Visitors to the GS1 stand at AusRAIL were able to see for themselves how Project i-TRACE is fast gaining acceptance in rail industry for helping standardise data management.
Launched in 2012, Project i-TRACE involves processes that will reduce costs, remove duplication and improve the exchange of information about rail components and parts used in Australia, across the asset life cycle.
The innovation is a joint initiative of the Australasian Railway Association and GS1 Australia, the leading provider of standards and solutions for more than 20 industry sectors.
The dataset specific to the rail industry was added to the National Product Catalogue to enable suppliers and clients to log, manage and share information on their products to improve efficiencies.
Company director Tony Repaci had on show a box containing a one-shot train crucible from manufacturer Pandrol, labelled with the full set of GS1 information.
“The product is made in France and the labels are for internal use over there,” he said.
“It then enters the supply chain in France and then flows on to customers, locally or overseas.”
The GS1 label details data such as barcode, serial number, country of origin and other information compliant with Australian requirements.
Indeed, Pandrol views the implementation of standardised material master data as an important step in simplifying and streamlining its transactions with its customers in the rail industry.
The company believes data built around standardised fields would allow Pandrol to speak the same ‘language’ as its customers, improving accuracy of transactions with them, and building on the work already conducted through the implementation of GTINs.
Pandrol has been part of the Project i-TRACE journey from very early on, and is currently in the process of preparing a sample set of data for a trial with Queensland Rail.
