Annual Report 2009-2010 - GS1

Continuing the fight against bad data
Several years ago, to help with the important issue of data
management, GS1 and its user community produced a
comprehensive tool for the implementation of worldclass
data quality management systems and processes:
the Data Quality Framework (DQF). The DQF is an
industry-developed best practices guide, detailing the
crucial processes that can help organisations improve
their data quality and maintain sustainable levels of
quality. In 2010, version 3 of the Data Quality Framework
was released. The results of a series of pilots in the Data
Quality Challenge undertaken in 2008-2009 by a variety
of important global companies were used to develop
version 3 of the Data Quality Framework. First launched in
the last months of 2007, the GS1 Data Quality Challenge
proved to be an important programme that created many
success stories. The Data Quality Challenge was built upon
the Data Quality Framework’s self-assessment procedure,
which enables organisations to assess their compliance
by positioning their current status in comparison to
best practices. The new version 3 of the DQF can be
downloaded from www.gs1.org/gdsn/dqf.
An important year for GPC
In Autumn 2009, GS1 published an updated version of
its Global Product Classification (GPC) system. GPC is one
of the key building blocks of GDSN; it gives buyers and
sellers using the Global Data Synchronisation Network a
common language for grouping products in the same
way, everywhere in the world. Across all 38 categories
of the GPC, more than 4500 changes were made, most
thanks to the excellent contributions of users. The
changes in the new version bring improved quality and
consistency of the standard across all product segments,
as well as dozens of new brick codes, most importantly in
Healthcare, Meat & Poultry, Consumer Electronics, and for
a new segment of Storage/Haulage Containers.
In addition, GPC is now committed to two publications
annually and will be incorporated into GDSN bi-annually
as well. Read more about GPC at www.gs1.org/gdsn/gpc.
Get the help you need
Are you getting started with GDSN, or thinking
about trying to get more out of your existing data
synchronisation programme? GS1 and GDSN-certified
data pools can provide guidance and support.
Visit www.gs1.org/gdsn for more information or to
download a list of GDSN-certified data pools; your local
GS1 Member Organisation can help, too: find the GS1 MO
nearest you on pages 50–54.
GS1 Products & Solutions
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