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How
retail suppliers get a UPC bar code and how they get the UPC bar code
number on a retail product package.
To get the UPC bar code number for a retail package, suppliers first get a UPC bar code
prefix from a private organization called the UCC. The supplier then
assigns and adds a unique product number to the
UPC bar code prefix.
The complete UPC bar code number consists of the UPC bar code prefix plus the unique product ID
number that the supplier randomly assigns.
To create the UPC bar code symbol, the UPC bar code number is input into UPC bar code software.
The
UPC bar code software will then generate the UPC bar code symbol that is printed on the
retail product packaging. The
retail packaging graphic designer or packaging printer then takes this UPC
bar code symbol artwork and adds it to the artwork of the retail product
packaging at the proper size and in the proper format. 
The UPC-A bar code
symbol is shown above.
The
UPC-A bar code number (and associated bar code symbol) consists of the
manufacturer number (also known as the UCC company prefix) which is
combined with a product number (assigned by the manufacturer), and a check
digit (assigned by a mathematical equation found in most bar code
software).
The
UCC Company Prefix is provided by the Uniform Code Council, and, with it
as the prefix, the manufacturer creates the individual product number. In
most software, when the prefix # and the product # are entered, the
software automatically generates the check digit.
The UCC
Company Prefix is a 10, 9, 8, 7 or 6 digit number assigned to you by
the Uniform Code Council when you become a member and pay the $750 minimum
membership fee.
The number
of digits in the UPC bar code is determined typically by how many products
you will need to assign numbers to.
If you have 50 products that require unique numbers, you would probably be
assigned a 9 digit UCC Company Prefix (leaving 2 digits to represent your
items).
The U.P.C.
symbol is composed of a row of 59 black and white bars. Printed beneath the bars
(on a UPC-A) is a series of 12 numbers. The bars are scanner readable
while the numbers are human readable and can be input manually.
.
In the bar code sample above, a 6 digit number, "012345" has
been assigned (leaving 5 digits to represent items - plus one 'check
digit'). This initial number
"012345" represents the manufacturer on all of their products as
well as in any EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) applications.
For
example, in a 12 digit UPC bar code there are three main parts, the
prefix, the product identifying code, and a last number which is the
'check digit'.
The UPC prefix code for the Coca-Cola Company is 049000. Therefore, this
049000 number will appear in the first 6 digits of all of the Coca-Cola
Company's product UPC bar codes.
This 049000
prefix was assigned and licensed to the Coca-Cola Company from the Uniform
Code Council (UCC), and Coca Cola, as a member of the UCC, pays an annual
fee to the UCC (currently based on its gross sales) to license this unique
number from the Uniform Code Council (UCC).
The 6 digit
UPC prefix identifies the Coca-Cola Company while the 5 numbers that
follow identify the specific product, and its size, color, flavor, etc.
(depending on type of product).
The last number, in the example above a 5,
is called the 'check digit' and is used to guard against errors (when
numbers are manually keyed in) and fraud. There is a mathematical formula
that, when applied, produces the proper check digit.
How
do companies get a retail product bar code?
The retail product seller, manufacturer or distributor
with the retail package (the supplier) does not actually get or buy the UPC barcode
symbol you see in the retail product package design.
Instead, to get the UPC bar code on its retail packaging, the supplier must first get its own UPC bar code prefix by becoming a member of
an organization that licenses the UPC bar code prefix to them. This UPC
bar code prefix identifies the
seller, manufacturer or distributor (the supplier).
Once the retail supplier/vendor is able to get the UPC bar
code prefix, it is the supplier (or a UPC coordinator working for the
supplier) who actually
assigns the numbers following the UPC bar code prefix. If
you are a supplier and need a bar code, click
here.
Does every supplier need to get a UPC bar code?
To
sell products, most retailers require sellers or suppliers to get a UPC bar code.
The organization a U.S. supplier must get a UPC bar code prefix number
from (in order to assign the numbers that follow it and create a UPC bar
code symbol) is called the Uniform Code Council, Inc. or UCC.
Does
a company just starting out need a bar code?
I'm often asked this question. The answer is yes and no. Click
here.
What a seller must
do to get a bar code number.
A supplier must first obtain a Universal Product Code Identification Number
to use with your UPC bar code symbol.
A
US company can obtain this unique six digit UPC company
identification number (UPC company prefix) by becoming a member of the Uniform
Code Council (UCC).
