License plate the iso standard for transport package identifiers

DHL Express Global Head Office

Global Business IT – Martin TrederNovember 2012

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers

Bonn | November 2008 / September 2012 Page 2


(I)

THE LICENSE PLATE CONCEPT


License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers Rationale

Are standards really so important for identification and data exchange? Is it sufficient for a conversation that we can talk to each other?

Not really!

We’d rather speak the same language! A standard in identification and data exchange is like a common language!

اللغة العرب

讀音統一會

Numerous ISO standards are available for package identification and labeling:

Transport Label (ISO 15394) License Plate (ISO 15459) Code 128 barcodes (15417) with Data Identifiers (ISO 15418) Country Codes (ISO 3166) and calendar date format (8601) Structure of data in 2D codes and RFID tags (ISO 15434) …

Note: The Transport Label used by DHL Express has been based on these standards since 2007.

Why do we need ISO standards for package identification and labeling?


The ISO Standard for Package Identification: License Plate

The development The License Plate standard has started in 1996 as a European standard EN 1572. It became an international ISO/IEC standard 15459 in 1999. Since then the License Plate standard has been the only system to uniquely allocate

identifiers to packages around the world.

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers Package Identification with ISO License Plates

VGL(DHL)

ISO License

PlateUnitrans

(DHL)

UPU

GS1 SSCC

Odette

TNTEdifice

Siemens

NATO

Dun & Bradstreet

IBM

Norsk Edipro

...

And many others – 40+ organisations (September 2012)

License Plate is supported and used by various companies and industry organisations around the world:


The ISO Standard: License Plate

The structure Each License Plate starts with a unanimous

Issuing Agency code (IAC) ISO has appointed the Dutch Standardisation

Institute (NEN) as Registration Authority Today, only international non-profit organisations

can become Issuing Agency. These organisations can allocate sub-ranges to other organisations or companies.

The ISO License Plate standard consists of two distinct sub-standards:

ASC MH10: Alphanumeric License Plates, consisting of up to 35 characters

GS1 SSCC: Numeric License Plates, always exactly 18 digits long

License Plates are unambiguously marked as such in bar-coded form, using Data Identifiers or Application Identifiers.

General structure of a License Plate

Issuing Agency Code (ASC MH10)or packaging identifier / number extension (GS1 128 code list)

One or more Sub-Issuing Agency Codes* (ASC MH10) or Company Prefix (GS1)

Serial numberAssigned by the (Sub-)IAC

* The Sub-IAC number is not mandatory

DataData IACIAC Sub-IACSub-IAC SerialSerial

Data Identifier (ASC MH10 standard)or Application Identifier (GS1 standard)

Example of an ASC MH10 License Plate (issued by DHL Benelux, former VGL)

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiersPiece Identification with ISO License Plates


The ISO Standard: Piece ID versus Shipment ID Shipment ID and Piece ID are logically different

A Shipment ID specifies the transport order (from A to B; one or more packages) A Piece ID specifies the single package, covering all potential transports

Using the same ID for piece and shipment causes issues Return shipments need a new shipment ID (new origin, new destination etc) As a consequence, the piece ID would have to be changed as well

Think of it in the following way:


Of course you don’t need a new passport for each trip. You keep the same passport for years, and you get a new ticket whenever you travel

The License Plate is a package’s PASSPORT The shipment ID is the same package’s TRAVEL TICKET


The ISO Standard: How long is a License Plate valid?

Duration of License Plate allocation to a package

We need clear definitions: Is the License Plate valid for one single transport process only? For a full transport chain but not beyond? Does it include possible returns? What about storage times? Can the same License Plate be used for a package as long as the content of the package remains untouched?

General definition: A License Plate is the “passport” of a package – independently of who “owns” the package. Consequently, a package should – yet does not have to – keep its License Plate number as long as it remains closed.

To obviate any problem of ambiguity during transport, a clear distinction between a transport process number (Shipment number or Waybill number) and an piece number (License Plate) is necessary. While the License Plate is the “passport”, the shipment number can be considered the “travel ticket”.

First transport: identifier known to sender

Return: different identifier???45678...

12345...

CLOSEDCLOSED




(II)

LICENSE PLATE AS PART OF THE OVERALL ISO IDENTIFICATION CONCEPT


License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiersThe Overall ISO Identification Concept

The Problem: Unique identificationThe challenge is well-known to everybody who has to determine the right identifiers on a unit:•How do I know which barcode is the right one for my purpose?•More importantly, how does my IT system know that I have scanned the right barcode?

