Background

A good place to start is with the Overview of CHA documents. There is also a shortcut explaining the guidelines that relate to product flow Guidelines and Matrix – Many are unaware that since 2002 CHA has invested in the development of guidelines and standards that are compatible with other supply chains and can be used to streamline many of the activates used to improve the flow of material and information in our supply chain. The effort started off with standards to support best practices in Product ID, Labeling, item records and transaction documents. This was all part of a program called Getting On Board. CHA is now exploring guidelines to address media content, QR Code and others. As our needs change and our best practices improve, items will be added to our guidelines.

CHA started to reduce cost in the supply chain by “linking” the flow of information and products. This is fundamental to understanding how all the activities in the supply chain are related to the use of the U.P.C. and GTIN barcode method of product identification. This self running slide presentation is a good starting place. Getting on Board: What and Why – Understanding What Is Involved To Improve Product Flow

The Right Stuff - The Result of Trading Partners Using Best Practices Supported By Standards

Supply Chain performance is measured in customer satisfaction based on getting the right products at the right price, to the right place at the right time. It takes a community and CHA forms the community of trading partners to serve that purpose.

Getting it right requires informed managers to use best practices supported by knowledge about solutions that result from understanding concepts, the problems they can solve, the implementation issues and best practices to use with trading partners. BUT a solution must be set on a foundation of standards. CHA provides the meeting place for trading partners to agree on best practices and then to adopt or develop and standards to support them.

The right product - People select products using media content including demo videos, friendly catalog descriptions, pictures and Mobile Apps including QR Codes – It also requires product identification - U.P.C. (Global Trade Item Numbers – GTIN). All this depends on suppliers and retailers communicating everything from media content to consumption and demand information. Reliable and real time information must be available for POS to support Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) to facilitate stock balancing and manufacturing build requirements.
The right price is beyond the unit cost and MSRP. Prices include costs associated with procurement as well as Distribution, logistics, handling and inventory carrying costs. This is the sum total of effective (CPFR). These systems must be supported by synchronization that use standards and technology to provide 100% timely and accurate inventory and product information.
The right place deals with Distribution, logistics and supply chain visibility to effectively balance stock and related costs. Communications networks, based on standards must be available to pass the necessary information between companies.
The right time is more than just fulfillment of replenishment orders. This includes bringing new items to market as well as replenishment and special orders. Timing is dependent upon the availability to synchronized and timely product information based on standards and communications. Moving items from dock to shelf stock quickly, depends on knowing what is, where and when. That relies on all forms of automatic identification technologies (Bar Code, RFID) which require industry compliant labels Product ID and shipment identification.