Logistic information for building material

GS1 Trade Item Information

2015

1. Introduction

The purpose of the document is to provide a common platform for logistical information for the construction, electrical, HVAC and plumbing industries using GS1’s international standard “GDSN Trade Item Information”. The document has been produced by GS1 Sweden in collaboration with Logiq/Finfo, Svenska Rörgrossistföreningen VVS, the Swedish Electrical Wholesalers Federation and the Association of Swedish Building Materials and Hardware Merchants through project Vilma.

The document starts with a list of attributes which the building, electrical, HVAC and plumbing sectors have agreed constitute logistic information. This is followed by an analysis and clarification of some of these attributes. Further information about GS1’s standard can be found in the Trade Item Information Guideline.

2. Logistical information

The construction, electricity and plumbing industries have agreed that the following terms are logistical information. The terms are grouped into classes.

Trade item identification

  • T3799 Additional trade item identification type code (industry item number and/or vendor’s item number)
  • T3798 Additional trade item identification
  • T0154 Trade item, GTIN
  • T0018 Functional name
  • T0143 Brand name
  • T3338 Descriptive size
  • T3849 Import classification type code
  • T3302 Import classification value
  • T3793 Referenced trade item, GTIN
  • T3794 Referenced trade item type code

Package hierarchy

  • T4034 Quantity of children
  • T4035 Total quantity of next lower level trade item

Trade item hierarchy

  • T2045 Child trade item, GTIN
  • T3361 Quantity of next lower level trade item

Trade item status

  • T4037 Is trade item a consumer unit
  • T0017 Is trade item an orderable unit
  • T4038 Is trade item a despatch unit
  • T4014 Is trade item an invoice unit

Package

  • T0137 Packaging type code
  • T4124 Packaging function code
  • T2244 Platform type code
  • T2207 Is trade item a display unit
  • T0277 Is packaging marked returnable

Deposit

  • T0148 Returnable package deposit identification
  • T4149 Returnable package deposit region
  • T4125 Returnable assets contained quantity

Packaging material

  • T1188 Packaging material type code
  • T1189 Packaging material composition quantity

Dimensions

  • T0186 Is trade item a variable unit
  • T4017 Trade item measurements, width
  • T4019 Trade item measurements, height
  • T4018 Trade item measurements, depth
  • T4020 Trade item gross weight
  • T0147 Price comparison measurement
  • T3780 Measurement unit code for price comparison
  • T0145 Price comparison content type code

Net content

  • T0082 Net content
  • T3780 Measurement unit code for net content

Storage and handling

  • T0167 Minimum trade item lifespan from time of production
  • T4021 Quantity of complete layers contained in a trade item
  • T0160 Quantity of trade items contained in a complete layer

Labelling

  • T4310 Data carrier type code

3. Trade item identification

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), provides a globally unique identification for each individual package.

The construction, electrical, HVAC and plumbing industries historically use trade item numbers allocated by their respective sector. This means that the same package can have both a GTIN and one or more industry specific item numbers. An item can also be numbered with an item number allocated by the supplier or manufacturer.

3.1 Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)

Throughout this document the term trade item is used according to GS1’s definition: “A trade item is any item (product or service) upon which there is a need to retrieve pre-defined information and that may be priced, ordered, or invoiced between trading partners at any point in the supply chain.” The definition covers items and services from raw materials to finished products all of which have pre-defined attributes.

The Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) is used to provide trade items, packages and services with a unique identification. By encoding the GTIN in a barcode, the number can be read with a scanner. The item number can also be used to access further information about the item in a database.

Each item that differs from another item in terms of design and/or content shall be given a unique item number. This means that each item level in an item hierarchy should have its own unique GTIN.

When an item is identified with GTIN, it receives a globally unique trade item number that is never the same as an item number from another supplier. This means that two items cannot be confused with each other, which simplifies ordering and for example, production of sales statistics.


Each level in an item hierarchy must have a unique GTIN.

3.2 Industry specific item number

The building, electrical, HVAC and plumbing sectors have three databases that allocate item numbers for retail items distributed in part through wholesalers in Sweden. One and the same item can have several industry specific numbers.

A single item can have multiple industry item numbers.

  • E-number – The itemThe item number according to the Swedish Electrical Wholesalers Federation’s (SEG) numbering system.
  • RSK number – The item number in the RSK database, a Swedish product catalogue for HVAC and plumbing items.
  • Finfo number – The item number in the Finfo database, a Swedish product catalogue for building materials.

The table shows examples of how an item hierarchy has been numbered with E-numbers, RSK numbers, and Finfo numbers, respectively.

