just to name a few. As discussed later in this article, serialization forces
packaging technology and IT to communicate in a bidirectional manner
for the first time. Quality control
sampling, packaging rework, central
packaging, and palletizing need to be
reengineered. Furthermore, uniquely
identifying packages and associating
serial number information to shipments and orders creates value beyond
regulatory drivers. Value opportunities may be identified with regard
to product authentication to combat
counterfeiting, understanding diversion and parallel
trade, delivery confirmation,
chargeback and returns processing, and supply-chain
visibility and optimization.
Leaving key players out of the
serialization initiative can lead 5. Bidirectional commu-
to avoidable challenges, prob- nication between packag-
lems, and missed opportuni- ing and IT is a must. In
ties. Addressing serialization order to meet regulatory and
To successfully serialize products in packaging, data from the enter-
with an enterprisewide cross- other drivers, serialized prod-
prise IT system must be communicated down to the packaging line,
functional team during plan- uct data must be integrated
and information must flow from the packaging line back up to the IT
ning, deployment, and oper- system. with business data (such as
ation, along with a business orders or shipments). To get
strategy for serialization, can minimize strategic value, serial numbers are typi-investment and maximize value. cally controlled and maintained at an
enterprise level in an IT system such as
an EPCIS data repository. To successfully serialize products in packaging,
data from the enterprise IT system
must be communicated down to the
packaging line, and information must
flow from the packaging line back up
to the IT system. Bidirectional communication does not typically exist
between packaging and IT. Traditionally, packaging and IT environments
are maintained separately with little
interaction beyond manual input of
summary data. Enabling this communication requires a new layer of automation control (see image above).
This new layer of control represents
a gateway through which data must
flow. The gateway ensures integrity of
data in IT systems. It also makes sure
throughput and availability of the
packaging line are maintained. Without bidirectional communications,
speed processes, involving printers,
cameras, readers, and other intelligence devices, is necessary to maintain
control of serialization. Without absolute control of serial number integrity,
packaging, serialization numbers, and
associated data are useless.
4. There will be multiple
requirements for each packaging operation. In order to get
high utilization of expensive packaging assets, companies often package
multiple products on a single packag-
to be printed in as a two-dimensional
bar code, which requires the data to be
in a format specified by GS1 (standards
body) often referred to as the AI(01)
(product code) AI(21) (serial number)
format. The same number also needs
to be put in a text format as a human-readable backup to the bar code.
When items are put in a case, the case
serial number may require an additional bar code in a format referred to
as SSCC- 18, or an SSCC-96 format if
an RFID tag is used. The integrity of
these numbers and their association to
physical products is absolutely
critical to the success of serialization. As stated earlier, if the
integrity is lost, the serial numbers and the associated data
are useless.
3. Serial number control in
packaging is fundamental.
Serialization is far more complicated than
placing a number on a package. To
ensure serial numbers can be used in
distribution processes and by supply-chain partners, control of the serial
numbers and serial number data must
be maintained throughout packaging.
This includes maintaining control of
items going into bundles, cases, and
pallets both on and off the packaging
line. Use cases are needed throughout
the packaging line from labeling or
carton printing or encoding, bundling,
case packing, and palletizing. Use cases
must also address the dynamics of each
automated and manual process. They
need to consistently manage both normal and exception processing. From a
line management point of view, real-time coordination of multiple high-
ing line. If a line packages product for
multiple jurisdictions, it will need to
be flexible enough to support multiple
serialization and coding requirements.
Furthermore, if the same product is
distributed in multiple markets, the
product may need multiple codes or
serial numbers.
Even when a product has just one
code, the automated system managing serialization must handle multiple
numbers for each item in real-time.
Why? Because the different formats for
storing data, communicating data, or
printing (bar code and human-read-able text) or encoding (RFID) the data
represent unique numbers for the same
item. Here is an example: New serial
numbers may be created in an IT system and communicated to the packaging serialization system in a format
referred to as a Tag URI (universal
unique identifier protocol commonly
used in various Internet-related technologies). The serial number may need
