Barcoding

Phase 1 - By March 1999:

U.P.C. and SCC-14 codes to be assigned to all individual units and shipping containers by March 1999. Assigned numbers to be referenced in all order forms, sell sheets, etc., likely in conjunction with proprietary numbering systems during the transitional phase.

Phase 2 - By December 1999:

All items manufactured after December 1999 to include a scannable and verified UPC bar code. Some small package exemptions will be granted by outside verification agencies.

Phase 3 - By December 2000:

SCC-14 scannable codes to be printed on all shipping units by December 2000. SSCC-18 codes on all variable cases and pallets.

EDI

Phase 1 - Phased range between May 31,1999 - Dec 1, 1999

All stakeholders to be moving to the VICS 4010 EDI standard as used in grocery and required for Y2K compatibility.

Conversion of P.O.s (850) and Invoices (81O) to be underway by May 31 1999 with 100% compliance by December 1,1999. Third party solutions are available for companies unable to comply with the above referenced timelines.

Phase 2 - May 2000*

Implementation of Master Data Alignment/Database Synchronization using the Price/Sales Catalogue (832).

Efficient Replenishment through the using the P.O. Acknowledgements (855), P.O. (850), Product Activity Data (852), Invoice (810), Planning Schedule (830), Product Authorization/Deauthorization (878), Direct Store Delivery Summary Information (882).

Phase 3 - November 2000*

Implementation of shipment management using the Advance Ship Notice/Manifest (856) and Receiving Advice/Acceptance Certificate (861).

Phase 4 - May 2001*

Implementation of transportation management using the Motor Carrier Freight Details and invoice (210), Motor Carrier Shipment Status Inquiry (213), Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message (214), Response to Load Tender (990), and Motor Carrier Shipment Information (204).

Phase 5 - November 2001*

Implementation of financial settlement using the Invoice (810), Motor Carrier Freight Details and invoice (210), Payment Order/Remittance Advice (820), Credit Debit Adjustment (812).

^*Choice of individual EDI documents depends on the business relationship between manufacturer and vendor (i.e. a retailer using the 856 and 850 for evaluated receipt settlement will likely not implement an 810 invoice).

---