This problem occurs when you determine the identity of packages, products, reusable containers, production lots etc. It is valid for transport packages, goods packages and the goods themselves.


License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiersThe Overall ISO Identification Concept

ISO License Plates are part of a versatile ISO identification conceptFor unique identification, ISO has developed the concept of Data Identifiers:•Each identifier encoded on a label is preceded by a unique sequence of characters that tells the capturing application what type of identifier it is.•The Data Identifier always consists of one capital letter (A-Z) which may be preceded by up to three numerals. Examples of syntactically valid Data Identifiers are A, 1A, 11A and 111A•The identification of License Plates is part of this concept. Valid Data Identifiers for License Plates are J, 1J, …, 8J (where the simple J is used predominantly)•In conjunction with the Issuing Agency as it is used for License Plates, it is possible to unambiguously allocate identifiers for packages, products, reusable containers, production lots etc. •The following examples show how similarly the same concept applies to different types of identifiers:

a) Package Identifier (License Plate) barcoded as J J D00 1234567890: The leading J is the Data Identifier for globally unique License Plates. The following J is the Issuing Agency Code (UPU), D00 is the Sub-Issuing Agency Code granted to Deutsche Post DHL. Global uniqueness of the resulting LP is granted as long as the last part (1234567890) is unique within DP DHL. The License Plate barcode is easily spotted on a package through the heading “J”

b) Serial Number barcoded as 25S J D00 123456789025S is the Data Identifier for globally unique serial numbers, the following J is the Issuing Agency Code (UPU), D00 is the Sub-Issuing Agency Code granted to Deutsche Post DHL. Again, global uniqueness of the resulting serial number is granted as long as the last part (1234567890) is unique within DP DHL. A Serial number barcode is easily spotted on a package through the heading “25S”

•Data Identifiers (and their equivalent Application Identifiers) are standardised in ISO 15418. The maintenance of Data Identifiers has been delegated to ANSI MH10 1) •The whole concept equally applies to barcodes, 2-dimensional codes and RFID tags

1) MH10, Unit-Loads & Transport-Packages, is an ANSI Accredited Standards CommitteeSecretariat: Material Handling Industry, 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201, Charlotte, NC 28217-3992



(III)

LICENSE PLATE AND DHL EXPRESS


What do transport companies offer to customers with own LP today?

(1) Basic: Usage as Customer Reference Codes.Link must be created with a certain effort: Either through combined scanning of carrier

barcode and sender barcode (error-prone) or through data transfer from sender to carrier (error-prone, as well)

Carrier databases often archive the own identifiers only; reference codes are discarded.

(2) Next step: Some carriers support only some License Plates (often GS1 SSCC)No full support of ISO 15459Where ASC MH10-LP are used by sender, they have to be added (or replaced!) by GS1

SSCC. This violates the ISO standard and creates ambiguity. Keep off!

(3) The approach of DHL Express is a comprehensive oneFull support of ISO 15459: All ASC MH10 and GS1 License Plates are acceptedAll customers’ ISO License Plates can be used with all DHL Express productsNo additional DHL-specific identifier is required any more! (Customers’ reference codes

remain possible, of course)Label layout follows ISO standard, including sufficient space for customer informationDHL Express offers a plug-in to customers called Global Label Service (GLS). This tool

renders DHL labels automatically, including the determination of handling codes required by DHL. Even joint customer/DHL labels are possible.



What does DHL Express offer to its customers?

DHL supports the following cases:

a) DHL Header turns proprietary company identifiers into globally unique License Plates

DHL offers an own DHL License Plate header that turns existing proprietary package identifiers into globally unique License Plates. This works wherever only upper-case chars and digits are used.

This results in a 1:1 relationship between a company’s proprietary identifiers and the respective License Plates. No IT system other than printing and scanning of LP barcodes needs to be adapted

Spaces within LP have been added for readability only! IAC = Issuing Agency Code

The customer just adds “JD0081234” before printing the barcode.

Resulting DHL License Plate : JD00 8 1234 MUC2 12 412551JD00 DHL’s Issuing Agency Code

8 DHL’s code for Key Account customer number ranges

1234 DHL’s number for Key Account customer Y

MUC2 12 412551 Original customer Y code

Example for package identifier of company Y: MUC2 12 412551 MUC2 Production Plant

12 Department

42155 Internal serial number of department

1 Internal check digit

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers Flexible Piece Identification with ISO License Plates




b) A company that uses own ISO License Plates

DHL Express processes this company’s ISO License Plate as DHL’s leading piece identifiers.

