UMID (Unique Material Identifier)

What is a UMID?

UMID (Unique Material Identifier) is a UUID based identifier (UMID example: 2b66317b-6c2e-4ece-a3ee-ad52461bba8) for identifying a unique production variant. A UUID (Universal Unique Identifier) is a 128-bit value used to uniquely identify an object or entity. Depending on the specific mechanisms used, a UUID is either guaranteed to be different or is, at least, extremely likely to be different from any other UUID generated until A.D. 3400.

UMIDs can be used to identify any product variant of a physical item in the value chain:

Raw materials (single ingredient)
Production Materials (subassemblies, food components, chemicals, packaging components, et cetera)
Semi-finished goods (often a fully ready product awaiting packaging and shipment)
Finished goods (consumer & professional goods typically found on shelf in store or online in webshops)
Trade units (Case, carton, trays, typically for handling and protection products during transport and storage)
Handling units (pallet, dolly)

The UMID is targetted at Machines, not Humans!

Why do we need UMIDs next to GTINs?

GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number) is a GS1 licenced identifier for indentifing trade items. GTINs provide trade item identification in the whole supply chain and can be assigned on multiple levels:

Pallet (e.g pallet with 512 consumer units)
Display (e.g. mixed Christmas floor display with 5 products, each product 20 times)
Case (e.g. carton, tray used as handling unit, can be unboxed in the store or can be used as a shelf ready packaging)
Multi-pack (either mixed multi-pack like beer gift pack with 5 types of beer or single multi-pack like bundle of 6 bottles of Cola)
Each (consumer unit)

There are two reasons tot GTINs are not suited to exchange sustainability data across the value network

GTINs do not represent a production variant (meaning a specific bill of materials). To not disrupt logistics and commerce the GTIN stays the same in many situations where the bill of materials is adjusted for a product. Example: A bottle is made of PET en is currently made of 100% virgin material. The bottle is replaced with a version that has 37% recycled content. In this situation, the GTIN is not changed.
GTINs are only available in the finished good part of the value chain. Starting point are consumer units that are assigned a barcode. Globally unique identifiers are also required for more upstream items (e.g. raw materials, electronic components) that usually have no branded individual packaging. Items like: raw materials, packaging components, food components, subassemblies, semi-finished goods.

Why is the UMID based on a UUID?

UUID based identifiers have multiple advantages:

A UUID is unique by definition, also unique over time (generated, so no risk that someone by accident re-uses 324234 or AHG010-230).
UUIDs do not need a central repository, every generated UUID is unique.
UUID is not licenced, so UMIDs can be issued at no cost by any party
UUID generators are available in all mayor software development platforms, so can easily be implemented in any software solution.
UUIDs can also be generated online when needed, Online UUID Generator

What is de UMID allocation rule?

A new UMID should be assigned to an item every time there is ANY change in the Bill of Materials of that item.

So in the Bill of Materials looking down!