Logistics

Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)Guide to creating SSCC labels for logistic units

September 2012

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Contents

1 Introduction 4

2 GS1 specifications 5

3 The Serial Shipping Container Code 6

4 Label layout 7

5 Technical specifications 8

6 Label location 9

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1 Introduction

Who is this guide written for?PostLogistics identifies all logistic units using the Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) as set out in the GS1 specifications. This guide is aimed at business customers and describes how they can label consignments to be forwarded by PostLogistics themselves in accordance with this standard.

What does this guide cover?This guide sets out the most important GS1 specifications for the Serial Shipping Container Code and describes how labels for identifying the logistic units are created. It is divided into the following sections:– General GS1 specifications– Serial Shipping Container Code – Label layout– Technical specifications

ValidityThis guide is valid from September 2012. It is subject to change in the event of additions or modifications to the range of services offered by PostLogistics.

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2 GS1 specifications

General specificationsThe GS1 specifications describe the standardized application of barcode technology in logistics. They define the various areas of application, such as consumer unit, trade item and logistic unit, as well as specify the layout and implementation of the various label types. Conformance with these specifications ensures that labels can be read worldwide.

These guidelines contain the technical specifications for the barcodes as well as the text sections for the Serial Shipping Container Code. Among other things, the reader will find information about the following elements:– Label layout– X-dimension of barcode– Quiet zones– Orientation and placement– Human-readable information

The complete specifications can be found at: http://www.gs1.ch.

Logistic unitsA logistic unit (LU) is a set of trade items put together as required for the purposes of transport and/or storage. Normally it will be a pallet, a container, or even a parcel (e.g. postal parcel).

Numbering enables logistic units to be tracked along the entire route to their final destination. The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is the unique worldwide reference number for logistic units defined by the GS1 international identification standard.

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3 The Serial Shipping Container Code

The Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) is a unique worldwide identifier for a logistic unit. This standard can be used by all parties in the supply chain to label and uniquely identify logistic units. It therefore facilitates simple communication pertaining to logistics units between manufacturers, carriers, wholesalers and retailers. Used in conjunction with electronic delivery documents, scanning the SSCC enables monitoring of incoming/outgoing goods, inventory updating and the sorting and tracking of goods at all times.

Structure of the SSCC

Example with 7-digit GCP

AI E TTTTTTT SSSSSSSSS C

00 3 7612345 123456789 C

Key

AI Application identifier, (application), generally = 0 (cf. GS1 specifications, Section 3.6.1)

P Expansion digit; this can be assigned by the company that issues the SSCC.

TTTTTTT Global company prefix (GCP): 7 positions. The number of positions can vary.

SSSSSSSSS Serial number independently allocated by the label creator. It must guarantee the uniqueness of this logistic unit over the course of its life or for a minimum of one year. Consists of 9 positions. The number of positions can vary, depending on the length of the GCP.

C Check digit for the preceding 17 characters (cf. GS1 specifications, Section 3, Appendix 1)

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4 Label layout

The label contents are usually shown in the following three sections:

Section 1: Company identificationThe label creator is free to choose how the company identifica-tion is presented. The company logo is usually shown here.

Section 2: Human-readable informationIn addition to any product identifier used, the data is shown here in human-readable form and with the standardized short designation as represented by the barcode symbols on the same label. It can be read by warehouse personnel if it is not possible for the label to be read in automatically by means of the barcode for any reason.

Section 3: Barcode symbolsThe relevant information is shown in barcode form here.

ExampleThe following diagram shows one possible label layout:

Sample CompanyAll types of goods

(02)07612345000022(10)1234(15)050521(37)04

(00)376123450000007893

SSCC:376 12345 000000789 3

Content: Quantity:7612345000022 4

Best before: Batch:21 May 2005 1234

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

In this sample label, the sections have been used as follows:

Section 1: Company address

Section 2: This contains the human-readable information as set out in Section 3.6 of the GS1 specifications, i.e. the values represented by the barcode symbols in Section 3 together with the relevant English keyword.

Section 3: Barcode. The top barcode contains the concatenated element strings. Each element is marked by its corresponding application identifier. The bottom barcode is, as specified, the SSCC without concatenation.

In some cases labels may need to contain more information than shown in the above example. The GS1 specifications also allow more complex labels to be used (cf. GS1 specifications, Section 2.2).

