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Use

An International Article Number (EAN) (or Universal Product Code (UPC) in the United States of America) is an internationally standardized number uniquely identifying a material. It always refers to a specific unit of measure or type of packaging such as a pack of ten pieces or a box. For each unit of measure defined in a material master record, you can assign one or more EANs and specify packaging data (such as dimensions, volume, and gross weight).

Features

An EAN normally has 13 digits and the following structure:

  • EAN prefix

This may be a country indicator, identifying the country from which the material comes, or, in the case of instore EANs, it may be company-specific.

  • Article number

  • Check digit

Its purpose is to ensure that no incorrect EANs are entered manually or scanned.

Position

Meaning

1–3

EAN prefix

1–12

Article number (the EAN prefix is a part of this)

13

Check digit

Activities

EANs are normally assigned by the manufacturer of the material. They can also be assigned by a company using different instore numbering techniques. Instore EANs are known to the company only. They can be assigned in one of the following ways:

  • Internally (by the system)

Internal number assignment is preferable because there are a number of criteria that an EAN must fulfill, for example, it must:

  • Belong to a valid number range interval

  • Contain a valid EAN prefix

This is usually if not always a requirement.

  • Satisfy a predefined check-digit algorithm

  • Externally (by the user)

Only assign an EAN externally if the number is predefined by your vendor or if you are familiar with configuring EANs in Customizing for the Material Master .

The type of number assignment is defined by the EAN category to which each EAN is assigned. The EAN category also determines the check-digit algorithm for the EAN. For more information on EAN categories, see the documentation for the activity Define Attributes of EANs/UPCs in Customizing for the Material Master .