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EPCglobal, Inc is a joint venture company set up by GS1 (formerly known as EAN International) and GS1 US (formerly known as the Uniform Code Council, Inc.) to launch their efforts to drive global, multi-industry adoption of the Electronic Product Code (EPC) Network, a linking of radio frequency identification (RFID) and Internet technologies that will enable companies to have true visibility of their supply chains in real time, in any industry, anywhere in the world.
Developed by the Auto-ID Center, an academic research project headquartered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and with laboratories at five leading research universities around the world, the EPC Network is a system that is based on a unique identification number called the Electronic Product Code, or EPC. The EPC uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to capture information and link it to an open and accessible network, enabling real-time identification and sharing of information. Trading companies see great benefit in using the EPC Network for increased accuracy and efficiency in the manufacturing and distribution of products. Near-term benefits that have been identified include better tracking of pallets and cases of products in warehouses, distribution centres, and back room applications.
Under the terms of the agreement with the Auto-ID Center, EPCglobal will oversee the development of open, global standards for the EPC Network to facilitate worldwide, multi-sector industry adoption. GS1 and GS1 US will leverage their global user base of over one million member companies to drive adoption of EPC technology through the development of universally supported standards. Both organisations emphasise that while the sectors currently served by the EAN.UCC System provide a critical mass of users in over 130 countries, the goal is to expand use to any and all industries seeking to apply this technology. GS1's 100 Member Organisations will use the name EPCglobal as branding for their endeavours in their own countries to establish and develop use of the EPC in the coming years
GS1 Singapore is also in direct contact with Auto-ID Labs, MIT USA and Auto-ID Labs Fudan University China. In Singapore all matters relating to EPCglobal is managed by GS1 Singapore. For more information, please contact GS1 Singapore officials at Tel: (65) 68263081, Fax: (65) 68263070 or by Email: sanc1@gs1.org.sg.