EPC Simplified

The EPC is a unique number which identifies a specific item in the supply chain. The EPC is divided into segments that identify the number, manufacturer ID, product ID, and unique serial number. The EPC is also the "key" to information that is stored elsewhere, such as a computer database.

Q. What is the EPC layout?

The four components of a Type 1 EPC are as follows

01	0000A89	00016F	000169DCO
Version	Manufacturer ID	Product ID	Unique Serial Number

Q. How does EPC compare to U.P.C?

The EPC is similar to U.P.C. with the addition of a version number and a unique serial number. The EPC Manufacturer number (also known as an EPC Manager number) can be based on the U.P.C. Company Prefix number (the left side of a U.P.C. barcode). The customer can use his existing UPC company prefix here if they choose to. Likewise, the EPC Product number can be based on the U.P.C. Item Identification number (the right side of a U.P.C. barcode). Again, the company can choose to use the same numbering scheme it uses for UPC.

Q. What information is in the remaining two EPC components?

The EPC Version number identifies the format of the data that follows it. When reading an EPC number, the Version number will tell the receiving system how to translate the components that follow. As the EPC standards evolve, this number will be used to show version changes.

The EPC Serial Number identifies the specific item, within a product type, that the EPC tag is attached to. For example, a current consumer product like a can of beans has a U.P.C. barcode that identifies the can to a supermarket scanner. A specific variety of beans from a specific manufacturer (same size, packaging, marking, price) will have an identical barcode for each can produced. This makes it impossible to uniquely identify one particular can. Within the EPC system, each can of beans can also carry a unique identification number for just that particular can. While each can may look like the next one, the EPC provides identification at the "each" level.

The manufacturer (or whoever will read the RFID tag - Wal-Mart for instance -) can decide on the serial number.

Q. Is there enough capacity in the EPC system for "each" marking?

The EPC Type 1 identifier above has capacity for:
 269 Million Companies (Manufacturer ID)
   16 Million Objects (Product ID) for each company
     68 Billion Serial Numbers within each Product ID

Q. Can alpha characters be encode as well as numeric?

Yes. If the same manufacturer and product numbers are used as currently exist in the UPC, they will be numeric.

Q. What data does the EPC provide a "key" to?

Similar to current barcoding systems the EPC number is just that, a number. This EPC number can be tied to data, with additional information, through technology currently in use within the barcode industry. For example, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) can be used to transmit detailed information on product being shipped from a manufacturer to a retailer. The product detail could include size, color, lot number, date of production, type and quantity information. The shipment itself (carton or pallet) would be identified with an EPC number, corresponding to the shipment detail provided via EDI. The EPC number itself doesn't tell you color, size, etc.; the number is the key to data stored elsewhere with this information. This shipping identification process is very similar to that in place today via the UCC/EAN-128 barcode.

Q. How do I implement EPC (does my data stream need to change)?

The addition of the serial number component within EPC makes some type of data stream change necessary. Some printer manufacturers have announced that their printer will add the EPC serial number to the current data stream without input from the customer. This is a short-term (or test environment) solution that will not be able to support multi-printer installations or full database implementations. It is critical in the EPC environment that an EPC tag number is not duplicated. Paxar is implementing a robust application set in their Monarch printers that will allow both single and multi-printer installations to create the critical EPC number data through a database and/or host application. This application set will also allow Monarch printers to support developing RFID applications that are in addition to EPC. Note that there are a number of tools available to simplify Monarch printer implementation, including copy rules (so that data such as the U.P.C. number does not need to be entered twice) and ADK applications that can be custom configured for each customers needs. RFID today is a fast-changing environment. An implementation strategy that allows the user control of the data stream makes the most sense today, and for tomorrow.