Example of a Siemens AG License Plate that DHL Express can scan and process:

SI A1234567 7 1234567 0001

This structure has been defined with the adoption of the UCR (Unique Consignment Reference Number), following the internal Siemens standard SN 18630 (EGP 208-256):

IAC = Issuing Agency Code

IAC OrgID Y Numerator Package No.

S I A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 0 0 1

Source: “EU Customs Code Reform & New EDI Version 7.2006 ”, Siemens GPL





c) A company that uses ISO License Plates from 3rd party suppliers

DHL processes these ISO License Plate as DHL’s leading piece identifiers. All checkpoints will be captured directly against these identifiers.

IAC = Issuing Agency CodeSource: EPCOS

Example Epcos: LE EPC 81863675 001

LE Issuing Agency Code of EDIFICE (Epcos is member)

EPC Sub-IAC allocated to Epcos

81278048 Delivery note number, Epcos-Internal

001 Package count





d) License Plate number ranges issued by DHL

Whenever none of the previous cases applies, DHL provides the customer with a License Plate range.

That range is usually big enough to last longer than one year. As a result, customers can start with the first number after the last one has been used.

After package 999999, this customer can re-start with number 000000! There is no need to ever ask DHL for a new number range again!

IAC = Issuing Agency Code

Example: JD00 029 30001 000456

J Issuing Agency Code of UPU (Universal Postal Union)

D00 Sub-IAC allocated to DHL

029 DHL’s country code for Italy

30001 Number for customer X in Italy

000456 sequential number: The 456th package shipped by customer X



Source: THE HEALTH INDUSTRY BAR CODE (HIBC) SUPPLIER LABELING STANDARD 2.3 (2009)

G1.0 Unique Transport Unit IdentifierShipping containers (Unit Loads and Transport Packages) may be identified by a symbol that carries the Unique Transport Unit Identifier.

G1.1 Format TypeThe Unique Transport Unit Identifier shall be the unique transport unit identifier using the ANSI MH10.8.2 Data Identifier “J”:

G1.2 ScopeHIBC-LIC labeling may use ANS MH10.8.2 Data Identifier “J”. See section G2.0 for the data structure of the unique transport unit identifier.

G2.0 Data StructureThe data structure using the ANSI Data Identifier “J” is as follows:JLHH123Z987654321, where•J = ANS MH10.8.2 Data Identifier “J” – Unique Transport Unit Identifier.•LH = Identifier for the Registration Authority – HIBCC/EHIBCC.•H123 = HIBCC / EHIBCC Labeler Identification Code.•987654321 = Shipper’s assigned number for the transport unit. (maximum 13 alphanumeric characters).


Here’s another example of a global organisation that offers License Plates to hundreds of members: HIBCC

(HIBCC is an industry-sponsored nonprofit council which was organized by major healthcare associations in 1983)

Bonn | November 2008 / September 2012 Page

18

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers Avoiding Ambiguity with ISO License Plates

The fact that DHL Express support non-DHL License Plates has an impact on processes

Where a customer uses his own LP, DHL Express will not add a DHL LP. The reason is that it would result in two different LPs on the same package.

This is not supported by the ISO standard, and it would lead to ambiguity. Automated scanning processes, for instance, would not know which of the two LPs to use

The risk is that a company can place its LP anywhere on the package – they are not always easily spotted by DHL.

The example on the right side shows such a valid LP.

If the customer sends this LP in his EDI message, DHL will make all other LP barcodes on the package unreadable.

Even without EDI, DHL staff is advised to use this License Plate, to avoid the allocation of a DHL LP

The customer will benefit from this approach. He just needs to send his own LPs in his EDI messages.


License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers Avoiding Ambiguity with ISO License Plates

Not being aware of customer LPs creates issues

The example on the right side (spotted in DHL’s CVG HUB) was extended by a customer barcode, on request of the customer

Neither DHL Express nor the customer had realised that the customer’s barcode is a valid ISO License Plate. Impact:

1) The customer cannot track on dhl.com using his own identifier

2) We end up with four barcodes on the package while we only required three of them. This results in compressed information and scanning issues

3) Autosorters will send all shipments of this customer to the hospital area, as there are two different LPs on the same package.

The correct approach would have been to print the customer’s License Plate at the bottom of the label, replacing the DHL LP.