ItemPackaging
100 screws
Packaging
6×100 screws
Stool
12x6x100 screws
E-number14203341420334
100 pcs
1420334
600 pcs
RSK number877060877060 ctn,
100 pcs
877060 ctn,
600 pcs
Finfo number505552505552 pkg,
100 pcs
505552 ctn,
600 pcs
505552 pallet,
7200 pcs
The illustration shows an item hierarchy consisting of a single screw, a pack of 100 screws, a pack of 6×100 screws and a pallet with 12x6x100 screws.

4. Trade item levels

When trade takes place between a supplier and a buyer (for example, manufacturer and wholesaler), the buyer needs information about all trade items and the relationship between items that are contained in others. The relationship is described by specifying the level of an item hierarchy the item is at. A trade item can appear on three different levels; base, case and pallet.

4.1 Base level

Examples of items at base level

The base level is the lowest in a hierarchy. An item at the base level contains no items identified with a GTIN. A trade item at the base level is always contained in another item which can be a case or a pallet. Examples of an item at the base level are a bag of charcoal or a bottle of glue.

A trade item hierarchy can include several items at the base level, for example a multipack or co-packed items containing different products, or if the hierarchy describes a mixed display unit.

4.2 Case level

Examples of items at case level

The case level is the middle level in a trade item hierarchy. A trade item at case level contains other items and is itself contained in an item. A trade item at case level can contain other items at base level or other items at case level. An example of an item at case level is a box with 6 bottles of glue or a package with 10 shrink-wrapped planks.

There can be several case levels in a trade item hierarchy.

Sometimes the case level is not used, for example if the base unit is large. An example is bags of charcoal, where the pallet is displayed directly in the store.

4.3 Pallet level

Examples of items at pallet level

The pallet level is the highest level in a trade item hierarchy. A trade item at pallet level contains other items but is not itself contained in another item.

Pallet level is only used when a top level is present in the hierarchy. Examples of a trade item at pallet level are a pallet with boxes of screws or a drum of electrical cable.

5. Examples of trade item levels in trade item hierarchies

Examples of a number of different hierarchies are given below.

5.1 Trade item level, example 1

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – box of 100 screws
  • Case level – case with 6 boxes of screws
  • Pallet level – pallet with 12 cases of screws.

5.2 Trade item level, example 2

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – a plank
  • Case level – a shrink-wrapped package of 10 planks
  • Pallet level – a package of 40 shrink-wrapped packages.

5.3 Trade item level, example 3

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – bag of charcoal
  • Pallet level – pallet with 36 bags of charcoal.

Note that this hierarchy has no case level and that it consists only of the base and top level.

5.4 Trade item level, example 4

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – cable sold by the metre
  • Pallet level – drum with 500 m of cable.

Note that this hierarchy has no case level and that it consists only of the base and top level.

5.5 Trade item level, example 5

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – box with 25 m cable
  • Pallet level – pallet with 24 boxes of cable.

Note that this hierarchy has no case level and that it consists only of the base and top level.

5.6 Trade item level, example 6

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – box of 25 tiles
  • Pallet level – pallet with 72 boxes of tiles.

Note that this hierarchy has no case level and that it consists only of the base and top level.

5.7 Trade item level, example 7

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – water heater on pallet.

Note that this hierarchy has no case or
pallet level, and that it consists only of base level.

5.8 Trade item level, example 8

This example shows a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – Bottle.
  • Case level 1 – Package containing 6 bottles, i.e. a “6-pack”.
  • Case level 2 – Case containing 4 “6-packs”.
  • Pallet level – Pallet containing 24 cases

Note that this hierarchy has two case level items.

6. Packaging hierarchy

Trade Item Information describes a complete trade item hierarchy. This means specifying every item contained at the base, case and pallet levels as well as the relation between these. For each item at the pallet and case levels the item contained at the next lower level of the hierarchy shall be specified.

6.1 Trade item hierarchy, example 1

A consumer unit is a trade item intended for sale to a consumer or end-user.

  • Car shampoo (GTIN 1), 1 piece
  • Car wax (GTIN 2), 1 piece
  • Sponge (GTIN 3), 2 pieces

For the outer package the trade item hierarchy is specified as follows in the groups Package hierarchy and Trade item hierarchy.

