NR
7-03
UCC Finalises Agreement with MIT
Forms Joint
Venture with GS1 Global Office to Drive Standards
for
Electronic Product
Code (EPC)(tm) Network
GS1 Global Office and the
Uniform Code Council, Inc. (UCC), leaders in facilitating efficient
international business, announced today at the UCC's
annual U Connect Conference, the intention to establish AutoID,
Inc., a not-for-profit organisation that will develop
and oversee commercial and technical standards for the Electronic Product Code
(EPC)(tm) Network. The EPC(tm) Network, based on
research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), uses
radio frequency in combination with a network system to allow items or products
to be identified. This technology will enable companies to have true
visibility of their supply chains in real time, in any industry, anywhere in the
world.
AutoID, Inc., is
an initiative between GS1 Global Office and the UCC. Both organisations have more than 25 years developing standards
for the EAN13 and the Universal Product Code (U.P.C.), now incorporated in the
Global Trade Item Number (GTIN). Through the global standards of the
GS1 *UCC System, nearly one million member companies in more than 133 countries
worldwide conduct business every day using bar codes and related electronic
communications.
In his opening remarks at U
Connect, Michael Di Yeso,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at the UCC, shared with the
group of nearly 1,200 supply chain and logistics managers how the UCC and GS1 Global Office will bring this technology to market. "This is a natural,
evolutionary step for the UCC and GS1 Global Office," said Di Yeso. "The UCC was one of
the founding members to provide support when the EPC(tm) Network was just a
concept. Now, with the technology nearly ready for market, the UCC and GS1 Global Office look forward to assuming the leadership role in enabling global
companies to deploy this revolutionary system into their supply
chains."
Because of its flexibility,
EPC(tm) technology has positive implications for many industries across multiple
sectors including high technology, fast moving consumer goods, healthcare, and
transportation, among others. "We are very excited to begin developing the open
and neutral standards necessary to make this technology real," said Di Yeso. "As with all of our
programmes, the UCC and GS1 Global Office want this to
be a collaborative effort with the business community, providing diverse
applications for multiple industries." Di Yeso added, "We have a lot of work ahead of us, and one of
the first tasks is to engage in dialogue with companies, and encourage them to
join AutoID, Inc."
Miguel Lopera, CEO of GS1 Global Office, commented: "GS1 Global Office is thrilled to work with the UCC on this major initiative.
We believe the EPC(tm) Network will add unprecedented benefits to the supply
chain management of the users of the GS1 *UCC System." He continued, "GS1 Global Office, along with its 99 Member Organisations,
are uniquely positioned to help globalise the AutoID, Inc.
initiative."
"We are at an important
juncture for this technology, and the UCC and GS1 Global Office are uniquely
positioned to drive commercialisation and adoption of
the EPC," said Dick Cantwell, Chairman of the Board of Overseers for the
The EPC(tm) Network was
developed by the
UCC's executive team was also announced at
the conference. As President, Dicki Lulay will drive the initiative in
ENDS
For more information
Contact:
Graham
Avory, GS1 Global Office +32 2 227 10 20,
e-mail: avory@ean-int.org
Cecily Laidman, Uniform Code Council, +1 609.620.4526,
e-mail: claidman@uc-council.org
Jill Pace, Fleishman Hillard, Inc. +1 314.982.0592, e-mail: pacej@fleishman.com
More information about Auto
ID Inc., can be found by logging onto:
www.ean-int.org/AutoID.htm or www.uc-council.org/AutoID.htm
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
GS1 INTERNATIONAL
GS1 Global Office is the
global not for profit organisation that creates,
develops and manages GS1 *UCC standards jointly with the Uniform Code Council,
one of its Member Organisations. These are open,
global multisectoral information standards, based on
best practices. By driving their implementation, GS1 Global Office and its
Member Organisations play a leading role in the supply
and demand chain management improvement worldwide. For more information about
GS1 international, please visit: www.ean-int.org
THE UNIFORM CODE COUNCIL,
INC.
The Uniform
Code Council, Inc. (UCC) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the development and implementation
of standards-based, global supply chain solutions. Under its auspices, the
UCC operates two wholly owned subsidiaries, UCCnet and
RosettaNet, and it co-manages the global GS1 *UCC
System with GS1 Global Office. UCC-based solutions, including business
processes, XML standards, EDI transaction sets, and the bar code identification
standards of the GS1 *UCC System are currently used by more than one million
member companies worldwide. For more information about the Uniform Code
Council, please visit: www.uc-council.org.
-o0o-
Regards
Graham Avory
Communications
Manager
GS1 Global Office
Rue Royale 145, B-1000
Tel: + 32 2
227 10 20 Direct: +32 2 227 54 45
Fax: + 32 2
227 10 21
E-mail:
avory@ean-int.org
Web site:
www.ean-int.org
CONFIDENTIALITY/DISCLAIMER:
The contents of this e-mail are confidential and are not regarded as a
contractual offer or acceptance from GS1 Global Office, (registered in