Example: History of a transport order, a 2nd transport order and a return to sender – all with same License Plate

Event LP ShipmentOrder JD01234567890 1000000000PU JD01234567890 1000000000

DF JD01234567890 1000000000

AF JD01234567890 1000000000

DF JD01234567890 1000000000

AR JD01234567890 1000000000OK JD01234567890 1000000000 Network completion: successful delivery

Order JD01234567890 2000000000

PU JD01234567890 2000000000

DF JD01234567890 2000000000

AF JD01234567890 2000000000

DF JD01234567890 2000000000

AR JD01234567890 2000000000RD JD01234567890 2000000000

RT JD01234567890 2000000000 Network completion: return to sender

Order JD01234567890 3000000000

DF JD01234567890 3000000000

AF JD01234567890 3000000000

DF JD01234567890 3000000000

AR JD01234567890 3000000000

OK JD01234567890 3000000000 Network completion: successful delivery

piece with LP sent for 1st time

LP is now free and can be used again

piece with same LP sent 2nd time

3rd transport process: return of 2nd process

• Allocates LP to shipment no 1000000000

• Releases LP from shipment no 1000000000



• Triggers creation of the following transport order



LP is now free and is immediately allocated to the return shipment

time

What would a tracking system show?

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers Track&Trace with ISO License Plates


(IV)

LICENSE PLATE AND RFID



• The Application Family Identifier specifies the location of the tagged item in the logistical hierarchy. IT is defined in ISO/IEC 15962 Information technology—Automatic identification and data capture techniques ----Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management.

• ISO/IEC 15962 specifies that the application will define the specific AFI. Below is a table of the AFIs assigned for the ISO 1736x series of standards.

RFID Standards – The Application Family Identifier (AFI)

AFI(Hex)

Assignment ISO Standard

A1 17367_Non-EPC ISO 17367 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Product tagging

A2 17365_Non-EPC ISO 17365 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Transport unit

A3 17364_Non-EPC ISO 17364 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Returnable transport item

A4 17367_HazMat ISO 17367 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Product tagging (HazMat)

A5 17366_Non-EPC ISO 17366 — Supply chain applications of RFID – Product packaging

A6 17366_HazMat ISO 17366 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Product packaging (HazMat)

A7 17365_HazMat ISO 17365 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Transport unit (HazMat)

A8 17364_HazMat ISO 17364 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Returnable transport item (HazMat)

A9 17363_Non-EPC ISO 17363 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Freight container

AA 17363_HazMat ISO 17363 – Supply chain applications of RFID – Freight container (HazMat)

Definition of AFI values and application

Piece IDs

Container IDs

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers ISO License Plate and RFID?


Yes! Each of ISO’s barcode standards has an RFID equivalent meanwhile

That means that a combined approach is already possible today: Combined thermo-printers/RFID coding units can print a standard label while coding a passive transponder that is incorporated in that label. This also indicates a migration approach.

As with 2-dimensional barcodes, the unique piece identifier (License Plate) should in any case be printed on the label in addition – in the traditional way, both in plain text and as barcode.

Here, RFID does not necessarily have to be used by all partners in a logistic chain. It may be a means of communication between sender and the receiver’s assembly line. All partners in-between (warehouse, forwarders, ...) may simply ignore it and work on the basis of the visible part of the label.

Hybrid: Joint RFID and Barcode Label?

1) Automated Data Capture

Application & data length requirements for UII’s

Transport Unit TU

Product Package Item Returnable Unit RTI

Grouping

UII ISO/IEC 15459-1 15459-4 15459-5 15459-6

Barcode ISO 15394 ISO 22742

RFID ISO 17365 ISO 17366 ISO 17367 ISO 17364

Data length (ASCII an)

20, max.35 32 max. 50 20, max.50 20,max.50

Table 2 Data length for Unique Identifiers according to ISO&IEC AIDC and application standards

Licence Plate and Transport

Label!

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiersISO License Plate and RFID?


DHL Express supports all ISO 15459 License Plates, with up to 35 alphanumeric characters. This requires at least 240 bit tags. Attention: EPC usually promotes 96 bit chips. These are sufficient for GS1 SSCCs (a small

subgroup of ISO License Plates) but NOT for all ISO License Plates!

Which RFID Tags for ISO License Plate identification?

UII size Applications Availability*

96 bits Low capacity chips for limited applications, typically for numeric UII’s

highest

128 bits Medium size for applications where not the max. data length is required or for numeric data

high

240 bits Fits to most applications high

352 bits Satisfies every application for SCM lower

496 bits Max. UII size according to ISO/IEC 18000-3.1 M2 and 18000-6C low

typical memory sizes for UII’s reserved in a RFID chip

License Plate – The ISO standard for transport package identifiers ISO License Plate and RFID?

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