UPC Symbology Structure
A UPC-A formatted bar code consists of a left and right light margin; left, right, and center guide bars; a number system character; a five-digit supplier code; a five-digit product number; a check character; and a human readable interpretation (see Fig 1) It is recommended that the appropriate bar code quality standards used be those outlined in the UPC Symbol Structure Specification, obtainable from the Uniform Code Council. [5]
Data Interchange Requirements:
If UPC symbology is used as an alternate to 3 of 9 symbology, it will be the responsibility of the manufacturer to provide customers with a minimum of the following information:
A conversion table for the fleet to use in converting the UPC code to traditional alpha numeric product numbers. This conversion table must be provided on magnetic tape, diskette, or report. The format of the data may be provided in ANSI X12 transaction sets or any other format that would be acceptable to the sender/receiver. [6] The manufacturer must ensure that any updates of this information are provided to their fleet customers on a regular basis.
The information contained in this conversion table shall at a minimum contain the following:
- The UPC code assigned, cross-referenced to the VMRS Manufacturer Code,
- manufacturer's part number, and;
- the corresponding VMRS Component Code (Code Key 33) followed by the VMRS Code Key 33 description.