. The amount of time between design to the consumer is continuously expected to become shorter, thus putting pressure on the upstream part of the supply chain. Because of this, the need for integration and reliable information become prevalent for physical visibility. This is a particular concern for Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG). Currently, the GUSI is working to address the following issues for CPG:

• Tailoring the GS1 standards for item identification and electronic communication
• Supporting the development of implementation guides
• Providing assistance for implementations

Once CPG companies started using GUSI standards-based solutions, companies reported benefits such as faster integration, reduced IT costs and increased ROI.

For more information on GUSI, learn more here.

GEPIR, or Global Electronic Party Information Register, is a database that holds information for over 1,000,000 companies in over 100 countries throughout the world. On the GS1 website, the GS1 Member Organizations allow you to search by barcode/GTIN, Container Code (SSCC), Location Number (GLN) and company name.

Searching by GTIN
GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number, is an identifier for trade items, ultimately helping the trading process of buying and selling. GTINs are assigned to any product or service that can be priced, ordered or invoiced at any point the supply chain. The GTIN can be used to retrieve pre-defined information about the item.

Searching by SSCC
The SSCC, or Serial Shipping Container Code, is a GS1 Identification Key for any item established for transport and/or storage that needs to be tracked throughout the supply chain. The SSCC remains the same for the life time of the transport container and is a mandatory element in the GS1 Logistic Label using Application Identifier.

Searching by GLN
The GLN, or Global Location Number, is the GS1 Identification Key for Locations and can be used to identify physical locations and legal entities in order to retrieve information that helps to improve the efficiency of communications within the supply-chain.

Searching by Company Name
Through GEPIR, users can also search by company name in order to locate enterprises.

When you stroll through the aisles of the grocery store, countless thoughts run through your head. Is this food safe? Has it expired? Does it have what the package says it has? Was it produced in a facility that may contain peanuts? In order to provide these questions, and many others, with answers, traceability is key.

While some form of traceability is already required in certain areas of the US, Canada, the European Union and select countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa, more and more industries are actually implementing their own traceability programs to ensure the safety of their products, making traceability a crucial aspect in the supply chain.

However, in order to successfully implement traceability standards, it is important that they are built upon global standards. This is achieved through the GS1 Global Traceability Standard, which makes such traceability systems possible on a global scale.

The ability to answer questions at the grocery store lies within the traceability applications and systems of each organization. Food traceability systems need to be aware of everything that happens from the farm to the table. Aside from the obvious questions, food traceability systems make it possible to perform product recalls. However, the system also promotes quality assurance and accurate inventory control, minimizing such recalls from ever occurring.

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