The
Uniform Code Council, Inc. does not sell the U.P.C. barcode prefix to the
supplier, it licenses this UPC barcode prefix number to the supplier.
To obtain a prefix, a supplier must become a UCC member.
Even if all the supplier needs is one UPC bar code, according to the
current rules of the Uniform Code Council, Inc., to get that one UPC bar
code, the seller must become a member of the Uniform Code Council, Inc.
Without becoming a member, the supplier will not have the necessary UPC
bar code prefix, and therefore cannot create the UPC bar code to place on
the retail package. So to get a bar code symbol, the supplier needs to
become a Uniform Code Council, Inc. member.
A seller needs a UPC prefix in
order to create a UPC symbol and bar code. The prefix is actually just the
first set of numbers from the left (not the symbol). The remaining numbers
describe the product except the last number to the right, which is the
check digit. It is used to increase reliability.
Sellers/suppliers pay an initial fee and then an annual renewal fee to
keep their UCC membership and license this UPC
company prefix that identifies the company (since the seller is not buying the
UPC code but instead becomes a licensee of the UPC).
The
only place to get a GTIN (or UPC bar code) in the US is the Uniform
Code Council, a privately
owned and operated not-for-profit tax-exempt organization that
assigns all bar code prefixes necessary to have a bar code, and has done
so for over 30 years. There is no
alternative to becoming a member of the UCC to obtain a bar code number.
The UCC has an interesting history
which all began with a
request of grocers involved in the National Association of
Food Chains, a trade group of supermarket owners and others.
The UCC
today administers the Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) for over 250,000 member companies doing business in 141 countries worldwide.
EAN
International (EAN) manages the assignment of bar codes outside the
US.
The address and phone is Uniform Code Council,
Inc., Princeton Pike Corporate Center, 1009 Lenox Dr., Suite 202,
Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, Telephone: 609-620-0200, Fax:
609.620.1200.
The
current minimum initial UCC membership fee is $750.
Whether
you as a seller need only one bar code or many (each and every product variation must
have its own unique bar code), the Uniform Code Council (UCC) charges an
initial $750 fee to become a member, plus an additional annual membership fee based on your
company's annual revenues. Most retailers require bar codes and therefore
you must become a member of the UCC to get a bar code.
Can a
supplier buy
the UPC bar code number anywhere else?
No, not in the U.S. The Uniform Code Council is the exclusive privately held non-profit,
tax-exempt organization that assigns all UPC numbers to all US
manufacturers. No one else can sell or broker a UPC number. According to
the UCC, a UPC number cannot be rented, leased, or further sub-divided.
To obtain a
bar code, you will need to become a member of the Uniform Code Council,
pay the $750 minimum fee, plus a fee based on your company's revenue, and
wait for an information packet to be sent to you. See the Uniform
Code Council web Site. According to the UCC Site (at the time of this
writing), you should allow up to 14 business days from the time they
receive your completed application and payment.
Cummings Design cannot issue you a bar code or
UPC or GTIN.
Since
all of the retail packaging
design Cummings Design creates involves a bar code, I am interested in
knowing your thoughts and possible experiences with bar codes, the UCC,
and related topics. Please contact me to
share your thoughts and comments. Thanks!
This UPC
identification number can then be encoded into a UPC-A or EAN-12 bar code symbol
and be printed on your retail product packaging.
The
retail bar code
format is currently referred to as UPC-A. There are also many other
types of bar codes and uses for a bar code, though this page discusses those used for
retail.
Today most retail stores in North America will only stock retail packaging with
a UPC-A or UPC-E bar code symbol. The UPC-A bar code is 12 digits long.
The UPC-E bar code is a special shortened version of the UPC-A bar code
and is 6 digits long. The UPC-E bar code is primarily for small retail
packaging where a UPC-A code would not fit.
The U.P.C.
(Universal Product Code) number itself
may also be referred to as the GTIN - Global Trade Item
Number. The GTIN is made up of the UCC Company Prefix and the number
that the seller, manufacturer or distributor has assigned to that unique product, however the GTIN numbers are 14
digits while the UPC-A bar code format is12 digits long. The assignment of
the numbers following the UCC company prefix on the bar code is normally
sequential, though can be random, and is determined by the seller,
manufacturer or distributor who then lets the retailer know which specific
retail product is associated with which specific UPC bar code number. The
only real trick is for the seller, manufacturer or distributor to keep
track of its own UPC bar code numbers and to be sure it doesn't assign
duplicate UPC bar code numbers.