6.1.1 Package hierarchy

Quantity of children = 3 (GTIN 1 + GTIN 2 + GTIN 3)

Total quantity of next lower level trade item
= 4 (1 + 1 + 2)

6.1.2 Trade item hierarchy

Included item or service, GTIN = GTIN 1
Number of units included = 1

Included item or service, GTIN = GTIN 2
Number of units included = 1

Included item or service, GTIN = GTIN 3
Number of units included = 2

The outer package in example 1 contains one bottle of car shampoo, a bottle of car wax and two sponges.

6.2 Trade item hierarchy, example 2

A box of hammers:

  • Hammer (GTIN 1), 16 pieces

The trade item hierarchy for this homogenous case is described as follows:

6.2.1 Package hierarchy

Quantity of children = 1 (GTIN 1)
Total quantity of next lower level trade item = 16

6.2.2 Trade item hierarchy

Included item or service, GTIN = GTIN 1
Number of units included = 16

7. Trade item status

An article may have a number of characteristics linked to how it is intended to be sold and distributed between the different stages of the supply chain. Each item can have the property of being a consumer item, an orderable item, or a logistic device.

7.1 Consumer unit

A consumer unit is a trade item intended for sale to a consumer or end-user.

7.2 Orderable unit

An orderable unit is a trade item that is ordered from a supplier by a wholesaler, store or similar. Every trade item hierarchy has an orderable unit. (In certain exceptional cases there can be several orderable units in the same hierarchy).

7.3 Despatch unit

A despatch unit is that trade item, usually a pallet, which is physically delivered from the supplier to the customer. There must always be at least one item in a hierarchy that is a despatch unit. Usually, the trade item at the pallet level is the despatch unit.

Note that the same item can have several of these attributes:

  • An item that is a consumer unit can also be orderable (for physically large consumer units there is sometimes no item at case level).
  • An orderable unit can also be a despatch unit (e.g. a display pallet).

8. Examples of trade item status for trade item hierarchies

Here are examples of item status for a number of item hierarchies.

8.1 Trade item status, example 1

Examples of trade item status for a number of hierarchies are given here.

  • Base level – box of 100 screws
  • Case level – case with 6 boxes of screws
  • Pallet level – pallet with 12 cases of screws.

8.2 Trade item status, example 2

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – a plank.
  • Case level – a shrink-wrapped package of 10 planks.
  • Pallet level – a package of 40 shrink-wrapped packages.

8.3 Trade item status, example 3

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – a plank
  • Pallet level – a package of 400 planks.

Note that this hierarchy does not have a case level, and that it consists of only base and pallet levels.

8.4 Trade item status, example 4

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – bag of charcoal
  • Pallet level – pallet with 36 bags of charcoal.

Note that this hierarchy does not have a case level, and that it consists of only base and pallet levels.

8.5 Trade item status, example 5

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – cable sold by the metre
  • Pallet level – drum with 500 m of cable.

Note that this hierarchy does not have a case level and that it consists of only base and pallet levels.

8.6 Trade item status, example 6

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – box with 25 m cable
  • Pallet level – pallet with 24 boxes of cable.

Note that this hierarchy does not have a case level and that it consists of only base and pallet levels.

8.7 Trade item status, example 7

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – box of 25 tiles
  • Pallet level – pallet with 72 boxes of tiles.

Note that this hierarchy does not have a case level and that it consists of only base and pallet levels.

8.8 Trade item status, example 8

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – water heater on a pallet.

Note that this hierarchy does not have case or pallet levels and that it consists of only the base level.

8.9 Item status, example 9

This example shows trade item status for a hierarchy consisting of:

  • Base level – Bottle.
  • Case level 1 – Pack containing 6 bottles, i.e. a “6-pack”.
  • Case level 2 – Case containing 4 “6-packs”.
  • Pallet level – Pallet containing 24 cases.

Note that this hierarchy has two trade items at case level.

9. Dimensions

The height, width and depth of a consumer unit can be defined when the trade item has been oriented so that consumer information can be read horizontally.

The GS1 Package and Product Measurement Standard is used to ensure that everyone measures in the same way so and misunderstandings are avoided. There are different measurement rules for consumer and non-consumer units.

10. Package type

The package type code specifies the type of package that the trade item is packed in. If the trade item is a pallet, the pallet type is also specified separately. Code lists for Package type and Pallet type can be found at Code lists » GS1 Sweden

  • Examples of packaging types: unkpacked, reel, wrapper.
  • Examples of pallet types: ISO 0 pallet, EUR pallet, Slip Sheet
Examples of package types unpacked, reel and wrapper respectively.

11. Net content

Net content of a package is specified using Net content value and Unit of measurement for net content.

Example:

  • Net content value: 25
  • Unit of measurement for net content: metres
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