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5 Technical specifications

Label dimensionsIn addition to the most commonly used standard A5 format (148 mm x 210 mm), if space is limited it is also possible to use the formats A6 portrait (105 mm x 148 mm) and A7 landscape (105 mm x 74 mm). If only the SSCC is to be printed on the label, GS1 actually recommends the use of A6 format.

Barcode symbologyOnly the GS1-128 barcode symbology is used. Depending on the length of the information, it is possible to represent two or more barcode symbols above one another.

No concatenationConcatenation is an effective means for presenting multiple element strings in a single barcode to conserve label space and optimize scanning operations. However, concatenation should not be used with the GS1-128 barcode symbology. The SSCC serves to uniquely identify the logistic unit and as such is the most important element of the label.

X-dimension (magnification factor)The recommended X-dimension range is between 0.495 mm (0.0195“) and 0.94 mm (0.037“). The X-dimension recommended for the SSCC is 0.495 mm. If the space available on the label is limited, a lower X-dimension may be used. However, the X-dimension should never be less than 0.250 mm (0.00984“). For full details refer to Section 5.4 of the GS1 specifications.

Barcode symbol heightThe recommended minimum barcode height of 32 mm (1.25“) should be observed for the SSCC.

Quiet zonesBarcodes should be printed with leading and trailing quiet zones that are at least 10 modules wide.

Orientation and placementBarcodes should be applied to logistic units with a horizontal orientation (“picket fence orientation“). The bars and spaces must be perpendicular to the base on which the logistic unit stands. In all cases, the SSCC barcode symbol must be placed in the lowest portion of the label.

Section 1: Freely-definable plain text informationAny information can be shown as plain text in this section. The name and address of the sender and the recipient are usually stated here. The text should be clearly legible and be at least 3 mm high.

PostLogistics recommendation: If there is enough space, the text should be bigger than the minimum 3 mm stipulated here.

Section 2: Human-readable informationHuman-readable information in the second section is designed to support manual operations. It is the equivalent of the element strings represented in Section 3 and comprises data titles and data content. The text should be at least 7 mm high. If no language was agreed, the standard English data titles should be used (cf. GS1 specifications, Section 3, Appendix 4, GS1 Data Titles).

PostLogistics recommendation: If there is enough space, the text should be bigger than the minimum 7 mm stipulated here.

Section 3: Human-readable interpretationThe data shown in barcode form in Section 3 must also be represented in plain text in Section 2. To enable manual identifi-cation if necessary, the barcode should be additionally represen-ted in plain text numerical form, ideally in a line below the barcode symbol itself. It must be at least 3 mm high and clearly legible. Brackets should be used to separate the “application identifier“ (AI) from the actual data content. However, these brackets are provided solely as an aid to reading and should not be encoded in the barcode symbol.

PostLogistics recommendation: If there is enough space, the text should be bigger than the minimum 3 mm stipulated here.

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6 Label location

The label should be applied to logistic units in accordance with Section 6.7 of the GS1 specifications.

Symbol placement on palletsFor all types of pallets, including full pallets containing individual trade items and single trade items, (such as a fridge or washing machine), the target height for the bottom of the barcode symbol is between 400 mm and 800 mm from the base on which the pallet stands. For pallets less than 400 mm high, the barcode symbol should be placed as high as possible while still protecting the barcode.

The symbol including its light margins (quiet zones) should be at least 50 mm from any vertical edge to avoid damage.

E EF F

x

x > 50 mm x > 50 mm

x

h >400 mm

h <800 mm

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Symbol placement on cartons and outer casesFor cartons and outer cases, symbol placement will vary slightly in practice. However the target placement for the bottom of the barcode symbol is 32 mm from the base on which the item stands. The symbol including its light margins (quiet zones) should be at least 19 mm from any vertical edge to avoid damage.

Target: 32 mm

Minimum: 19 mm

E F

Contact detailsGS1 SwitzerlandLänggassstrasse 213012 BerneSwitzerland

systemberatung@gs1.chwww.gs1.ch

Swiss PostPostLogisticsViktoriastrasse 21P.O. Box3030 Berne

Tel. +41 848 888 888

logistics@swisspost.chwww.swisspost.ch/logistics

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