Manufacturers

"One of the most compelling arguments for bar coding [is that] the GTIN goes to the 5 Rights [right person, medicine, dose, time and method]."

--James Taaffe, Engineering Manager, Baxter Corporation

"We have relatively complex supply chains in Healthcare. We’ve got manufacturers involved that sometimes ship directly to hospitals; we’ve got distributors involved; we’ve got people who run Just-in-Time (JIT) programs involved. As such, there are a lot of different folks that can touch product. And up until this point, there has been a lot of proprietary identification. To link that whole supply chain, from the patient to the manufacturer with a common standard for identification, is huge for our industry… [With the GTIN], we are investing in patient safety. At the end of the day, it could be someone’s life. And that has to make you feel good."

--Jacques Chaput, Co-Chair, Carenet Healthcare Sector Board, and Manager of eCommerce, Supply Chain, Baxter Corporation

Benefits of Global Standards:

• Efficient traceability
• Improved production process and supply chain management
• Optimization of production process: improved work in process
• Optimization of the packaging & labelling process: wherever possible, one data format that would allow global packages for machine-readable codes
• Optimization of warehousing and shipping
• Brand protection