As we near the end of 2014, several important pharma traceability deadlines around the world are approaching. Besides the U.S. Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), these include deadlines in Brazil and South Korea. Of course, each regulation is different. Now that the initial implementation of the exchange of transaction data in the U.S. is widely being implemented in Electronic Data Exchange (EDI) Advance Ship Notices (ASNs), the next hurdle for drug manufacturers will be to deploy serialization technologies on their U.S. and Korea market packaging lines. The data exchange technology problem will shift to Brazil, and that’s where I see trouble. Continue reading Global Traceability Data Exchange: Troubled Waters Ahead
Tag Archives: Interoperability
InBrief: RFID and Barcode Interoperability
There is a new and valuable resource available for anyone who needs to make use of both GS1 RFID and GS1 barcodes–or even just one or the other–on any product or shipping container and in any supply chain. It is called “RFID Bar Code Interoperability, GS1 Guideline” and it is available as a free PDF download here on the GS1 website.
This is a guidance document, which means that it isn’t a standard itself but draws contents from GS1 standards documents to better explain the subject. In this particular case it draws primarily from the GS1 General Specifications and the Tag Data Standard. Both of those source documents are huge and so you will find this new guidance document a relative joy to read if you need this kind of information.
Even if you are already familiar with GS1’s RFID and barcode standards, intermingling them so that they are fully interoperable in a single application isn’t Continue reading InBrief: RFID and Barcode Interoperability
Standards and Guidance For U.S. Pharma Supply Chain Technology
[This essay is one of two long lost essays that have now been restored on RxTrace. It was originally published on November 22, 2010. See “Return Of Two Classics” for an explanation.]
In my last essay, “Who Will Decide Which Pedigree Model You Will Invest In?” I pointed out how easy it is to get confused about pedigree technology because of varying claims made by certain companies who have interests that don’t align well with yours. So where can you get better information? I can provide you with a few good sources, and I will also tell you about a missing ingredient that I see in the current guidance landscape that will need to be addressed in the next couple of years. Continue reading Standards and Guidance For U.S. Pharma Supply Chain Technology
Who Will Decide Which Pedigree Model You Will Invest In?
[This essay is one of two long lost essays that have now been restored on RxTrace. It was originally published on November 15, 2010. See “Return Of Two Classics” for an explanation.]
In one of my most widely read essays, “RFID is DEAD…At Unit-Level in Pharma”, I pointed out that the choice of serial number carrier technology to be used for compliance with the California Pedigree Law would be decided solely by the pharmaceutical manufacturers. I pointed out that most of them would end up choosing 2D barcodes because their ongoing costs for Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) would be too high.
Since the law doesn’t specify a carrier technology, and because the manufacturers will foot the bill for whatever technology is used, naturally, they get to lead the supply chain in that choice. If you don’t like what they are choosing, then please, step up and pay them to put your preferred carrier technology on their packages. I’m sure the manufacturer’s would put whatever you want to pay for on their packages as long as it would comply with the law.
But what about the pedigree model that the supply chain will use for compliance? Can we apply similar logic to determine who will get to choose the technology that defines what a compliant pedigree is? Yes we can! And here it is. Continue reading Who Will Decide Which Pedigree Model You Will Invest In?