So now you know that suppliers do not buy a UPC bar code to get the bar
code symbol, they obtain a UPC bar code prefix.
Some
companies have a U.P.C. coordinator whose job it is to assign the numbers
(that come after the UCC company prefix) and manage the UPC bar code program. The
numbers that come after the UCC Company prefix identify the specific
product. Though these additional numbers are assigned by the UPC
coordinator (and do not have any further meaning in themselves), each
size, style, color, flavor, and other variation of product requires its
own unique U.P.C. number.
The computer systems of the retailer can read
these numbers, program them in their systems, and have the system
associate the unique number with the specific product the seller assigns
the number to.
Once you have your number as a member of the UCC...
If you have Cummings Design create your retail packaging, we can create
the bar code symbol for your retail product package and design
your retail product packaging with your bar code on it. I can also design your retail product
packaging without the bar code leaving a space for the UPC bar code
symbol.
Does the
UCC UPC have any relation to the product price?
No. The UCC provides the manufacturer with its own unique UPC
identification number. The UPC is read into the system and the retail product
pricing and adjustments are controlled by the POS (point of sale) system software and can be changed at any time
by the retailer. The sole purpose of the UPC is to enable scanning of the
product and for product identification (as well as retailer inventory
tracking).
Should
you get a bar code for the first printing or labels?
Many of my retail product packaging clients are unsure whether or not they
need a bar code. The UCC will keep $250 (at the time of this writing) as a
processing fee should you decide to return the package with your bar code
prefix and not go forward with the licensing of your bar code. Also, a
retail buyer may have certain bar code requirements. Therefore, I
recommend many clients wait until they know they actually need a bar code
and have discussed this with the retailer before applying for a membership
at the UCC.
Can you
print a package or label without a UPC bar code?
Yes, and often it's the best way since there is no other way to get a bar
code in advance other than to become a member of the UCC.
I typically
leave a suitable space on the package or label to accommodate a bar code,
and recommend that the quantity of the first printing run be limited. For
the first run, a separate bar code label may then be printed and affixed.
Once the product is in the retailer's system and at the time of the next
printing, I can then add the bar code to the packaging. This does add cost
to the printing (printing a smaller quantity first, then a second printing
later), though it insures
that you will not have a bar code that is unacceptable to a retail buyer.
The
future of the bar code, GTIN, RFID - and more.
If you're interested in finding out more about the latest in bar code
technology and the newly announced RFID, please see the links to articles
below.
USA
Today on the GTIN and RFID
WorldTradeMagazine
on the GTIN and RFID
You also may
be interested in knowing more about 2005 Sunrise:
All U.S. and Canadian companies must be capable of scanning and processing EAN-8 and EAN-13 symbols, in addition to 12-digit U.P.C. symbols, at point-of-sale.
2005
Sunrise from the UCC web Site
More links
will be added to this page. If any of the links do not work, please contact
me.
See HISTORY
of the UPC Bar Code.
See HISTORY of the
UCC (Uniform Code Council, Inc.)
The company that
assigns all US bar code prefixes.
More
history of the UCC is on the UCC
web Site.
If
you need retail packaging design, click
here.
For
all other types of advertising, promotion, business consulting and more,
please click here to our home
page.
Note:
This article is of an editorial nature. All trademarks and copyrights are
owned by their respective owners. If you see errors or omissions, please contact
me so that I may make necessary corrections. I feel the history of the
bar code (as well as the future) is important and created this page since
I found little about this elsewhere. I am doing my best to cross-check and
verify information presented. Thanks - Rob Cummings.
Contact
us or return Home or see Pricing
Your UPC bar code could take
people direct to your web page. Learn
more.
Bibliography
and sources:
http://www.ecominfo.net/supplychaindata/arts/pearce_history.htm
http://www.fmi.org/careers/fmi_history.htm
http://www.frontlinetoday.com/frontline/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=101942
http://www.psc.com/html/pschistory.htm
http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/a/laurergj/UPC/triviaqu.html
http://www.infowars.com/print/bb/barcodes_common.htm
http://educ.queensu.ca/~compsci/units/encoding/barcodes/history.html
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