My experience is that, as a general rule, the GTIN isn't really intended to identify the subject device's stock/catalog number. Explanation: When working with GS1 and deriving GTINs, GS1 will issue the Labeler a batch of numbers for use as the "item reference" portion of the GTIN. The "item reference" portion of the GTIN is the part of the GTIN that uniquely identifies the subject device; yet it isn't generally intended to do so via the subject device's stock/catalog number. While it may sometimes be possible to achieve this by mere coincidence, it remains the case (no pun intended) that the GTIN's "item reference" feature is not technically intended for this. Remember that the size of the batches of item reference numbers issued by GS1 are based on the "prefix capacity" chosen during the GS1 application process. The required prefix capacity is driven by how many UDIs will ultimately be needed to cover the portfolio of products and packaging levels. Applicants can choose to purchase batch sizes of 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, etc., item reference numbers. These item reference numbers literally are 1 through 10, 1 through 100, 1 through 1000, etc. For each product and packaging level, the Labeler chooses one of the item reference numbers from the batch and forever thereafter (generally speaking) links/associates it with that particular product and packaging level. This link is done indirectly via internal documentation and via the GUDID database rather than directly in the item reference. The only way for the item reference to actually show the stock code / catalogue number in a WYSIWYG way is if, for example, the Labeler's product stock code / catalogue number by coincidence happens to be totally numeric, and contains no other character types (e.g., letters, dashes, etc.), and contains a quantity of characters that would fit into the maximum number of characters bounded by the item reference batch size [i.e., batch size 10 = two characters, 100 = three, 1000 = four, etc.). And even if a Labeler elected to try to use the item reference in said unintended fashion, then the Labeler would need to be willing to pay thousands of dollars to get a larger batch (as it seems that stock codes / catalog numbers are often at least 4 characters in length and often longer) and to accept only being able to use a few numbers from the purchased batch. Instead of such an unintended approach, it may be possible via an additional Application Identifier (AI) to integrate the actual stock code / catalogue number into the UDI and/or barcode; but that would appear in a segment of the UDI / barcode that comes after the GTIN (i.e., after the DI portion).
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Kevin Randall, ASQ CQA, RAC (U.S., Europe, Canada)
Principal Consultant
Ridgway, CO
United States
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Original Message:
Sent: 29-Apr-2021 08:53
From: Anonymous Member
Subject: GTIN and stock code
This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous
I am an OEM manufacturer our customers are requesting that we use our GTIN number and their stock code. We use our stock code internally which is different than theirs. We have no traceabilty of their stock code in our systems. All transactions are done under our code. If we were to register the GTIN, should we be registering the product under our stock code and with all of our information? This information needs to be on the label. It would not reference the customer stock code that they request be on the label…. In order to have customer stock code reference number on the label with a GTIN that's linked to it, we would need the reference number in our system or should the customer register or would have to register it as previously?
Does GS1 registration comes down to the manufacturer and the MFG part number?