The produce industry associations have introduced the Produce Traceability Initiative (www.producetraceability.org), an industry-wide effort to bring electronic traceability to the produce supply chain by 2012.
Carlisle Technology is well-equipped to help produce companies meet and exceed the PTI requirements. With years of experience providing integrated bar coding solutions for the food industry, Carlisle Technology is well ahead of the curve with regards to traceability solutions for produce.
Having provided bar code labeling, scanning, and traceability solutions for the meat and poultry industry in North America since 1988, Carlisle’s first work involving GS1-128 bar code labels was in 1993 when Loblaw Company, Canada’s largest grocery retailer, required meat and poultry companies to code cases of catch weight (variable weight) products with the new UCC/EAN-128 bar code (now called GS1-128).
Here are some key features of Carlisle Technology’s solution as it relates to the Produce Traceability Initiative:
Case Labeling:
- Generates GS1-128 compliant case labels using database driven information.
- Label formats are product code specific (i.e. selecting a product determines the label format)
- Labeling can be manual or automated (print & apply)
- Supports lot tracking and control
- Supports Country of Origin details
- Supports export labeling with foreign description
- Exceeds all required data elements for the PTI
Pallet Labeling:
- Complete Pallet Handling capabilities (with mixed product, lots, etc.)
- Support for the SSCC Pallet identifier
- Support for multiple lots and related bar codes
- SSCC references all the details of the cases (standard functionality, but not required by the PTI)
- Labeling can be manual or automated (print & apply). Applicators can label 2 sides.
- Supports ASNs (Advanced Shipping Notices)
Traceability:
- Supports one-up and one-down traceability requirements
- Provides complete internal traceability (tracking all physical entities within an organization)
- Detailed lot tracking
- Case-level serialization is included (standard functionality, but not required by the PTI)
- Exceeds all required data elements for the PTI
- Offers complete, detailed inventory control
- Includes order picking and shipping with mobile bar code scanning terminals
- Produces all shipping documentation
- Interfaces with accounting systems for electronic data transfers and posting
With Carlisle Technology as your supplier of integrated traceability solutions, you can count on our experience in and commitment to the food industry to help you implement the right system in a way that provides a return on your investment by improving your own operations while you meet the PTI requirements.
