Technical Industries

Companies in technical industries face many similar challenges such as cost pressures, counterfeiting and the race to digitise their physical worlds. Optimising the supply chain and life cycle management are key processes to resolve these.

GS1 Standards for identifying, capturing and sharing information about things (products, parts, components and assets), business locations, documents and more, enable these industries to achieve true supply chain visibility and life cycle management.

This sector also focuses on relevant and pivotal industry activities and business processes such as:

·      Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT or Industry 4.0), innovation in automation

·     Globally unique serialisation & Direct Parts Marking

·      Maintenance and Repair Operations (MRO)

·      One GS1 standard—the Global Trade Item Number®(GTIN®)—uniquely identifies the physical construction product, acting as its “digital twin” to provide all the necessary data about the product to automate processes.

The serialised GTIN or SGTIN identifies the individual or “instance” of the product.

Transforming processes

Most construction projects are quite complex—involving several contractors and sub-contractors, many suppliers from different countries, and an incredible number of building materials, products and components.

Products are typically ordered based on a required set of attributes, but not necessarily from specific manufacturers

Driving sustainability

Globally, the construction industry uses 40 percent of resources, it produces 40 percent of waste and it consumes 40 percent of energy production.6 Gaining efficiencies in construction can clearly have a significant impact on the health of the planet. Yet, in order to reuse, refurbish and recycle products and buildings, builders need to know which products were used in the construction of these buildings.

As a globally unique identifier, the GTIN provides the needed visibility of all products, parts and components used in building projects, making it a critical piece of any sustainability strategy. As efficiencies grow in construction processes, waste can be minimised and a more sustainable supply chain—down to the construction site—can be realised.

Building a better future today

The use of GS1 standards in construction is gaining momentum. Projects in Australia, France, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden are underway that are using GS1 standards in BIM, as well as in logistics processes to streamline operations, increase sustainability and lower costs.

Many of the industry’s challenges can be solved with support from GS1 standards that identify building products and help stakeholders share valuable information about them. By enriching the BIM model, GS1 standards can build the needed foundation for the industry’s successful digital transformation

Business Benefits of Using GS1 Standards

“GS1 standards for the identification of building products (GTIN and SGTIN) are well suited to provide full traceability, from design to disposal—today, for the physical and digital flow of goods and tomorrow, for smart products using RFID and sensors. Combined with GS1 standards for identification of locations (GLN and SGLN), this will enable better logistic flows throughout the lifespan of the building.”