Frequently Asked Questions
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Standard Numbering for Commodity Items
Question: What is a SPIN Number?
Answer: The GTIN-12 (U.P.C. Number) is a specific form of
product identification. Another form of product identification is for those
items which are not unique to one manufacturer. Examples are brass fittings or
copper piping. Although some manufacturers have worried that they will lose
their identity, the many manufacturers involved have found this not to be the
case and that the benefits to distributors and users are enormous.
IBCA has developed standard numbers for the types of commodity
items that are specific to the industry it serves. The method for identifying
these types of products and then developing a common terminology and finally
assigning index numbers is a systematic procedure conducted by a committee made
up of manufacturers and distributors of those types of items. Most of the work
has been done, although occasionally new groups are identified by the companies
involved. Check the IBCA list to see if any of your products fall into this
category.
The product identification numbers for these items are
referred to as Standard Product Identification Numbers (SPIN). Both the GTIN-12
(U.P.C. Number) and the SPIN are to appear on labels carried by shipping
containers or intermediate packages.
Examples of typical SPIN number files are shown in the table
below. The GTIN-12 (U.P.C. Number) Identification Number for Manufacturer 'A' is
742135; for 'B', it is 123456; and for 'C', it is 987654. Notice that although
the U.P.C. is different, the SPIN's are the same.
Examples of typical SPIN number files:
Mfr. |
GTIN-12 (U.P.C. Number) |
SPIN |
CAT# |
Description |
A |
742135 12345 |
668173 01048 |
14C049T |
1/4 x 1/8 STD BLK MAL 90 REDUC ELL |
B |
123456 05070 |
668173 01048 |
6923ZF633 |
1/4 x 1/8 STD BLK MAL 90 REDUC ELL |
B |
123456 12345 |
668333 30230 |
6924XX923 |
3/8 WROT COPPER ADAPTER FTG X F |
C |
987654 24534 |
668333 30230 |
TX123 |
3/8 WROT COPPER ADAPTER FTG X F |
The advantage to using the SPIN number in addition to the
U.P.C. is that the SPIN is universally understood to represent a given item,
regardless of manufacturer or vendor. Architects, contractors, distributors and
users save huge amounts of money otherwise necessary to maintain costly
cross-reference tables and re-labeling procedures.
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