Overview
ISO/TR 17370:2013 - "Application Guideline on Data Carriers for Supply Chain Management" provides practical guidance to ensure compatibility and effective use of data carriers across the supply chain. It addresses how to align linear symbols, two-dimensional (2D) symbols, RFID, and rewritable hybrid media (RHM) with ISO-compliant supply chain control systems. The report illustrates layered supply chain structures, data storage and transmission rules, serial-number management, and how data carriers map one-to-one across physical packaging layers to enable traceability and automated identification.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Compatibility among data carriers: Methods to establish one-to-one relationships and interoperability between linear, 2D symbologies and various RFID technologies.
- Layered supply chain model: Definition of supply chain layers (item, package, transport unit, RTI, freight container, movement vehicle) and how data carriers are applied at each layer.
- Data structure and volume: Guidance on required data volume per carrier, field structures, character sets and data compaction to address limited RFID memory.
- Data transmission interfaces: Specification of data structure between data carrier ↔ reader (interrogator) and reader ↔ host computer.
- Serial-number and identifier management: Rules for unique identifier (UII) handling across packaging levels for traceability.
- RFID considerations: Frequency diversity, air-interface and memory-structure differences, and middleware implications for multi-protocol environments.
- Complex carriers: Treatment of rewritable hybrid media (RHM) and high-capacity automatic data capture formats.
- Informative annexes: Practical examples including container types, automotive/electrical industry layered models, memory maps (ISO/IEC 18000-63/18000-3), AFI assignments and coding schemes.
Practical Applications and Users
ISO/TR 17370 is useful for practitioners who design, implement or operate automated identification and traceability systems:
- Packaging and logistics engineers selecting appropriate data carriers for each packaging layer
- Supply chain managers establishing traceability and serial-number governance
- AIDC/RFID integrators and system architects implementing reader-to-host interfaces and middleware
- Software developers mapping data formats and compaction schemes for limited-memory tags
- Standards and compliance teams aligning operations to ISO supply chain frameworks
Practical benefits include improved interoperability, reliable item-to-container mapping, optimized use of RFID memory, and standard-aligned data exchange for logistics, retail, manufacturing and reverse logistics.
Related Standards
ISO/TR 17370 references and aligns with several ISO/IEC standards, including:
- ISO/IEC 19762 (AIDC harmonized vocabulary)
- ISO 445 (pallet vocabulary)
- ISO 21067 (packaging vocabulary)
- ISO/IEC 18000 series (RFID air interfaces and memory structures)
- Other ISO packaging and identification standards cited in annexes
Keywords: ISO/TR 17370, supply chain management, data carriers, RFID, linear symbols, 2D symbols, traceability, AIDC, rewritable hybrid media, data structure.