Incorporating GS1 assets – GS1 Company Prefixes (GCPs), Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs), Global Location Numbers (GLNs) – enables J&J to effectively create identifying information, supporting oversight of products throughout the supply chain.

Successfully managing the various assets can be a challenge especially in a multinational company so a centralised management system has been implemented. Equally important is an automated system enabling a consistent, uniform approach throughout J&J.

In Shenzhen alone, three separate regulatory departments are involved (Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation, Shenzhen Health Commission and Healthcare Security Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality).

Adding to the complexity in that in Shenzhen city there is a total of 1,549 medical device manufacturers (14,095 medical device SKUs), 75,975 medical device distributors and 5,780 healthcare providers. This means the medical device supervision and traceability chain is long and challenging. Shenzhen Administration for Market Regulation has established one data platform for UDI, collected data from two sources (suppliers and healthcare providers), in a project led by three departments.